What is artificial insemination?

Artificial insemination is a technique in which sperm are collected from the male, processed, stored and artificially introduced into the female reproductive tract at proper time for purpose  of conception.

Artificial insemination is by far the most common method of breeding of intensively kept dairy cattle. This method can undoubtedly be considered as the oldest and most widely used technique in the assisted reproduction spectrum for livestock production.

The semen may be sexed if desired. Artificial insemination has its advantages and disadvantages. It allows for better utilization of sires, reduces the hazards and costs of keeping males, and allows for the utilization of multiple sires. However, it requires extensive training and skill development, has a high initial investment, has maintenance costs, and increases requirements for management.

Objectives of Artificial Insemination
• Genetic improvement of livestock
• Disease control mechanism
• Possible to increase fertility
• Decrease breeding expense

Artificial insemination has proven to be a very effective reproductive technology that selectively increases genetic gain through increased selection pressure on males. Farm animals, males as well as females, are usually chosen for breeding programs based on breeding soundness examinations (BSEs). These breeding soundness examinations determine suitability and likelihood of females or males to participate successfully in breeding programs.
What is artificial insemination?

Artificial insemination of cattle

Artificial insemination is the placing of sperm in the female reproductive tract buy other than natural means. The breeder uses an inseminating tube to deposit sperm in the cervix and uterus of the cow.

In the UK, around 80% of insemination in cattle is by artificial means.

Artificial insemination of cattle has become standard practice in nearly all industrial countries and is a highly successful conventional method of propagating the traits of a few of the most precious breeding bulls.

In Nordic and Western European countries, artificial insemination in dairy cattle has been used extensively.

On the technical front, the discovery of cryoprotectants, the freezing of  semen using liquid nitrogen as the refrigerant and the introduction of the plastic straw as a semen container have been noteworthy milestone.

The advantages of using artificial inseminations are:
*permit use of superior, performance-tested bulls, in any herd
*Semen from a desired characteristics bulls even though it is hundreds, even tosudnas of kilometers
*Permits easier use of exotic breed bulls
*Improves records for performance testing
*Increases the number of cows that can be bred to superiors bulls
*Coordinates well with estrus synchronization programs
*Semen can be frozen and transported easily as well as be kept for year, often long after the death of the donor bull.
*Reduces the spread of disease
Artificial insemination of cattle