A New Device for the Collection of Bovine Semen

Abstract

In general, the act of collecting semen for artificial insemination takes semen from its protected storage environment in the male and thrusts it into the unprotected environment of a specimen collection tube. Even with rapid processing, this leads to drastic shifts in temperature and pH, resulting in a quick deterioration of semen parameters and programmed cell death. This laboratory has developed a species-specific modified collection device (MCD), which was designed to optimize semen parameters by controlling temperature, pH and osmotic stress. In previous studies in the equine, canine, ovine and humans, using the new collection container/technique has resulted in improved semen parameters which are maintained over extended periods of time when compared to the traditional collection methods. Further, in a breeding trail in the equine, fertility rates of fresh semen were maintained for extended periods of time over the control. The objective of the current study was to further investigate the usefulness of the modified device in improving semen parameters and fertility rates in the bovine.