Restoration and increase of offspring is the main mission of the cattle-breeding enterprise, regardless of the direction of cattle breeding. The activity of the farm will be effective only in the case of competent organization of breeding work. Then we will discuss the pros and possible disadvantages of artificial semen collection from the manufacturing bulls, as well as the conditions necessary to obtain high-quality sperm production.
Pros and cons of artificial seed intake
The widespread practice of artificially collecting semen is due to a number of clear advantages that significantly improve the performance of the farm.
The advantages usually include:
- an increase in the number of simultaneously fertilized females - one portion of sperm is enough for insemination of several (or several dozen) cows;
- continuous updating of the herd population without expensive purchases of new animals;
- proven seed will not become a source of infection, which contributes to the improvement of the herd;
- breeding stock is improving - sperm donors are selected from among the best individuals;
- the presence of frozen sperm makes it possible to organize the one-time birth of offspring, which will keep the young in separate rooms and greatly facilitate the care of them.
The artificial seed intake also has disadvantages, which, however, do not override the advantages and are easily overcome:- the need to organize a special room and purchase equipment
- in some cases, specialist assistance is required.
Taking semen from bulls
Before taking the seminal fluid, the bull must undergo some training. Depending on the nature of the animal pick up a way to supply it to the machine. And only after all the preparatory procedures, work on the direct collection of the seed is carried out.
Find out which bulls are the biggest, how the horns of a bull are arranged, what the life expectancy of a bull is, and also why a bull is inserted into a ring.
How to prepare an animal
On the eve of the procedure, the animal is thoroughly cleaned and washed in the shower with the use of baby or green soap. Water temperature should be within + 18 ... +20 ° С. Sperm from the animal taken after feeding. However, after a meal should pass at least an hour. 
Before taking sperm, a certain sequence of manufacturing bulls is observed in order to form conditioned reflexes for the time and order of taking sperm. The animals are led in a circle one after another for the stimulation of the sexual reflex.
When moving the bulls in a circle, it is not allowed to touch the penis to the skin of another male. Only after reaching a strong erection, the bull is introduced into a playpen to take sperm. 3-4 hours before the start of work, the playpen is irradiated with electric mercury gas-discharge lamps of low pressure.
Did you know? The bull became a ruminant animal as a result of evolution. This animal could not run fast enough, was deprived of fangs and claws. That is why the bulls have developed a special method of eating food: quickly grab, take a sip, run away, then burp and calm it in a calm atmosphere.
The number of lamps is determined at the rate of 1 W per 1 cubic meter of space. Immediately before taking the sperm, the air in the room is humidified (this procedure is necessary in order to precipitate dust). 
How to take (collect) sperm from bulls
Bulls seed can be taken by different methods. Consider the most common ways.
Getting the ejaculate on an artificial vagina
The artificial analogue reproduces the irritations of the nerve endings of the penile mucous, which are close in sensation to the female's vagina. It is obligatory to control the temperature inside the artificial vagina (it should be not lower than 40 ° С and not higher than 42 ° С).
A mannequin or fake bull is used to mount a bull. In the first case, the mechanical machine is covered with a polyethylene cover. To enhance the erection, the manufacturer is brought to the machine or a fake animal before mounting and holding for 3-5 minutes from charging.
Important! Incorrect angle of the vagina can cause stress in the animal and lead to microtrauma. As a result, the blood-testis barrier can be broken and the production of autoantibodies to spermatozoa stops.The seed taker puts on sterile polyethylene gloves. Before piping, a prepared vagina is delivered to the specialist through a gateway from the box. An artificial organ is held at an angle of 30-35 °. When the bull rises, in the hole of the vagina, gently taking the prepuce, enter the penis.
After the bull makes a push, which is accompanied by the release of sperm, and sinks to the forelegs, the artificial vagina is removed. And the resulting seminal fluid is sealed by special welding.
In the interval between the intake of the first and second ejaculate, the bull must be taken out for a 15-minute walk. Between the second and third take, the duration of walking increases to 20 minutes. To avoid inhibitory reflexes in bulls, dummies and procedure sites should be changed.
Familiarize yourself with the feeding ration and conditions of keeping the sires.
Vaginal method
After the manufacturer’s natural set-up, a disinfected special mirror is inserted into the vagina of the female and with its help the sperm is extracted. In this way, it is usually possible to get only a part of the semen extracted by the bull, since the rest is smeared along the walls of the female genital tract.
Massage ampoules semen piping
In this way, the ejaculate is obtained from manufacturing bulls, for one reason or another, unable to jump on dummy animals (limb diseases, advanced age). Before the massage, a mannequin is brought to the male in order to cause sexual arousal and filling the ampoules with sperm. Then, the technician inserts a hand smeared with petroleum jelly into the bull's rectum and gently massages the sperm's ampoules for 2-3 minutes. Sperm is released without an erection. 
External quality assessment of bull semen
Taken ejaculate subjected to macroscopic and microscopic evaluation. Benign sperm must contain a sufficient number of live (capable of taking part in fertilization) sperm. Sperm quality is assessed by volume, color, texture and smell.
Volume
The volume of a bull ejaculate is determined using a graded sperm receiver and a test tube. In a single sperm receiver this parameter is determined by weighing. The average optimal indicator for a manufacturing bull is 4-5 ml. If the producer gives too little sperm, this indicates not only a violation of the ejaculation reflex, but also serious omissions in feeding and maintenance.
We advise you to read about how cattle mating occurs.
Colour
The color of the seminal fluid is examined in good light. Quality ejaculate should be white with a yellowish tone. If the fluid has a pink or red color, it means that blood has entered the semen. Greenish color indicates the presence of pus. A bright yellow shade is observed with the penetration of urine.
Consistency
Normal bull sperm has a creamy consistency. In addition, high-quality semen should be uniform. The presence of flakes, impurities indicates a low quality of ejaculate. 
Smell
Normal bull sperm should not have a special smell. Sometimes the smell of seminal fluid may slightly resemble the scent of fresh milk, which is the norm. The presence of a putrid odor indicates a painful process in the manufacturer’s genitals.
Important! If the external indicators of the ejaculate do not meet the standards, then such sperm is rejected and not used for work. The manufacturer must be thoroughly researched and subjected to proper therapy.
Bulls semen storage methods
Methods for storing sperm outside the body are based on a decrease in the metabolic processes of sperm, which makes it possible to increase the time it takes to preserve their fertility. Today, the most widely used short-term and long-term storage methods.
Short term
For short-term storage, the material is diluted with a special glucose-citrate-yolk remedy. Preparing the tool by mixing 1000 ml of purified water, 30 g of medical anhydrous glucose, 14 g of sodium citrate (trisubstituted, five-water), 200 ml of egg yolk.
Video: collection, packing and freezing of bull seed When storing seed temperature fluctuations should be minimal. For this purpose, the material should be stored in a thermos with ice or in a well-regulated cold store. After dilution, the ejaculate is poured into containers (ampoules, vials, test tubes) until the cork itself in such a way that there is no agitation when moving.
The container is wrapped with a layer of cotton or packed in foam rubber absorbers, placed in bags of polyethylene or rubber. The bags are hermetically sealed and gradually cooled to 2-4 ° C. The shelf life of the seed at this temperature is very small - the material must be used during the day. In the future, the fertilizing ability of the ejaculate is sharply reduced.
Did you know? The bull is a color blind and does not distinguish between colors, and on the bullfight he rushes to the bullfighter's cloak, not at all because he is red. The bull enrages the bullfighter's behavior.
Long lasting
Today, the method of low-temperature freezing of semen and its prolonged storage in liquid nitrogen (at -196 ° C) has gained wide popularity. The shelf life without loss of fertilizing ability in this case is increased by many months and even several years. The method of long-term storage in nitrogen allows you to make large stocks of semen. 
This method of storage requires compliance with the strictest dilution, cooling and freezing technology. Throughout the storage period, a low temperature (not higher than -150 ° C) is maintained, with the slightest temperature fluctuations being excluded.
Did you know? The waste products (manure) of hundreds of millions of bulls and cows living in the United States can supply approximately 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. That is enough to provide millions of homes with electricity.Sperm products are stored in stationary containers that are located in special storage facilities. For long-term storage in liquid nitrogen, sperm is subjected to freezing in the form of lined granules, unlined granules, polypropylene straws (payet) or ampoules.
Artificial insemination broadens the horizons for the development of farmsteads and farmer enterprises. We hope that the information obtained will help you in the work on artificial insemination of livestock.
