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Evaluation of intrauterine insemination of sheep with frozen semen: effects of time of insemination and semen dose on conception rates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. C. F. Findlater ,
W. Haresign ,
R. M. Curnock  and
N. F. G. Beck
R. C. F. Findlater
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD
W. Haresign
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD
R. M. Curnock
Affiliation:
MLC Pig Breeding Centre, Field Lane, Thorpe Willoughby, Selby YO8 9NL
N. F. G. Beck
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DD
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Abstract

The field application of a laparoscopic technique to permit intra-uterine insemination of ewes with frozen-thawed semen was examined in two trials, conducted over successive years, to (i) determine the optimum time of insemination relative to sponge removal/pregnant mares's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection and (ii) establish the relationship between semen dose and conception rate. Pooled semen was used in both trials, and each involved > 900 ewes in a number of commercial flocks.

Maximum conception rates were achieved when insemination was conducted between 54 h and 60 h after sponge removal/ PMSG injection. However, there was no significant difference in conception rate when motile sperm numbers were reduced from 52·2 × 106to 13·0 × 106 motile sperm per uterine horn.

The overall conception rates (pooled over flocks and treatment groups) were 56% and 58% for the two trials, with a wide degree of variation between flocks in both cases (45% to 79% for trial 1 and 45% to 69% for trial 2). However, there was evidence for consistent differences in conception rates between the six flocks involved in both years of the trials.

Keywords

conception rateinseminationsheep
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , August 1991 , pp. 89 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

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