Does intrauterine site of insemination in cattle really matter?

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to determine the influence of semen placement on pregnancy rate in dairy heifers and cows. Seventy-two dairy heifers were artificially inseminated (AI) 10 to 12 h after the first detection of estrus. Control heifers (n = 25) were inseminated at the junction of the uterine body and internal cervical os. The remaining heifers were inseminated deep in one uterine horn, 3 to 5 cm anterior to the external bifurcation. Twenty-three heifers were inseminated in the horn ipsilateral to the ovary bearing the ovulatory follicle, and 24 heifers were inseminated in the contralateral horn. Pregnancy rates did not differ for the three groups of heifers. In a second trial, 64 inseminations were performed in 38 nonlactating, adult dairy cattle. Thirty-one inseminations were made deep in the uterine horn ipsilateral to the ovary bearing the ovulatory follicle and 33 in the contralateral horn. Pregnancy rates were similar for both groups. Combining both trials, pregnancy rates for ipsilateral and contralateral inseminations were equal ( 32 54 = 59% and 34 57 = 60% , respectively). Therefore, placement of semen in one horn of the uterus does not appear to be a cause of decreased or increased pregnancy rate with AI.