• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2008

This study compared the pregnancy rates of Korean native donor cattle after either a timed artificial insemination (TAI) or embryo transfer (TET) following the synchronization of ovulation using a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device together with estradiol benzoate (EB) and prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ ($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$). Fifty five cows and 8 heifers which had been previously used for embryo production were assigned to two treatments: (1) Thirty-two cattle received a CIDR device and 2 mg EB (Day 0), 25 mg $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection at the time of CIDR removal on Day 7, and 1 mg EB injection on Day 8. All of the cattle received a TAI 30 h (Day 9) after the second EB injection (TAI group). (2) Thirty-one cattle received the same hormonal treatments as in the TAI group. The cattle with corpus luteum (CL) received a TET on Day 16 using frozen-thawed embryos (TET group). Ultrasonographic observations demonstrated that the proportion of cattle with synchronized ovulation on Day 10 and the concomitant formation of new CL on Day 13 did not differ between groups (p>0.05); the overall mean rates were 65.1 and 73.0%, respectively. The conception and pregnancy rates did not differ (p>0.05) between the TAI (12.5% and 12.5%) and TET groups (13.0% and 9.7%), respectively. We conclude that the pregnancy rate following TAI or TET in Korean native donor cattle was poor, which might be due in part to a poor synchrony of ovulation and concomitant CL formation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2003

The functional role of the cumulus cells on sperm penetration and polyspermy during in vitro fertilization was examined. The penetration rate was significantly higher(p<0.01) in oocytes with(61%) than without(25%) cumulus cells. No significant differences, however, was observed in polyspermy. When the hyaluronidase was supplemented to the fertilization medium with different concentrations, penetration rates in oocytes with cumulus cells were higher than oocytes without cumulus cells at 0(61 vs 34% ; p<0.05), 0.01(56 vs 35% ; p<0.05), 0.1(66 vs 30% ; p<0.05) and 1.0 mg/$m\ell$(39 vs 27%). On the other hand, the polyspermy rates were lower oocytes without than with cumulus cells, and had a tendency to decrease with high concentrations of hyaluronidase. In another experiment, the penetration and polyspermy rates had a tendency to increase as time of sperm-oocytes culture was prolonged. At 16 and 20hrs after insemination, the penetration rates were significantly higher(p<0.05) in oocytes with(48 and 62% for 16 and 20hrs) than without(25 and 31% for 16 and 20hrs) cumulus cells in medium with hyaluronidase. However, the polyspermy rates were significantly(p<0.05) lower in oocytes without(3 and 16%) than with(37 and 48%) cumulus cells at 16 and 20hrs after insemination. In cumulus-free oocytes inseminated in medium with or without hyaluronidase at different concentrations of cumulus cells, the penetration rates were significantly(p<0.05) higher in medium with than without hyaluronidase at different concentrations of cumulus cells. The proportions of polyspermy were lower in medium without than with hyaluronidase at 0 (10 vs 0%), 10$^2$(25 vs 0%), 10$^4$(24 vs 14%) and 10$\^$6/(29 vs 10% ; p<0.05) cumulus cells/ml. These results suggest the advantage of culture in medium with cumulus cells and denuded oocytes to inhibit polyspermy with no decrease in the penetration rates during the fertilization in vitro in the porcine.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.159-163
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• 2017

The artificial insemination (AI) is one of the best assisted reproductive technologies for increasing reproductive capacity and facilitating the genetic improvement in farm animals. AI has been used in Uganda for over 60 years, but a small population of the total herd has been used. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of AI with estrus synchronization technique and to propose ways of improving the productivity of dairy farms through AI services in Uganda. In total, 78 cows from 11 dairy farms were selected for timed-AI. Synchronization was performed according to the ovsynch programs followed by AI using frozen semen from Korean Holstein (0.5 ml straws). Pregnancy rate was varying among farms (0-50%) and the overall pregnancy rate was 28.2%. Cows in luteal phase at the time of treatment was 40.0% whereas that in follicular phase was 20.8%. After treatment, cows that showed normal estrus signal were 45.5% (25/55). Abnormal estrus was categorized into pre-estrus (9.1%), cystic ovaries (21.8%), anestrus (18.2%) and delayed ovulation (5.5%), respectively. These results imply that an assured protocol for timed-AI should be developed to improve the productivity of dairy farms through AI services in Uganda.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.251-260
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• 2018

Instrumental insemination of honey bee is an attractive alternative to natural mating in breeding program as it allows mating crosses between desirable queen and specific drone. However, nursery condition that the queen is kept before and after insemination is major factor affected to the performance of instrumentally inseminated queen. In this study, we evaluated the influences of three different nursery-conditions of push-in cages, mini nuclei and normal colonies on number of spermatozoa stored in the spermatheca, body weight, onset of ovipositon and performance of instrumentally inseminated Apis cerana queen. Our results demonstrated that instrumentally inseminated queens kept in mini nuclei and in normal hives showed no significant difference in queen's weight (159.8 and 166.2mg, respectively), number of spermatozoa in spermatheca ($2.02{\times}10^6$ and $2.76{\times}10^6$, respectively), proportion of queen supersedure (33.3 and 66.7% queen survival at 11 months after oviposition, respectively) and brood production, compared to naturally mated queens. In contrast, instrumentally inseminated queens kept in push-in cages showed significant difference of those above data in comparison to queens mated naturally. Our results suggested that instrumentally inseminated queens could be kept in mini nuclei containing about 1.000 attendant bees to have desirable performance of queen whereas the push-in method should be practiced for the purpose of using queen in the length of time less than 7 months.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2024

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of different concentrations of gelatin supplementation in long-term semen extender on boar semen quality during storage for 10 days at 17℃. Additionally, oxytocin was added to stored semen to enhance fertility. Methods: In Experiment 1, boar semen was collected, diluted with gelatin at concentrations between 0% and 2.5% (w/v) and mixed with a semen extender. Then, it was kept in a refrigerator at 17℃ and stored for 10 days. In Experiment 2, the sperm quality was examined after adding 0, 5, and 10 IU oxytocin per artificial insemination dose to the most effective semen extender from Experiment 1 and placing it in a refrigerator at 17℃ for 10 days. In Experiment 3, the fertility potential in terms of non-return rate and litter size was determined using the most effective solid-stored semen supplemented with oxytocin. Results: The results indicated that sperm quality decreased with increasing storage time (p<0.05). The sperm quality in terms of total motility, progressive motility, and viable sperm with intact acrosomes and high mitochondrial potential was the highest with 1.5% gelatin supplementation (p<0.001) on all days of storage. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality (p>0.05). The non-return rate and litter size after insemination with semen supplemented with 1.5% gelatin and 10 IU of oxytocin after 8 to 10 days of storage were comparable to those of the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: A semen extender as a solid medium supplemented with 1.5% gelatin successfully preserved boar semen for a long storage duration. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality. In addition, the fertility capacity using 1.5% gelatin with 10 IU oxytocin and stored for 8 to 10 days was acceptable and comparable to that of short-term storage.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between conception rate and other parameters (body condition score; BCS, progesterone concentrations and follicle size) before estrus induction with $PGF_2{\alpha}$. The conception rate in cows with (2.75, 2.75 to 3.25 and 3.25), BCS regardless of AI (artificial insemination) time was 47.5, 67.5% and 48.5% at $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of BCS was 59.0% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 46.2% in cows inseminated at 72 to 80 hours (timed artificial insemination, TAI) after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 43.0% in cows with low progesterone concentrations (less than 1.0 ng/ml), and 67.5% in cows with high progesterone concentrations (more than 1.0 ng/ml) at $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The conception rate regardless of progesterone concentrations was 59.9% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 48.1% in cows of TAI after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The conception rate regardless of AI time was 36.0% in cows with small dominant follicles (less than 5 mm), 56.0% in cows between 5 mm to 10 mm of follicle size, and 65.5% in cows with large dominant follicles (more than 10 mm) at $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection, respectively. The conception rate regardless of follicle size was 57.3% in cows inseminated based on detected estrus, and 47.6% in cows of TAI after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. These results indicated that if the cows with BCS 2.75 to 3.25, active corpus luteum, and/or large dominant follicle (more than 10 mm) are used for estrus induction, the conception rate will be greater.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to select high-quality boar semen after the glass wool filtration of extended boar semen. After collecting boar semen, its concentration, morphology, viability, and motility were examined according the glass wool's height and time. After glass wool filtration, the sperm concentration decreased, but the proportion of normal sperms and the sperm viability increased. Nevertheless, the sperm motility showed no changes. The above results showed that the glass wool filtration of boar semen is a method of obtaining sperms with relatively low abnormal rates and high viabilities.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.277-280
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• 2007

Social spiders consistently show highly female-biased sex ratios. However, the sex ratio of subsocial spiders, which have been suggested as an intermediate stage of the evolutionary pathway towards permanent sociality, is generally unknown. We investigated the sex ratio and approximate date of fertilization of the subsocial spider, Amaurobius ferox Walckenaer (Araneae: Amaurobiidae). Investigation over 2 years revealed that sex ratio of A. ferox was consistent across years and averaged 0.49. By early May $(1^{st}{\sim}10^{th})$, 66.6% of female A. ferox observed in the field had already been inseminated, and by late May $(21^{st}{\sim}31^{th})$, 95.4% of females had been inseminated. This result suggests that A. ferox need a long time or cold temperatures to prepare them for reproduction after the developmental attainment of the adult stage.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.8
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for repeat breeder dairy cows and their impact on reproductive performance. The characteristics of 1,504 cows, including their peripartum health, nutrition, production, and reproduction, were collected. Cows with metabolic disorder were significantly more likely (odds ratio [OR], 2.47; p < 0.001) and cows with clinical endometritis tended to be more likely (OR, 1.35; p < 0.1) to become repeat breeders than cows without metabolic disorder and clinical endometritis, respectively. Cows initially inseminated > 80 days after calving were less likely (OR, 0.78; p < 0.05) to become repeat breeders than cows initially inseminated ≤ 80 days after calving. As a result, repeat breeding in dairy cows resulted in a 90 day longer (p < 0.0001) mean interval from calving to pregnancy. In conclusion, postpartum metabolic disorder, clinical endometritis, and a short interval from calving to initial insemination were risk factors for repeat breeder dairy cows, resulting in a severely impaired reproductive performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2019

Detection of estrus is an essential factor as a method of successful breeding in the sow. As increasing the adaption of the information and communication technology (ICT) into swine industry, this study focuses on a possibility and quantification of standing time, vulva and body temperature as methods of estrus detection, comparing each time and temperature in estrus and non-estrus period, and analyzing each success rate of new and existing methods. Ultrasonic sensor array and digital infrared thermography were used to evaluate whether new methods such as standing time and number, and vulva and skin temperature can be replaced, or these methods can be quantifiable in estrus period. Ultrasonic sensor array was installed beside the stall and digital infrared thermography was placed in the rear of sow to collect the dates of sow in estrus and non-estrus period. This study showed total standing time, number and number over 10 minutes, and vulva temperature of the sow in estrus period were increased (p < 0.05) compared with those of sow in non-estrus period, respectively. Detection of estrus using standing time and vulva temperature tended (p = 0.06) to increase the success rate when artificial insemination (AI) was performed. In conclusion, standing time and vulva temperature increased when estrus happened. Success rate of AI of sow using these methods showed an increasing trend. Therefore, existing method using the naked eye can be replaced to new method such as vulvar temperature and standing time when detecting the estrus.