• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of treating dairy cattle with exogenous human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), five (5) days post artificial insemination (AI) on serum progesterone (P4) concentration and pregnancy rate. In this experiment, five days after AI, cows were assigned randomly to two groups namely: a) treated group (67) which were administrered with 1500 IU hCG (Chorulon) and b) control group (61), which received no treatment. On day 5, 10, 15 and 20 after the artificial insemination, blood samples from a total of 8 cows (4 from each group) were collected and were analyzed for serum P4 concentration. Cows were detected for estrus according to standing heat by visual observation. Cows that were detected still in estrus after days 18-24 were re-inseminated and recorded as not pregnant (open). Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted by ultrasonographic examination and transrectal palpation of the uterus on approximately 60 days in cows that observed to be not in estrus. The conception rate in hCG treated and control groups were 52.5 and 36.1%, respectively. The results proved that there were no significant differences in conception rate between two groups (p=0.0568). However, pregnancy rates were reduced by hCG treatment. Average serum P4 concentrations did not differ between Hcg-treated and control groups on day 5 (0.377 versus 0.375 ng/ml). On day 20 serum P4 concentrations were greater in the treated group compared with the control group (3.085 versus 2.010 ng/ml). The treatment with hCG seemed to increase P4 level compared with the control. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that 1500 IU of hCG administered on 5 day post AI increased conception rate in dairy cows. This was supported by the results on serum P4 concentration which was greater in hCG treated group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1922-1929
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• 2020

Objective: The present study aimed to survey seasonal changes in reproductive performance of local cows receiving artificial insemination (AI) in the Pursat province of Cambodia, a tropical country, to investigate if ambient conditions affect the reproductive performance of cows as to better understand the major problems regarding cattle production. Methods: The number of cows receiving AI, resultant number of calving, and calving rate were analyzed for those receiving the first AI from 2016 to 2017. The year was divided into three seasons: cool/dry (from November to February), hot/dry (from March to June), and wet (from July to October), based on the maximal temperature and rainfall in Pursat, to analyze the relationship between ambient conditions and the reproductive performance of cows. Body condition scores (BCS) and feeding schemes were also analyzed in these seasons. Results: The number of cows receiving AI was significantly higher in the cool/dry season than the wet season. The number of calving and calving rate were significantly higher in cows receiving AI in the cool/dry season compared with the hot/dry and wet seasons. The cows showed higher BCSs in the cool/dry season compared to the hot/dry and wet seasons probably due to the seasonal changes in the feeding schemes: these cows grazed on wild grasses in the cool/dry season but fed with a limited amount of grasses and straw in the hot/dry and wet seasons. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the low number of cows receiving AI, low number of calving, and low calving rate could be mainly due to poor body condition as a result of the poor feeding schemes during the hot/dry and wet seasons. The improvement of body condition by the refinement of feeding schemes may contribute to an increase in the reproductive performance in cows during the hot/dry and wet seasons in Cambodia.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.349-353
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• 2016

This study was carried out to evaluate the influencing factors that affect the reproductive performance of cows at the Monirampur upazila in Jessore district of Bangladesh. A total of 224 cows were brought to the upazila livestock hospital for artificial insemination (AI). The cows were inseminated between 12 to 18 hours from the onset of estrus and data was obtained from the owner. Out of 224 cows, 133 became pregnant and 91 were non pregnant. In this study, the overall pregnancy rate was 59.29%. Among the age variability, the highest pregnancy rate (70.27%) was at the age of 4 years old. In case of breed variation, the highest pregnancy rate was observed in local breed (69.07%) compared with other crossbred cows. Hence the breed variations significantly influence the conception rate of cows. According to the parity, we found that the pregnancy rate was increasing with their parity but decreasing after 4th parity. The highest conception rate was observed in 3rd parity (67.74%) which was significantly higher than that of heifers (Parity-0). Here we also found that the types of bull semen used for AI had no significant effect for pregnancy rate. The skills of AI technician for AI to cows were significantly affecting the pregnancy rate. However, this study is not enough for rating and comment about the reproduction performance of cows. Therefore, further extensive study is needed for rating and recommendation for the cattle up gradation at that particular area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.745-748
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• 2011

현재 양돈산업에서의 인공수정(Artificial Insemination, AI) 기술은 1994년 이후 본격적으로 국내 양돈농가에 보급되어 양돈 산업 발전에 많은 영향을 주었다. 현재 국내 비육돈 임신의 80% 이상이 인공수정 센터에 공급하는 정액에 의해 이뤄지는 등 양돈 산업에서 차지하는 비중과 중요성이 매우 중요하며, 또한 국내 양돈 산업분야의 인공수정 기술은 번식과 육종개량 분야에서 절대적인 영향을 미치고 있다. 이러한 중요성에도 불구하고 전국 AI센터의 정액 생산 및 공급에 관한 기록은 53%이상 수기에 의존하고 있다. 그나마 이에 대한 수집된 현장자료는 전국 AI센터의 개별시스템에 수작업으로 입력 관리되어 원시 데이타의 오류 및 통합정보 활용이 매우 어렵다. 이에 XML을 기반으로 전국 AI센터의 통합정보 관리시스템 모델을 제안한다. 제안된 정보관리 모델은 웹을 기반으로 전국 AI센터의 정보를 통합관리 활용할 수 있으며, 이를 통해 통합된 정보의 통계분석, 미래 예측분석 자료 등으로 활용되어 효율적인 돼지개량 체계를 구축할 것으로 기대한다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8_spc
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• pp.1284-1295
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• 2019

Considerable progress in reproduction of dairy goats has been made, with advances in reproductive technology accelerating dairy goat production since the 1980s. Reproduction in goats is described as seasonal. The onset and length of the breeding season is dependent on various factors such as breed, climate, physiological stage, male effect, breeding system, and photoperiod. The reproductive physiology of goats was investigated extensively, including hypothalamic and pituitary control of the ovary related to estrus behavior and cyclicity etc. Photoperiodic treatments coupled with the male effect allow hormone-free synchronization of ovulation, but the kidding rate is still less than for hormonal treatments. Different protocols have been developed to meet the needs and expectations of producers; dairy industries are subject to growing demands for year round production. Hormonal treatments for synchronization of estrus and ovulation in combination with artificial insemination (AI) or natural mating facilitate out-of-season breeding and the grouping of the kidding period. The AI with fresh or frozen semen has been increasingly adopted in the intensive production system, this is perhaps the most powerful tool that reproductive physiologists and geneticists have provided the dairy goat industry with for improving reproductive efficiency, genetic progress and genetic materials transportation. One of the most exciting developments in the reproduction of dairy animals is embryo transfer (ET), the so-called second generation reproductive biotechnology following AI. Multiple ovulation and ET (MOET) program in dairy goats combining with estrus synchronization (ES) and AI significantly increase annual genetic improvement by decreasing the generation interval. Based on the advances in reproduction technologies that have been utilized through experiments and investigation, this review will focus on the application of these technologies and how they can be used to promote the dairy goat research and industry development in the future.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.82-90
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• 2021

In the present study, we examined if deep uterine artificial insemination (DUAI) can improve the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination (AI) using epididymal spermatozoa (ES) in Hanwoo cattle. The estrus cycles of 88 Hanwoo cows were synchronized, and 17 cows were artificially inseminated using the DUAI method with ES, 20 cows were artificially inseminated via the uterine body (BUAI) method with ES, and as a control, 51 cows were inseminated by using the BUAI method with ejaculated spermatozoa from 1 proven bull after frozen thawing. The pregnancy rate of the DUAI method (58.8%) was higher than that of the BUAI method (25.0%, p = 0.0498). The motility of ES was examined immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation. The rapid progressive sperm motility of the control group was significantly higher than that of the ES group immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation (p < 0.05). The straight line velocity and average path velocity of the ES group after 6 h of incubation were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The linearity and amplitude of lateral head of ES were lower than those at 6 h (p < 0.05). The flagellar beat cross frequency and hyperactivation of ES were lower than the control spermatozoa immediately after thawing and at 3 h (p < 0.05). These motility parameters suggested that ES had a low motility and fertilization ability compared to the control spermatozoa. After frozen-thawing and 3 h of incubation, the percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the ES was significantly lower than that in ejaculated spermatozoa (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the DUAI method can overcome the low pregnancy rate of ES, despite the low motility, viability, and fertilization ability of ES.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2021

Presently, there is an increased demand for livestock products all over the world which has led to more devotion on improving livestock population. Although goats have been bred for a long time in Korea, but there is not much research conducted on traditional Korean black goat (Capra hircus coreanae) compared to other livestock populations. Mutton consumption has been dramatically changing from medicinal use to edible meat and this trend directs the black goat populations declining and also mutton import quantities are increasing consistently. The present study introduced a new estrus synchronizing technique with subsequent artificial insemination (AI) for Korean black goats to enable crossbreeding with non-native breeds for the small or subsistent farmers. Our data highlighted that, the percentage of motile sperm from the electro-ejaculated samples declined significantly after freezing and melting. In addition, the sperm motility significantly declined with regard to sperm incubation period (0, 5, 60, and 120 min at 37℃) and was negatively correlated (64.2 ± 7.9%, 63.3 ± 5.8%, 49.9 ± 6.3%, and 35.9 ± 7.6%, respectively) in frozen-thawed sperm samples. Moreover, the E2 levels were unchanged even 24 h after controlled internal drug releas (CIDR) withdrawal. But, 48 h and 72 h after CIDR removal, E2 levels increased significantly. These data helps us to consider the two time points for AI; CIDR removal after 24 h, at which E2 decreases, and after 48 h, as the time at which progesterone increases. Additionally, the AI after 48 h of CIDR removal group exhibited significantly higher pregnancy and parturition rates (42.9%) compared to AI after 24 h after CIDR removal 28.6% group. In conclusion, these studies will propose an optimal estrus synchronisation process with subsequent timing of AI and also will promote the Korean black goat breeding industry.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.187-195
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• 2000

The ejaculates from 67 HanWoo prove bull, bred in Livestock Improvement Main center of NLCF, were used to determine the correlation between the sperm motional characteristics and the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination(AI). The motional characteristics of sperm were analysed by Computer-assisted sperm analyser(CASA), thereafter inseminated equally 1,256 heads of cow regarding to parity, age, and live weight. There were no significant difference(p>0.05) in the pregnancy rate according to year from 1996 to 1998, but the LIN, ALH, STR, BCF, MAD and WOB of sperm in the year 1997, were highest pregnancy rate, were higher than those of sperm in the year 1998, were lowest pregnancy rate(p<0.05). The semen had no significant effect on pregnancy rate according to season(p>0.05). However spring, had a little higher pregnancy rate than that of autumn, were higher than autumn in VSL, VAP, LIN, ALH, BCF, MAD and WOB, but in DNM. The pregnancy rates of spring in the year 1996 and 1997 were higher than that of autumn in the year 1998(p<0.05). The spring in the year 1997, highest in pregnancy rate, were higher than the autumn in the year 1998 in VSL, VAP, LIN, STR, BCF, MAD and WOB, but in DNM(p<0.05). There were no the motion characteristic of sperm that was significant correlate with pregnancy rate of AI as the semen were analysed before artificial insemination and those, had some degree characteristics in motility, viability and abnormality, were used to AI. However there were a tendency that the higher the VSL, VAP, ALH, LIN, STR, BCF, MAD and WOB and the lower the DNM were, the higher the pregnancy rate of AI were.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 2005

Artificial insemination (AI) technology has widely applied in domestic animals including cattle for production and preservation of valuable animals. However, AI in goat was poorly studied. We here compared two different estrus synchronization methods, CIDR (controlled intravaginal drug release)+$PGF_2a$ and CIDR+PMSG, in Korean native goats. After treatment of CIDR+$PGF_2a$ or CIDR+PMSG for estrus synchronization, AI was applied to 38 recipients. Of 18 recipients treated with CIDR+$PGF_2a$, 4 recipients produced offsprings. However, no pregnancy was obtained in 20 recipients treated with CIDR+PMSG. Especially, after treatment of CIDR+$PGF_2a$, AI with fresh or frozen sperm showed markedly higher parturition rates than that of CIDR+PMSG. From these results, we suggest that combination of CIDR and $PGF_2a$ could be used as good method for estrus synchronization in Korean native goats.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of breed, age of boar, season, parity and mating system on boar semen characteristics and fertilizing capacity. A total of 4181 sows and 199 boars of Durocs (D), Landraces (L), and Yorkshires (Y) were used for this experiment at Darby Artificicial Insemination Center from 1996 through 1999. Semen volume per ejaculate was largest in Landrace (266.8 $m\ell$), followed by Yorkshire, and was smallest in Duroc. Sperm motility did not show significant differences among the above breeds. Sperm concentration was lowest in Landrace (4.7$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$) and was highest in Duroc (5.7$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$). Semen volume per ejaculate according to the age of boars was largest at the age of 2 years, followed by the age of 4 and 3 years, and was smallest at the age of I year. Semen volume per ejaculate according to the season in boars was largest in winter (228.6 $m\ell$), followed by autumn and summer, and was smallest in spring. Sperm concentration was highest in spring (5.9$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$), followed by summer and winter, and was lowest in autumn. The average litter weight at birth did not show any differences according to the mating type. But the number of pigs born alive per litter was largest (9.5 pigs) in the natural mating ＋ artificial insemination group, followed by the artificial insemination group (9.2 pigs), and was smallest (8.9 pigs) in the natural mating group (P＜0.01). The average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter did not show any differences between the natural mating and artificial insemination. The L (♀)$\times$Y (♂) and L (♀)$\times$L (♂) matings show $\varepsilon$ d higher average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter than the Y (♀) $\times$ Y (♂) and Y (♀) $\times$ L (♂) matings. The pigs in the 2~6th parities had higher average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter than those in the 1 st and 7~9th parities.