-Dr. Partha Pratim Borah
Veterinary Officer
Regional A.I. Centre, Lehugaon
Biswanath Chariali (Assam)
Artificial Insemination is a method that involves a deliberate introduction of sperm inside a female’s cervix. It helps in achieving pregnancy through in vivo fertilization without any sexual intercourse. Artificial Insemination (AI) has lots of benefit, especially to the dairy farmers. It provides them access to the best available genetics and helps them in supporting animal health and safety. It allows farmers to avail the best bull or male germplasm from all across the world. It thus helps them to promote the production, health attributes, fertility and survival rate of their dairy cattle through a balanced approach to breeding.
Current methods used for Artificial Insemination: Artificial Insemination consists of the following methods:
- Collection and Evaluation of Semen:
Various semen collection methods have been used since the advent of AI. The older ineffective methods have been steadily substituted for better modern techniques. At present, there are three standard methods of semen collection:
- Use of Artificial vagina
- Electro-stimulation method.
- Massaging the ampullae of ductus differences
Use of Artificial Vagina is by far the safest method both for the sire and the collector. Once the semen is collected, it is tested and evaluated for the possible presence of virus and bacteria.
- Preservation of the collected Semen:
The evaluated semen is then frozen and stored. There are two ways of freezing semen-
- Using solid carbon dioxide and alcohol below-100 degrees F
- Using liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees F (-196 degree Centigrade).
Liquid nitrogen is better than dry ice because it does not contribute to the deterioration of fertility with age. Frozen semen can be saved indefinitely if a proper temperature is sustained.
- The process of Artificial Insemination:
Different techniques of insemination are used in different species of animals. The three principal methods used are:
- Recto-vaginal method
- Speculum method
- Vaginal method
Recto Vaginal Method
This is the safest and most reliable method of insemination. Here a gun stuffed with semen straw is transferred through the vulva of a cow to its vagina and cervix. As soon as the gun enters the cervix, the semen is deposited through injection.
Speculum Method
Here a speculum is set up in the vagina of the animal which provides an outside passage for insemination. Then an inseminating pipe is passed through this speculum that deposits semen into the cervix.
Vaginal Method
Here a qualified inseminator passes his hand through the animal’s vagina and deposits the semen through an injection. This method involves a certain degree of risk because it can damage the female genitalia.
Advantages of Artificial Insemination over Natural Service
AI is the most effective tool available to dairy farmers and it helps them to enhance both their productivity and profitability. There are plenty of advantages of AI over natural mating methods. Some of them are:
- Artificial Insemination boosts the efficiency of bull usage.
- It is a cost-effective method.
- It prevents transmission of disease germs that occurs during natural mating.
- It helps in promoting breeding efficiency.
- It is useful in creating a progeny with better genetics for greater profits.
Challenges of the current methods used
Although Artificial Insemination is an excellent breeding technique for milch animals, most Indian farmers aren’t aware of it. Thus the current method suffers from the following downfalls:
- It requires more time than natural breeding techniques.
- Improper sanitization can often lead to lower fertility rates.
- If the bull used is not healthy, then it can spread genital diseases.
- It requires prior technical knowledge that can only be gained through proper education in the relevant field.
Future of Artificial Insemination
The application of AI in livestock will probably continue to increase in future. AI not only promotes more productive and efficient livestock but also leads to the application of several modern breeding techniques. When coupled with other biotechnologies like cryopreservation, single layer centrifugation and sperm sex selection, it can significantly enhance the profits of dairy farmers.
Furthermore, sex-sorted semen technology has been developed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) that ensures the birth of female calves exclusively. The first female calf was born in October 2020 in Chennai with the help of this technology. Although the sex-sorted semen technology is currently a property of only a few multi-national companies, various companies are trying to provide the dairy farmers access at a cheaper rate. With this technology, dairy farmers would produce female calves as per requirements that would also boost their financial advantage.
AI has revolutionized animal breeding in recent times. The AI industry has increased dramatically in the last few decades and is now widely used in intensive animal production.
Reference:
- Veterinary Obstetrics and Genital Diseases by Stephen J. Roberts.
- Artificial Insemination in bovine and reproductive health management in dairy animals by Sarvajeet Yadav, Anuj Kumar and Amit Singh
- Textbook of Veterinary Gynaecology, Artificial Insemination, Obstetrics and Assisted Reproduction By S.K. Bandyopadhyay, B. Bhattacharyya, Ravindra Roy Choudhary and Siddhartha Basu.
