Artificial

Insemination
Knocking up the cows

What is Artificial
Insemination?

Artificial Insemination or AI is the

process of injecting sperm from a
male into a female to induce
fertilization.
Basically it makes babies without sex.

History of AI

AI dates back to 1322 AD where

Arabian horses were artificially
inseminated.
1780 notes the first successful AI
of dogs.
1899 AI is used in birds, cattle,
horses and sheep.

Why use AI?

AI is the cheapest and easiest way
to get sperm from the bull you
want to your farm.
For example: If there is a prize bull
in Saskatchewan and your farm is
in NS, then you can simply have
the sperm sent to NS. This avoids
having to bridge the distance
between cow and bull for mating
purposes.

Advantages of AI over
sex

The number of cows that can

become pregnant by a particular
bull goes from 100 to 60,000
using AI instead of sex.
AI prevents the spread of
dangerous sexually transmitted
infections.

Advantages Contd

With AI you can easily find out if a

bull is infertile (cant make babies).
Old or crippled bulls who may not
be able to mate properly can
donate sperm.
Eliminates danger of handling
difficult bulls during the mating
process.

Uh-oh. Disadvantages

Humans have to detect when the cow

is in heat because the sperm must be
injected at precisely the right time.
The sperm can be injected incorrectly
resulting in no fertilization.
Using only a few bulls to reproduce
many herds can weaken the genetic
base of cattlemake it easier for them
to get sick.

How does AI work?

Step 1: Collection of semen.
To induce arousal of the bull, a Teaser
cow is set up. The bull mounts the
fake cow and releases sperm into a
tube that leads to a bottle.

How does AI work

contd
Step 2 Semen Extension:
Once the semen is collected, water
is added to it. This dilutes the
semen and allows more bottles to
be made from 1 ejaculation.
Antibiotics are added to ensure no
infections occur in the semen.

How does AI work

contd
Step 3: Semen Storage
The semen is frozen and stored for
up to 16 years. Although most of
it is used much sooner than that.

How does AI work

contd
Step 4: Inseminating the Cow
When the timing is right, a
veterinarian or AI specialist will
inject the sperm into the vagina of
the cow and push it into the uterus.

Nine Months Later

Once the sperm has been injected
the chances of fertilization are
good. With any luck, nine months
later a calf will be born.