Artificial Insemination in Bali Cattle

Artificial Insemination is the process of inserting spermatozoa into the female reproductive tract with the aim that the female becomes pregnant without a natural mating process. Many benefits are obtained from the implementation of Artificial Insemination, including one superior male can marry many female cattle without bringing the male cattle to the female location to be mated and in one ejaculation superior male can produce many spermatozoa, spermatozoa are divided into several strows, so that in one ejaculation times can be inseminated in many female cattle, whereas if one ejaculation naturally can only marry one female. The purpose of Artificial Insemination is to improve the genetic quality of livestock by using superior male semen, to save the use of males, economically there is no maintenance costs for males, prevent transmission of venereal disease, increase livestock population and increase livestock productivity with rapid growth. Therefore, Artificial Insemination technology in cattle becomes an option as a solution to increase livestock population. But until now, the success or pregnancy rate from Artificial Insemination results is still very low. One contributing factor is the lack of accuracy when performing Artificial Insemination by inseminator. In addition, the determination of estrus and ovulation time in cows is very important to know in implementing Artificial Insemination. This is not understood by inseminators or breeders in recognizing signs of estrus in cattle. Lust in cows is characterized by anxiety, swelling and redness of the vulva, decreased milk production, transparent discharge or mucus from the vulva. The duration of estrus and time of ovulation in each species is highly variable and depends on the animal species. The duration of estrus in cattle is 18-19 hours with ovulation 10-11 hours after estrus ends, but determining the duration of estrus and ovulation time in cattle in the field is very difficult, so it is necessary to find a solution to determine the correct Artificial Insemination time. Many studies confirm that the best pregnancy rate is obtained if the Artificial Insemination is carried out from mid to late estrus or cattle that show morning estrus and Artificial Insemination is carried out the following afternoon and vice versa, cows that show estrus in the afternoon, Artificial Insemination is carried out the following morning, but this method has not optimal results in the field. In Bali cattle in Artificial Insemination 24 hours after estrus (first discharge) all become pregnant, while a low pregnancy rate if Artificial Insemination is done too fast or done before 24 hours from the emergence of estrus. Many inseminators perform Artificial Insemination 24 hours before the appearance of the first estrous sign in cattle, this makes spermatozoa in the Artificial Insemination reach the fertilization site too early, and ovulation has not yet occurred, so that when the ovum reaches the fertilization site, spermatozoa have decreased fertility.

Source: Journal Vet. Vol.15, No.3, September 2014