The Effect of Air Pressure with Cervical Artificial Insemination on the Fertility of Awassi Ewes Synchronized with PGF2α

Abstract

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of air pressure on fertility during cervical artificial insemination with fresh semen in Awassi ewes. A total of 60 reproductively normal-cycling Awassi ewes (2-5 years old) were used in the experiment during the breeding season. All ewes were treated with the PG-7 days protocol consisting of two intramuscular doses of a PGF2α analogue administered 7 days apart. Animals were divided into two groups. The first group (n=30) was cervically inseminated (CAI). The second group (n=30) was cervically inseminated by means of an air pump (APCAI). Artificial inseminations were performed 48 h after the second PGF2α injection. Pregnancy was determined using ultrasonography on d 30 after AI. The pregnancy rate was found significantly higher in the APCAI group than in the CAI group (80.0% versus 46.7%) (P<0.01). The lambing rate was found to be greater in the group cervically inseminated with an air pump than in the group cervically inseminated with the conventional method (70.0 versus 46.7%). The insemination method used had a significant effect on lambing rate (P<0.05). Prolificacy was not affected by insemination methods (APCAI, 1.09; CAI, 1.14). It was concluded that cervical insemination with an air pump in Awassi ewes might improve clinical pregnancy rates by mechanisms yet to be defined.