Artificial Insemination in Swine: Artificial Insemination in Swine B. Olcott DVM,MS,MBA Winrock Nicaragua 2007


Advantages of Artificial Insemination: Advantages of Artificial Insemination


Comparative Cost Of AI: Comparative Cost Of AI


Artificial Insemination Kit: Artificial Insemination Kit


Be Ready!: Be Ready! Have insulated collection cup warm and clean until time to collect Extenders and other lab materials (slides) need to be pre-mixed and warmed to appropriate temperatures


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Place a sterile disposable bag inside the container.


Semen Straining: Semen Straining Place a double layer of sterile cheese cloth over the cup. Boil the cloth between collections. Secure with rubber bands.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Warming cabinets keep all supplies at a uniform temperature of 35oC. Distilled water Slides Extender Glassware Stains


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Collection areas should be clean and quiet. Flooring should be non slippery. Escape hatches should be provided for personnel.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Training boars Young boars will usually respond well to the collection dummy. Older boars are more difficult. Urine from sows in heat is a great aide.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Familiarize the boar with contact on all parts of his body. Be patient.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Let the boar explore his environment.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Once a boar is trained collecting is a one person job. Grasp the tip of the boars penis firmly with poly vinyl NOT LATEX Gloves. Discard the first part of ejaculate which is the clear fraction.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Collect the milky white sperm-rich portion. The final portion is the clear and gel fraction and not collected.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen There may be another sperm rich fraction than can be collected. Make sure the penis remains safe from damage from the dummy sow.


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Be patient. He will need to finish to avoid frustration. He may take 5-15 minutes Avoid pressure on the shaft, this may distract him and make him stop. Keep pressure applied to tip only!


Collecting Semen: Collecting Semen Remove the filter and discard. The semen should be extended within 15 minutes of collection. Keep the sample away from cool temperatures and light!!


Semen Evaluation: Semen Evaluation Weigh the semen first. Record the volume collected. Evaluate color, thickness, and smell.


Semen Motility Evaluation: Semen Motility Evaluation Estimate motility within 10-15 minutes of collection. Slides and cover slips warmed to 35oC Extender warmed to 33oC Add 9.5 mls of extender to 0.5 mls of semen. (1:19 dilution). Place 2 drops on a warm slide and cover with warm cover slip. Examine at 400x.


Sperm Morphology: Sperm Morphology


Semen Morphology: Morphology Stain Trypan Blue Eosin/Nigrosin solution 7 drops stain to 3 drops semen Must be warm or false readings!! Let sit for 5 minutes in water bath before reading. Semen Morphology


Extending Semen: Extending Semen Dose = 3-4 x 109 Hemocytometer Spectrophotometer Estimate Skim milk: 1:4 Milk: 1:7 Cream: 1:10


Sperm Concentration: Sperm Concentration Estimate by appearance Hand count with hemocytometer Electronic count with photometer Minimum of 2 x 109 viable sperm in one dose (70 ml) Maximum of 4.5 x 109 viable sperm in one dose (70 ml)


Hemocytometer: Hemocytometer


Hemocytometer: Hemocytometer


Extenders: Extenders What do extenders do? Dilute semen Provide buffers Provide nutrients Provide antibacterials to prevent infection


Extenders: Extenders Long term extenders: Shelf life of 5-7 days Difficult to prepare Expensive Short term extenders: Shelf life of 3 days Inexpensive Easy to make


Guidelines to Extending Semen: (Amount of extender to add): Guidelines to Extending Semen: (Amount of extender to add)


Extending Semen: Extending Semen


Adding Extender to Semen: Adding Extender to Semen


Extending Semen by Eye: Extending Semen by Eye


Records: Records Label EACH dose with boar ID, date, concentration, etc.


Storing Semen: Storing Semen Always store semen between 15-20oC. Cool warm semen over a period of 2-3 hours. Never store semen in a refrigerator (2o-8oC). Never store semen at a temperature greater than 20oC. Invert (roll) doses 2x daily during storage.


Inseminating the Sow: Inseminating the Sow


Artificial InseminationSpirettes: Artificial Insemination Spirettes


Insemination : Insemination


AI Catheter Placement: AI Catheter Placement


Artificial Insemination: Artificial Insemination Spirette is inserted at an angle of 30o. This will prevent catheterization of the bladder. Spirette should advance easily to the cervix. A hymen may be present in gilts.


Artificial Insemination: Artificial Insemination Rotate the spirette counterclockwise! This will lock it in place in the cervix. Turn the spirette until it won’t turn any more.


Artificial Insemination: Artificial Insemination Spirette locked in place


Artificial Insemination: Artificial Insemination Back pack set Sows in heat with proper stimulation will draw semen from the vial intra uterinely. Once semen is drawn in, leave catheter in place for 2 minutes to minimize back flow.