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Fertility and Sterility Jan 1985Few objective data are available concerning the psychological profiles and attitudes of sperm donors in artificial insemination programs. We studied 30 consecutive new...
Few objective data are available concerning the psychological profiles and attitudes of sperm donors in artificial insemination programs. We studied 30 consecutive new volunteers and 45 established sperm donors using the Cattell 16PF personality profile and an attitudinal survey concerning motives for donation, attitudes toward uses of sperm, desire for knowledge of outcomes, and attitudes toward disclosures of identifying and nonidentifying information between the parties to artificial insemination. Donors differed from the population norms in 7 of 16 first-order and 1 of 4 second-order personality factors, and this difference appeared to reflect their self-selection as donors. The predominant motive for donation was altruism, but secondary motives were also common. Financial motivation was very low in this population with few students. Donors approved of all current and most hypothetical uses of sperm but were not in favor of disclosures of information to other participants in the program. Restriction of disclosures to nonidentifying details was more acceptable. Unmarried donors were more often motivated for nonaltruistic reasons and were more in favor of disclosures. Attitudes of sperm donors were mostly stable over at least 3 years, but an increasing minority with time envisaged circumstances that might lead to their withdrawal from the program.
Topics: Attitude; Fertility; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Insemination, Artificial; Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; Male; Marriage; Motivation; Personality Inventory; Semen; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 3965318
DOI: No ID Found -
Animal Reproduction Science Jul 2012The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is an endangered exotic canid with less than 5500 animals remaining in the wild. Despite numerous strategies to conserve this... (Review)
Review
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is an endangered exotic canid with less than 5500 animals remaining in the wild. Despite numerous strategies to conserve this species, numbers of free-living animals are in decline. It is a highly social species with a complex pack structure: separate male and female dominant hierarchies with, typically, participation of subdominant adults in the rearing of the dominant breeding pairs' pups. Basic reproductive knowledge is largely missing in this species, with only limited information available on the profile of reproductive hormones, based on non-invasive endocrine monitoring. The dominant or alpha male and female are reproductively active and the subdominants are generally reproductively suppressed. However, the occasional production of litters by subdominant females and evidence of multiple paternity within litters suggests that fertility of subordinates is not completely inhibited. In this respect, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge about the mechanisms governing reproduction and reproductive suppression in African wild dogs, particularly the influence of dominance and pack structure on both male and female fertility. Given concerns over the long-term survival of this species, further research in this area is essential to provide valuable information for their captive breeding and conservation. Reproductive information can also be applied to the development of Assisted Reproductive Techniques for this species; the utility of which in African wild dog conservation is also discussed.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Animals, Wild; Canidae; Dogs; Endangered Species; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Ovulation Inhibition; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 22748701
DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.06.003 -
Journal of Dairy Science Apr 2022This study used a stochastic simulation model to estimate the potential economic benefit of using timed artificial insemination (TAI) in combination with conventional...
This study used a stochastic simulation model to estimate the potential economic benefit of using timed artificial insemination (TAI) in combination with conventional unsorted (TCONV) and sexed (TSEX) semen in heifers only (TCONV-H, TSEX-H) and in both heifers and lactating cows (TCONV-HC, TSEX-HC) in a high-producing, pasture-based production system. The scenarios were compared with a conventional reproductive policy (CONV) in which heifers and cows were inseminated with conventional unsorted semen after estrus detection. Sensitivity analysis was also used to estimate the effect of hormone costs from TAI use on the profitability of each program relative to CONV. The mean annual (± standard deviation) profit advantage (ΔPROF) over CONV for TCONV-H, TCONV-HC, TSEX-H, and TSEX-HC scenarios were €3.90/cow ± 4.65, €34.11/cow ± 25.69, €13.96/cow ± 6.83, and €41.52/cow ± 42.86, respectively. Combined application of both technologies was shown to return a greater annual ΔPROF on average compared with that achievable from TAI alone. However, the risk of not returning a positive annual ΔPROF varied across the scenarios with higher risk in TCONV-H and TSEX-HC. Specifically, TCONV-H and TSEX-HC had a 24 and 18% chance, respectively, of not returning a positive annual ΔPROF. Sensitivity analysis showed that when hormone costs increased by €10/cow TCONV-H and TSEX-HC had a 38 and 23% chance, respectively, of not returning a positive annual ΔPROF. The range in ΔPROF for TCONV policies was most sensitive to the TAI pregnancy rate and TSEX policies were most sensitive to the relative fertility achieved with sexed compared with unsorted semen. This study has shown TAI and sexed semen are complementary technologies that can increase genetic gain and profitability in a pasture-based, dairy production system.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dairying; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Lactation; Pregnancy; Semen; Sex Preselection
PubMed: 35181145
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21070 -
Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 2002Embryo transfer (ET) in cattle has been used for the realisation of breeding programmes world-wide for more than 20 years. The efficiency of breeding technology, i.e.... (Review)
Review
Embryo transfer (ET) in cattle has been used for the realisation of breeding programmes world-wide for more than 20 years. The efficiency of breeding technology, i.e. the breeding progress and costs, depends to a large extent on the results of superovulatory treatment and artificial insemination (A.I.). The results of this step are characterised by a high degree of variation. Numerous attempts have been undertaken to explain the reason(s) for this. Numerous attempts have also been made to clarify the importance of different factors affecting the results. Undoubtedly, the applied hormones and the scheme of insemination itself are main factors, which influence the number and the portion of transferable embryos. Therefore this paper is focused on the following aspects of superovulatory treatment with FSH: dose-response relations, bioactivity of the glycoprotein, FSH/LH ratio, ovulation time and time-oriented insemination, frequency of gonadotropin administration and follicular population at the time of gonadotropin application.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryo Transfer; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Luteinizing Hormone; Superovulation; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 12625423
DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2002045 -
BMC Veterinary Research Jun 2023Difference in breed, nutrition status and climate in which animals are managed result in differences in response to reproductive hormones. Fertility rate to artificial...
Ovarian response and conception rate in Boran and Boran*Holstein cows treated by Gonadotrophin-realizing hormone and ProstaglandinF2α with and without exogenous progesterone.
BACKGROUND
Difference in breed, nutrition status and climate in which animals are managed result in differences in response to reproductive hormones. Fertility rate to artificial insemination is very low in Ethiopian Boran and Boran*Holstein crosses. This partly maybe due to adopting estrus and/or ovulation synchronization developed for temperate taurine cattle. Experimental study was conducted to evaluate ovarian response to combinations of Gonadotrophin-Realizing Hormone agonist (gonadorelin) and ProstaglandinF2α (PGF2α) with or without progesterone (Controlled Internal Drug Release/CIDR), and conception rate to timed AI. Postpartum native Ethiopian Boran (n = 60) and Boran*Holstein cross (n = 66) cows were randomly assigned to four treatment groups as Ovsynch (gonadorelin on day of start, PGF2α seven days later, 2nd gonadorelin at 48 h of PGF2α and insemination at 19 h of the 2nd gonadorelin); CIDR + Ovsynch (same as Ovsynch but CIDR device was inserted into vagina for 7 days); Cosynch (same as Ovsynch but insemination was made at the 2nd gonadorelin) and CIDR + Cosynch (same as Cosynch but CIDR was inserted for 7 days).
RESULT
There was no difference (P > 0.05) in ovulation rate to day 9 gonadorelin (88.33% in Boran; 78.79% in Boran*Holstein) and interval from day 9 gonadorelin to ovulation (36.5 ± 1.13 h in Boran and 36.057 ± 1.11 h in Boran*Holstein). Dominant follicle immediate to ovulation (14.95 ± 0.19 mm Vs 19.12 ± 0.49 mm) and corpus luteum size (16.31 ± 0.33 mm Vs 20.28 ± 0.43 mm ) respectively were smaller (P < 0.05) in Boran than Boran*Holstein. Plasma progesterone concentration at PGF2α was higher (P < 0.05) in Boran (11.91 ± 0.74ng/mL) than Boran*Holstein (6.13 ± 0.27ng/mL) but luteolysis rate was lower (P < 0.05) in Boran (87.9%) than Boran-Holstein (96.9%). Cows with CIDR had higher conception rate than cows without CIDR (72.00% Vs 39.02% in Boran*Holstein and 74.07%, Vs 51.52% in Boran respectively). Insemination at 19 h of gonadorelin administration resulted in higher conception rate (78.6% for Boran; 71.43% for Boran*Holstein) than insemination at gonadorelin (69.29% for Boran; 66.67% for Boran*Holstein).
CONCLUSION
Boran cows have smaller preovulatory follicles, smaller corpus luteum, large amount of progesterone and lower rate of luteolysis to PGF2α compared to Boran*Holstein. The CL of Boran cattle seems les reactive to PGF2α than Boran*Holstein CL. CIDR significantly improved conception rate in Boran and Boran*Holstein cows.
Topics: Female; Cattle; Animals; Progesterone; Dinoprost; Estrus Synchronization; Lactation; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial
PubMed: 37264362
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03617-0 -
Journal of Animal Science Jan 2023Currently, artificial insemination (AI) is the most common reproductive method used in swine production. The economic profitability of AI centers is closely linked to a...
Currently, artificial insemination (AI) is the most common reproductive method used in swine production. The economic profitability of AI centers is closely linked to a boar's retention rate and the purchase of replacement boars. The objectives of this study were to examine data of selection process and lifetime of a total of 6,496 purebred Pietrain AI boars and to analyze the frequency and reasons of removal in eight European countries. Data were obtained from two German boar multiplication farms as well as 53 AI centers from 2018 to 2022. The retention time was analyzed from the selection process until replacement and to the end of the examination, respectively. The selection process of the boars took place at 168 ± 5 (mean ± SD) days of age. For further calculations, the removal reasons were divided into nine groups: breeding (BR), died (DI), euthanasia (EU), health (HE), genetics (GE), low libido (LI), sperm quality (SQ), structure (ST), and other (OT). Overall, 56.1% of the examined boars were removed, with 17.5% being removed within the same year they entered the AI center. The annual removal rate for the 53 AI centers averaged 42.4%. The most frequent removal reason was low SQ (45.1%), followed by genetics (28.6%) and low libido (10.6%). The highest relative frequency of removals was observed for an age of 2 yr (34.0%). The highest removal risk was calculated for boars in Czech AI centers (P < 0.001), while the lowest removal risk occurred in Dutch (P = 0.006) and Portuguese AI centers (P = 0.01). The comparison of removal groups revealed, inter alia, higher body weight at selection process for the BR group (117.9 ± 9.0 kg) and longer quarantine periods for LI group (45.9 ± 17.6 d). Boars in the GE group were characterized by the oldest age at removal (934.0 ± 272.8 d) and longest period of exploitation (672.5 ± 266.8 d). The results could be helpful to detect the most common reasons for production failure of AI Pietrain boars and beneficial for establishing an economical removal policy in AI centers and for improving boar management through problem-based selection in boar multiplication farms.
Topics: Swine; Male; Animals; Semen; Retrospective Studies; Spermatozoa; Insemination, Artificial; Semen Analysis
PubMed: 36525599
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac408 -
Journal of Dairy Science Aug 2023Adoption of automated monitoring devices (AMD) affords the opportunity to tailor reproductive management according to the cow's needs. We hypothesized that a targeted...
Adoption of automated monitoring devices (AMD) affords the opportunity to tailor reproductive management according to the cow's needs. We hypothesized that a targeted reproductive management (TRM) would reduce the use of reproductive hormones while increasing the percentage of cows pregnant 305 d in milk (DIM). Holstein cows from 2 herds (n = 1,930) were fitted with an AMD at 251.0 ± 0.4 d of gestation. Early-postpartum estrus characteristics (EPEC; intense estrus = heat index ≥70; 0 = minimum, 100 = maximum) of multiparous cows were evaluated at 40 (herd 1) or 41 (herd 2) DIM and EPEC of primiparous cows were evaluated at 54 (herd 1) or 55 (herd 2) DIM. Control cows received the first artificial insemination at fixed time (TAI; primiparous, herd 1 = 82 and herd 2 = 83 DIM; multiparous, herd 1 = 68 and herd 2 = 69 DIM) following the Double-Ovsynch (DOV) protocol. Cows enrolled in the TRM treatment were managed as follows: (1) cows with at least one intense estrus were inseminated upon AMD detected estrus for 42 d and, if not inseminated, were enrolled in the DOV protocol; and (2) cows without an intense estrus were enrolled in the DOV protocol at the same time as cows in the control treatment. Control cows were re-inseminated based on visual or patch aided detection of estrus, whereas TRM cows were re-inseminated as described for control cows with the aid of the AMD. Cows received a GnRH injection 27 ± 3 d after insemination and, if diagnosed as nonpregnant, completed the 5-d Cosynch protocol and received TAI 35 ± 3 d after insemination. Among cows in the TRM treatment, 55.8 and 42.9% of primiparous and multiparous cows, respectively, received the first insemination in spontaneous estrus. The interaction between treatment and parity affected pregnancy 67 d after the first AI (primiparous: control = 37.6%, TRM = 27.4%; multiparous: control = 41.0%, TRM = 44.7%). The TRM treatment increased re-insemination in estrus (control = 48.3%, TRM = 70.5%). Pregnancy 67 d after re-inseminations tended to be affected by the interaction between treatment and EPEC (no intense estrus: control = 25.3%, TRM = 32.0%; intense estrus: control = 32.9%, TRM = 32.2%). The interaction between treatment and EPEC affected pregnancy by 305 DIM (no intense estrus: control = 80.8%, TRM = 88.2%; intense estrus: control = 87.1%, TRM = 86.1%). Treatment did not affect the number of reproductive hormone treatments among cows that had not had an intense estrus (control = 10.5 ± 0.3, TRM = 9.1 ± 0.2 treatments/cow), but cows in the TRM treatment that had an intense estrus received fewer reproductive hormone treatments than cows in the control treatment (2.0 ± 0.1 vs. 9.6 ± 0.2 treatments/cow). Selecting multiparous cows for first AI in estrus based on EPEC reduced the use of reproductive hormones without impairing the likelihood of pregnancy to first AI. The use of AMD for re-insemination expedited the establishment of pregnancy among cows that did not display an intense estrus early postpartum.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Cattle; Animals; Lactation; Estrus Synchronization; Dinoprost; Estrus Detection; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Progesterone
PubMed: 37349211
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22666 -
Fertility and Sterility Feb 1985
Topics: Female; Gender Identity; Homosexuality; Humans; Insemination, Artificial; Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; Risk Assessment; Single Person
PubMed: 3967780
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Dairy Science Oct 2022The primary objective of this randomized controlled experiment was to evaluate the insemination dynamic and reproductive performance of cows managed with a targeted...
Effect of a targeted reproductive management program designed to prioritize insemination at detected estrus and optimize time to insemination on the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows.
The primary objective of this randomized controlled experiment was to evaluate the insemination dynamic and reproductive performance of cows managed with a targeted reproductive management (TRM) program designed to prioritize artificial insemination (AI) at detected estrus (AIE) and optimize timing of AI by grouping cows based on detection of estrus during the voluntary waiting period (VWP). Our secondary objective was to evaluate reproductive outcomes for cows with or without estrus during the VWP. Lactating Holstein cows fitted with an ear-attached sensor for detection of estrus were randomly assigned to a TRM treatment that prioritized AIE based on detection of estrus during the VWP (TP-AIE; n = 488), a non-TRM treatment that prioritized AIE (P-AIE; n = 489), or an all timed AI (TAI) treatment with extended VWP (ALL-TAI; n = 491). In TP-AIE, cows with or without automated estrus alerts (AEA) recorded during the VWP received AIE if detected in estrus for at least 31 ± 3 or 17 ± 3 d after a 49 d VWP, respectively. Cows not AIE with or without AEA during the VWP received TAI after Ovsynch with progesterone supplementation and 2 PGF treatments (P4-Ov) at 90 ± 3 or 74 ± 3 d in milk (DIM), respectively. In P-AIE, cows received AIE if detected in estrus for 24 ± 3 d after a 49 d VWP, and if not AIE received TAI at 83 ± 3 DIM after P4-Ov. In ALL-TAI, cows received TAI at 83 ± 3 DIM after a Double-Ovsynch protocol. Data were analyzed by logistic and Cox's proportional hazard regression. The proportion of cows AIE did not differ for TP-AIE (71.0%) and P-AIE (74.6%). Overall P/AI at 39 d after first service was greater for the ALL-TAI (47.6%) than for the P-AIE (40.2%) and TP-AIE (39.5%) treatments. The hazard of pregnancy up to 150 DIM was greater for cows in TP-AIE (hazard ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.4) and P-AIE (hazard ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.4) than for cows in the ALL-TAI treatment which resulted in median time to pregnancy of 89, 89, and 107 d. Conversely, the proportion of cows pregnant at 150 DIM did not differ (ALL-TAI 78.5%, P-AIE 76.3%, TP-AIE 76.0%). Except for a few outcomes for which no difference was observed, cows detected in estrus during the VWP had better performance than cows not detected in estrus. Cows with AEA during the VWP were more likely to receive AIE, had greater P/AI, and greater pregnancy rate up to 150 DIM regardless of first service management. We conclude that a TRM program designed to prioritize AIE by grouping cows based on detection of estrus during the VWP was an effective strategy to submit cows for first service resulting in similar or improved performance than a non-TRM program that prioritized AIE or an all-TAI program with extended VWP. Also, AEA recorded during the VWP might be used as a strategy for identifying subgroups of cows with different reproductive performance.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dinoprost; Estrus; Estrus Detection; Estrus Synchronization; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Insemination, Artificial; Lactation; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F
PubMed: 36028340
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22082 -
Poultry Science Feb 1980Studies were conducted to evaluate the reproductive capacity of male broiler breeders used for artificial insemination over an extended period and mated to females of...
Studies were conducted to evaluate the reproductive capacity of male broiler breeders used for artificial insemination over an extended period and mated to females of six strains. Biweekly determinations were made of semen volume, semen concentration, and spermatozoal motility for each of the 47 males caged individually from their 39th to 63rd week of age. The percent fertility, duration of fertility, and percent hatchability were determined at five-week intervals (periods) using three young and three force-molted broiler female strains. With young female strains, the mean percent fertility for a 7-day collection of eggs following a single insemination (1 to 7 days) ranged from 95.7 to 81.1 over six consecutive periods. The mean duration of fertility (days) and the mean percent hatchability of fertile eggs was 13.3 and 13.0, and 92.5 and 84.9 respectively, for the first two periods. With force-molted hens, the mean percent fertility (1 to 7 days) ranged between 97.2 and 86.0 over the first three periods, and the mean duration of fertility and the mean percent hatchability was 13.2 and 12.8, and 91.5 and 84.1, respectively, for the first two periods. Fertility of eggs collected for 10 days following a single insemination was slightly but consistently lower than fertility over 7 days for both female groups. Significant differences among males and between periods existed for each semen trait. The effects of male, young female strain and period on fertility and duration of fertility were significant. Hatchability was significantly affected by period only. No male by female strain interaction existed for percent fertility or hatchability. A significant male by period interaction existed for percent fertility, semen volume and concentration. The results obtained are considered to support the feasibility of maintaining broiler breeders in cages and the use of artificial insemination (AI) to produce broiler hatching eggs.
Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Chickens; Female; Fertility; Genetic Testing; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Semen
PubMed: 7413570
DOI: 10.3382/ps.0590428