Investigating cattle artificial insemination technique on farm

Many cattle enterprises in the UK employ ‘do it yourself’ artificial insemination (DIY AI) as their main method of getting their cows in calf. DIY AI is a big responsibility which requires a large number of skills and the process should be a key focus when working with farms to achieve optimal fertility. It is essential that techniques should be evaluated not only when there are conception rate problems, and that routine ‘refreshers’ should be offered to all relevant staff at pertinent points in the breeding calendar whether the farm is a block calving or all year round producer. This article looks at the process from tank to cow, highlighting areas in the process that should be addressed.

Conception rate problems in fertility investigations on cattle farms are oft en a multifactorial issue. Poor artificial insemination (AI) technique by individuals performing DIY AI on farm is one possible contributing factor. Conception rate can be affected by poor oocyte quality, metabolic disease, oestrus synchronisation methods, environmental stressors, i.e. heat, semen factors, uterine health and causes of early embryonic death (Figure 1).