Artificial Insemination Center Research Articles

Profiling of seminal plasma proteins to identify the fertility of Simmental bull with low semen quality.

The present study analyzed the seminal plasma proteome and possible relationships between proteins and semen quality in azoospermic and normal Simmental bulls. Fresh semen plasma samples from the Lembang Artificial Insemination Center were used for this study, including one bull (76´ ejaculate) with very poor semen quality/azoospermia (poor fresh semen/infertile; PFS) and three bulls with normal semen quality (normal fresh semen; NFS) for proteomic analysis using a pooled system (NFS-Stud) (60´ ejaculate). The only males obtained with very low quality or azoospermia (PFS) had sperm motility of <10% (one head). Bulls with azoospermic conditions produce fresh semen without sperm or with very little sperm concentration. A total of 109 proteins were identified in the seminal plasma of Simmental bulls analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bioinformatics analysis was used to explore total protein, expression, function, and protein mechanism in the seminal plasma of Simmental bulls. The results showed that the seminal plasma proteins expressed in NFS bulls include ELSPBP1, SIL1, HSPA13, angiotensin-1 covering enzyme, and CRISP1. On the other hand, B2M, C3, CFB, venin-2, and cathepsin S contribute significantly to PFS. The NFS bull proteins play important roles in sperm capacitation, protein transport, sperm motility, spermatogenesis, immune tolerance, and fertilization, while the PFS proteins perform apoptotic and antigen pathway functions. There is an interaction between proteins in the seminal plasma of males with poor semen quality (PFS) and cases of infertility (azoospermia) that cause a decrease in sperm quality in PFS bulls.

Impact of services provided in Uzbekistan on the added value of dekhkan farms

This scientific article focuses on agricultural development, with special consideration given to the specialization of crop types for farmers, dekhkan farms, and landowners. The research emphasizes the significance of providing plant protection products and mineral fertilizers to enhance crop productivity and quality. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of expanding zoo-veterinary centers and artificial insemination centers for cattle, aiming to improve animal health and breeding practices. In the pursuit of agricultural advancement, it is crucial to cater to the specific needs of different agricultural entities, including individual farmers, dekhkan farms (small agricultural cooperatives), and landowners. By tailoring crop specialization to suit their respective capacities and preferences, the study aims to optimize agricultural output and foster sustainable growth. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the crucial role of plant protection products and mineral fertilizers in ensuring healthy and high-yielding crops. By promoting the use of appropriate agrochemicals and fertilizers, the study aims to enhance agricultural efficiency and contribute to food security. In addition to crop-related measures, the article underscores the need to strengthen livestock farming. Expanding zoo-veterinary centers can bolster animal health and welfare, while artificial insemination centers for cattle can lead to improved breeding outcomes and the development of superior livestock breeds. By combining these efforts, the research aims to enrich the range and quality of services offered to agricultural stakeholders. Through these interventions, the study seeks to foster agricultural progress, enhance agricultural productivity, and contribute to the overall economic development of the agricultural sector.

Lifetime and removal reasons for Pietrain boars in European AI centers: a retrospective analysis.

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.

Determinants of Adoption of Artificial Insemination for Dairy Production: In Case of Zala Woreda, Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Despite Ethiopia possessing the largest number of livestock in Africa, its benefit to the country and dairy holder farmers was small. Though the government introduced Artificial Insemination (AI) technology to improve this contribution, but the adoption of AI by dairy farmers was still low. The objective of the study was determinant factors affecting adoption of AI technology for dairy farmers in Gofa zone zala woreda. In this study both qualitative and quantitative data from Primary and secondary sources was collected. Survey questionnaires were used to collect raw data from AI adopters and non-adopters. AI adopters were selected by using purposive sampling because all sampled household heads were the only adopters in the study area whereas non-adopters were selected by using random sampling. The data was analyzed by using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics and binary regression model were used for analyzing data. A binary logit model was used to analyze the determinants of adoption of AI technology. Totally eleven variables were included in the model of which age of household head, training on AI, and frequency of DA contact were found significant at 1% (P&lt;0.01) probability level. On the other hand household head’s educational level, access to AI information, and distance from AI center were significant at 5% (P&lt;0.05) probability level. Finally an effort should be given by the woreda government and livestock and fishery development office in increasing rural adult education, expanding AI center, strengthening DA's regular contact with dairy farmers, strong and appropriate information should be disseminated and training on AI technology should be given, which widens the knowledge of farmers on the technology.

The use of machine learning methods to predict sperm quality in Holstein bulls

The aim of this study was to develop prediction models for total sperm motility, morphological abnormalities and sperm output based on 1,551 ejaculate records of 58 Holstein bulls. The data was collected from September 2019 to November 2020 in a single artificial insemination (AI) center located in Eastern Germany. Factors considered for the prediction models include barn climate conditions, semen collector, number of false mounts, libido, semen collection frequency, breed and age (10–74 months). In this study, the prediction models Lasso, Group Lasso and Gradient Boosting were evaluated. The best model for each sperm quality parameter was chosen using cross validation. The models were estimated with five algorithms for sperm motility and sperm morphology and three algorithms for the number of total sperm per ejaculate (sperm output). For sperm motility and morphology a binary classification algorithm was applied, reaching an accuracy of over 80% for all models. For sperm output, no such classification was used and the only variable selected by all three algorithms was age. Furthermore, for sperm morphology, climate variables were frequently selected. Additionally, network diagrams from Group Lasso show the interdependencies between the major variable groups influencing sperm motility and morphology. In conclusion, the implementation of such prediction tools could help AI centers to optimize management factors and stabilize bull semen production in the future.

Evaluation of Semen Quality in Bali Bull Based on Different Body Weight and Age at the National Artificial Insemination Center, Singosari -- Indonesia

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of age and body weight on semen quality. The material used was secondary data of 50 Bali Bull from 2012 to 2018 which were grouped as follows. Age 2–4 years: body weight (BW) was low (260-408 kg), medium (409-557 kg) and high (558-706 kg). Age 5–7 years: BW was low (314-470 kg), medium (471-627 kg) and high (628-784 kg). Age 8-10 years: BW was low (481-580 kg), medium (581-680 kg) and high (681-780 kg). The method used in this research is a case study. The obtained data was analyzed by using Nested Completely Randomized Design. The results showed that the older the Bali bull, the volume and individual motility increased (p&lt;0.05) but sperm concentration decreased (p&lt;0.05). Age 2-4 years: BW significantly affected (p&lt;0.05) the volume, sperm concentration and individual motility. Age 5-7 years: BW significantly affected (p&lt;0.05) the volume and individual motility, but not significantly (p&gt;0.05) sperm concentration. Age 8-10 years: BW significantly affected (p&lt;0.05) the volume, sperm concentration and individual motility. The research concluded that the selection of Bali cattle to obtain good quality of semen production should consider the body weight.&#x0D; Keywords: Age, body weight, semen quality, semen production, Bali bull

Green tea extract addition into a Tris-based egg yolk extender improves Bali bull sperm quality.

The conservation of Bali bulls, the Indonesian native breed of cattle, is crucial for cattle breeding in Indonesia. To guarantee the spread of Bali bulls through artificial insemination the quality of the frozen semen must be high. To this end, adding an extender material to semen that increases spermatozoa's survival during cryopreservation is important. Green tea extract (GTE) can be used as cryoprotectant because its high antioxidant activity can help avoid reactive oxygen species formation. Semen of five Bali bulls from the National Artificial Insemination Center at Singosari, Indonesia was collected routinely twice a week. First, fresh semen inspection was performed to determine the feasibility of using Bali bulls as animal samples. The extender used in this study was Tris-based egg yolk. The samples were divided into four treatments: T0, no GTE added to the extender; T1, 0.05 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender; T2, 0.10 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender; and T3, 0.15 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender. The semen freezing process was conducted according to standard procedures and sperm quality parameters, i.e., sperm motility, viability, abnormalities, and membrane integrity observed pre-freezing and post-thawing. There were significant differences in total motility, progressive motility, viability, and integrity membrane of Bali bull sperm at both pre-freezing and post-thawing after adding GTE into the extender. In contrast, there were no differences in abnormalities among treatments. Adding GTE at a 0.15 mg into 100 mL Tris-based egg yolk extender can improve the quality of cryopreserved Bali bull sperm.

Correlation between Semen Quality, Libido, and Testosterone Concentration in Bali Bulls

Indonesia has two National Artificial Insemination Centers (AIC) and more than 15 Regional Artificial Insemination Centers (RAIC) spread across several provinces. Bulls in the AIC must have a high libido and produce good quality semen. This study examines the correlation between libido with semen quality and testosterone concentration to determine potential frozen semen production from Bali bulls in South Sulawesi RAIC. Ten Bali bull were used in this study. Semen collection was carried out twice a week with semen evaluation following the RAIC protocol. At the same time, blood samples and libido measurements were carried out from each bull. The frozen semen production potential was calculated by multiplying the semen volume, motility, and sperm concentration. The results showed that the quality of fresh semen and testosterone concentrations did not differ between high and low libido of Bali bulls. Libido has a positive correlation with semen volume (r= 0.52) and sperm motility (r= 0.62), while testosterone concentration has a negative correlation with semen volume (r= -0.65), sperm motility (r= -0.60), and libido (r= -0.48). Bulls with high and low libido have good frozen semen production potential, ranging from 19,755 – 21,640 straws per year. Bali bulls in RAIC have fresh semen quality and testosterone concentrations under normal conditions, with high potential for frozen semen production, although only 60% of Bali cattle have high libido and 40% have low libido.

Study of the quality and integrity of spermatozoa acrosome caps in frozen sexing semen Friesian Holstein cattle

Artificial insemination (AI) of dairy cows using sexing semen is the right choice to obtain female calves as replacement stock. The success of AI is influenced by the quality of the spermatozoa used. The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of semen produced by Lembang Artificial Insemination Center. The material used is 30 frozen semen straws of FH cattle produced by Lembang Artificial Insemination Center. This research method uses observational methods. The research variables included individual motility, viability, abnormalities, concentration, total motile spermatozoa, and intact acrosome caps of spermatozoa. The data obtained were analyzed by the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and continued with Duncan's test if significantly different. The results showed that individual motility, concentration, total motile spermatozoa, and intact acrosome caps of spermatozoa had a very significant effect on all treatments (P&lt;0.01), while spermatozoa abnormalities had a significant effect (P&lt;0.05) on all treatments, but on viability, there was no effect (P&gt; 0.05) in all treatments. Motility of individual spermatozoa in non-sexing semen (55.80±4.56)%, sperm X (46.30±5.36)%, sperm Y (46.70±6.40)%. Viability of spermatozoa in non-sexing semen (74.57±4.05)%, sperm X (73.24±2.30)%, sperm Y (72.51±2.68)%. Spermatozoa abnormalities in non-sexing semen (2.73±2.24)%, sperm X (4.94±1.57)%, sperm Y (3.25±2.72)%. Concentration of non-sexing semen (33.88±1.98 million/mini straw), sperm X (25.06±4.29 million/mini straw), sperm Y (25.13±5.74 million/mini straw). The number of sperm motile non-sexing (18.60±1.58 million/mini straw), sperm X (11.68±2.82 million/mini straw), sperm Y (25, 11.64±2.68 million/mini straw). Intact acrosome caps, non-sexing semen (78.40±4.84)%, sperm X (74.08±3.80)%, sperm Y (70.70±4.78)%.

EFFECT OF SPECIES AND SEASON ON LAMINITIS PREVALENCE IN SEMEN-DONOR BULLS

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of species, season, and their interaction on laminitis prevalence in three semen-donor bull species in the Artificial Insemination Centre under tropical conditions. The average prevalence in each species (Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and Bos sondaicus) was calculated based on the number of monthly incidents compared to the current population during 2020, while the two-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of species, seasons (wet and dry season) and species-season interactions to the prevalence of laminitis. The average prevalence in Bos taurus, indicus, and sondaicus during dry season was 7.582±1.841%, 1.190±1.844%, 0.451±1.103%, and during wet season was 8.521±4.808%, 1.262±1.960%, 0.451±1.103% respectively. This study revealed that Bos taurus bull species more susceptible to laminitis compared to Bos indicus and Bos sondaicus. However, there is no influence of seasons and interactions between seasons and species on laminitis prevalence. In conclusion, this study has proven that laminitis can occur in all semen-donor bull species despite differences in susceptibility, species, or season.

Seasonal effects on the semen production of Bali bulls (Bos javanicus) in West Nusa Tenggara's Lelede regional artificial insemination center

&lt;p class="MDPI17abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of the rainy and dry seasons on the sperm qualities and frozen sperm production of Bali bulls at the Lelede Regional Artificial Insemination Center (RAIC) in West Nusa Tenggara.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MDPI17abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 1226 ejaculates were examined from five Bali bulls during a 24-month period (November 2018–October 2019), which was classified into rainy (November–April, 658 ejaculates) and dry (May–October, 568 ejaculates) seasons. Semen volume (mL), sperm velocity (1-4), motility (%), concentration (x106 cell/ml), pre-freezing motility (%), post-freezing motility (%), recovery rate (%), and total frozen semen production were examined as sperm quality measures.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MDPI17abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The results indicated that during the rainy season, ejaculates and processed sperm were more abundant than during the dry season. Additionally, the features of discarded fresh semen in the volume parameter were significantly (P&amp;lt;0.05) larger during the dry season than during the rainy season. The pattern in semen output rises during the dry season and decreasing during the rainy season.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;It was concluded that the rainy season results in a higher number of ejaculates and total sperm production than the dry season. Meanwhile, no differences in sperm characteristics exist between the two seasons.&lt;/p&gt;

Factors affecting calf parturition of the Ongole grade beef heifers

Serious economic losses due to calf or heifer increasing mortality during parturition, the normal calving period without human interference was urgently needed. The most important internal factor influencing calving difficulty was Calf birth weight (CBW). Other external factors considered to contribute calving difficulty were heifer live weight (HLW), heifer body length (HBL), and heifer chest girth (HCG), calf parturition durability (CPD) representing linear CBW. Objective of this study was to estimate above factor mostly affecting calving difficulty of Ongole Grade heifers mated by artificial insemination method. Study was involving 126 Ongole Grade heifers at the artificial insemination center of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Data on HLW, HBL, HCG, CPD and CBW were collected from 126 heifers at ages of two to three years old. All linear body measurements were included as independent variables in multiple regression equation affecting dependent variable of CBW in the models using statistical datasheet of Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Results showed that HCG, HBL and CPD as independent variables can be recommended to predict CBW representing internal factor of Ongole Grade heifers in the multiple regression model as follows: Calf birth weight (Y in kg) = 26.871 + 0.0033 heifer body length (X1 in cm) – 00.0255 heifer chest girth (X2 in cm) + 0.032 calf parturition durability (X3 in minute) with determination coefficient (R2) of 0.91.

Efficacy of Nigella sativa extract on abnormalities of cryopreserved sperm of Holstein bulls raised in Iraq

The present study was performed on Holstein bulls at the Department of Artificial Insemination center/ Directorate of Animal Resource, Ministry of Agriculture in Abu-Ghraib, Baghdad, during the period from December 2021 to June 2022.The study was conducted to enrich low semen quality by adding Nigella sativa aqueous extract to semen Tris extender.Three to five years old bulls (No= 4), weighing 500-750 Kg body weight were used for semen collection by artificial vagina (AV) weakly. Bad pooled fresh semen was divided into four groups.First group used a control containing Tris extender only (C), second group added 0.5% NS extract,third group added 2% NS extract, and the fourth group added 4% NS extract.The results revealed different aqueous extract of N.S after zero time and 2 hrs.Post-cooling, for head abnormalities no significant differences (P&lt;0.05) between treatment and control, while it recorded a significant decrease in T1 and T2, compared with T3 and T4, after 4 hrs., post-cooling and 48 hrs., post freezing (cryopreservation), mid-piece abnormalities reported no significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in all groups at zero time, after 4 hrs., post-cooling and 24 hrs., post freezing while it recorded a significant decrease (P&lt;0.05) in T2 and T3 compared with T1 and T4 after 2hrs.

Boar Semen Shipping for Artificial Insemination: Current Status and Analysis of Transport Conditions with a Major Focus on Vibration Emissions.

Simple SummaryLiquid preserved boar semen is a perishable product, and many environmental influences can affect sperm quality during transport from the boar station to the sow farm. Previous studies have shown that vibration emissions have a negative effect on spermatozoa, however, there has been no documentation of the vibrations spermatozoa are exposed to during transport. To answer this question, several breeding companies worldwide were interviewed about their delivery process. As it turns out, environmental influences are only rarely recorded, and vibrations are not monitored at all. To record and to evaluate vibrations that occur during transport, we have developed a measurement system and investigated vibration intensities in standardized road trials. We were able to show that both speed and road surface significantly influence the produced vibrations. Furthermore, the occurrence of the vibrations on a reference delivery from a German boar stud was studied. In the future, it is recommended that in order to avoid negative influences during transport, the transport of boar semen should be permanently monitored.In the modern pig reproduction system, artificial insemination (AI) doses are delivered from AI centers to sow farms via logistics vehicles. In this study, six breeding companies in three countries (Brazil, Germany, and the USA) were interviewed about their delivery process. It was found that there is currently no comprehensive monitoring system for the delivery of semen. The entire process “shipping of boar semen” was documented using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). Although it is not currently known which vibrations occur at all, it is suspected that vibration emissions affect the quality of boar semen. For this reason, a prototype of a measuring system was developed to calculate a displacement index (Di), representing vibration intensities. Vibrations were analyzed in standardized road trials (n = 120) on several road types (A: smooth asphalt pavement, B: rough asphalt pavement, C: cobblestone, and D: dirt road) with different speeds (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 km/h). A two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in mean Di, depending on road surface and speed as well as an interaction of both factors (p < 0.001). A field study on a reference delivery from a German AI center to several sow farms indicated that 33% of the observed roads are in good quality and generate only a few vibrations (Di ≤ 1), while 40% are of a moderate quality with interrupted surfaces (Di = 1–1.5). However, 25% of the roads show markedly increased vibrations (Di ≥ 1.5), as a consequence of bad conditions on cobblestones or unpaved roads. Overall, more attention should be paid to factors affecting sperm quality during transport. In the future, an Internet of Things (IoT) based solution could enable complete monitoring of the entire transport process in real time, which could influence the courier’s driving behavior based on road conditions in order to maintain the quality of the transported AI doses.

Detection of DNA Damage in Frozen Bovine Semen Using Eosin Staining.

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Early detection of DNA defects in spermatozoa is vital because genetic abnormalities are associated with infertility and miscarriage. Eosin is an acidic stain with negatively charged chromatolytic components also found in the cytoplasm of spermatozoa. This study aimed to observe the effectiveness of eosin staining in detecting spermatozoa DNA deterioration. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; A total of four-hundred frozen beef straws from Simmental, Limousin and Brahman cattle and Ongole crossbreeds, were obtained from the Singosari National Artificial Insemination Center, Malang, Indonesia.Hydrogen peroxide was used to degrade frozen sperm. In addition, the sperm was subjected to three treatments: Agarose trapping, membrane lysis and eosin staining. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Damaged bull spermatozoa stained with eosin were bright red in color around the head and mid piece, whereas the head of undamaged spermatozoa were darker red. The average value of damaged DNA was 89.08±3.27% as assessed with eosin staining. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Eosin staining effectively detects DNA damage in bull spermatozoa, but extended effectiveness tests are considered necessary.

TRADITIONAL DAIRY HUSBANDRY PRACTICES VIS-A VIS ESTRUS SYNCHRONIZED AND ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATION ON DAIRY CATTLE PERFORMANCES IN ETHIOPIA

The study was conducted with the objective to assess breeding and husbandry practices of dairy cattle and to evaluate estrus synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) services of dairy cattle. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, retrospective study, field monitoring and a participatory farmers’ group discussion. A total of 180 respondents were randomly selected from the two districts (90 from each). For retrospective study; data were collected on productive and reproductive performance of 911 dairy cattle from record books of the AI centers for the 2017 to 2018 period. Field monitoring was conducted for 3 months on 80 cows. The dairy cows or heifers were selected purposively from kebeles and households. The data obtained from the survey were analyzed using (SPSS version 20) and the data from the retrospective study and field monitoring were analyzed using (SAS version 9.1). For quantitative data obtained from the field monitoring general linear model procedure of the statistical analysis system (SAS version 9.1) was used. The Natural pasture was the dominant feed source in highlands whereas non-conventional feed was the dominant feed source in midl-altitude [1-3]. Farmers keeping Holstein Friesian and jersey breeds gave slightly higher priority to milk production for cash income, whereas those keeping local cattle breeds gave higher priority to milk production for own consumption. The average age at first calving for native and crossbred cows was 56.48±0.88 and 48.66±8.07 months respectively. AI was the dominant mating system (70.0%) followed by the natural mating system (21.7%). The main reasons for the presence of less satisfaction on AI service were heat detection problem followed by disease, absence of AI technician’s efficiency and distance of AI center [4-6]. Around half (48.3%) of the respondents have medium satisfaction with AI service and synchronization programs. The overall conception rate and number of service per conception were 77% and 1.3% respectively. For our findings, it can be concluded that selecting animals with appropriate age, body condition score (BCS) farmers’ awareness to detect heat and on-time insemination were important factors for improving the efficiency of synchronization program.

The Increase of Madura Cows Reproduction Performance with Double-Dose Method of Artificial Insemination

One of the potencies of Madura cow genetics is its adaptation ability to the tropical climate. Yet in most cases, the reproduction efficiency of the Madura cows has not reached the optimum point. This research examines the use of double-dose artificial insemination compared to a single-dose on Madura cows. The study was conducted in Daramista, Lenteng District, Sumenep Regency, Madura, East Java. This research utilized an experimental field method with purposive sampling on 100 Madura cows, with a body condition score of 3-4, aged about 2-6 years old. The treatments were divided into two groups, T0 and T1. T0 cows received single-dose artificial insemination treatment on the 8th h after estrus and T1 cows received double-dose artificial insemination treatment on the 2nd and 8th h after estrus. The Singosari National Artificial Insemination Centre produced Madura bull frozen semen straws used in this research. Before inseminating, frozen semen straws were thawed at 28°C for 30 sec. This research observed some variables, including; Non-Return Rate (NRR1, NRR2, NRR3), Service per Conception (S/C), Conception Rate (CR), and estrus quality condition as supporting data. The researchers analyzed the data descriptively and through chi-square analysis. The result of the study showed that NRR1, NRR2, and NRR3 of T0 were 94, 84, and 70%, while NRR1, NRR2, and NRR3 T1 were 92, 86, and 82%. The CR of T0 was 64% compared to the CR of T1 at 76%. The double dose insemination method at different times on the 2nd and 8th h after estrus can increase the reproduction performance in Madura cows.

The Quality of Buffalo Sperm Following Preservation Using Different Diluents and Sperm Concentrations

Artificial Insemination (AI) success depends on the quality of the frozen semen. The quality of the frozen semen of swamp buffalo in Indonesia is still low. The study was conducted to determine the quality of buffalo sperm following freezing using three different diluents and three different doses. The study used buffalo semen from the Tuah Sakato Artificial Insemination Center, Payakumbuh (n = 3). The semen collecting was carried out once a week for 10 weeks (replication). The research method used was 3x3 factorial randomized block design. The first factor was diluent (Triladyl®, Andromed® and Tris egg- yolk) and the second factor was the dose of spermatozoa (10 and 15 and 20 x 106 sperm/ml). Data were analyzed using variant analysis, while the differences between treatments were tested by Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the plasma membrane integrity of buffalo sperm was found in Andromed® diluent, while tris egg-yolk diluent gave better motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity and recovery rate at a sperm concentration of 20 x106 sperm/mL compared to triladyl® diluent and a sperm concentration of 10 and 15 x106 sperm/mL. It was concluded that andromed® diluent and tris egg-yolk gave better motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity and recovery rate at a sperm concentration of 20 x106 sperm/mL compared to triladyl® diluent and a sperm concentration of 10 and 15 x106 sperm/mL. of Buffalo of sperm abnormalities not sicnificantly by the type of diluent but are influenced by sperm concentration.

Genome-wide detection of non-additive quantitative trait loci for semen production traits in beef and dairy bulls

Semen production traits are important aspects of bull fertility, because semen quantity leads to direct profits for artificial insemination centres, and semen quality is associated with the probability of achieving a pregnancy. Most genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for semen production traits have assumed that each quantitative trait locus (QTL) has an additive effect. However, GWASs that account for non-additive effects are also important in fitness traits, such as bull fertility. Here, we performed a GWAS using models that accounted for additive and non-additive effects to evaluate the importance of non-additive effects on five semen production traits in beef and dairy bulls. A total of 65 463 records for 615 Japanese Black bulls (JB) and 50 734 records for 873 Holstein bulls (HOL), which were previously genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip, were used to estimate genetic parameters and perform GWAS. The heritability estimates were low (ranged from 0.11 to 0.23), and the repeatability estimates were low to moderate (ranged from 0.28 to 0.45) in both breeds. The estimated repeatability was approximately twice as high as the estimated heritability for all traits. In this study, only one significant region with an additive effect was detected in each breed, but multiple significant regions with non-additive effects were detected for each breed. In particular, the region at approximately 64 Mbp on Bos taurus autosome 17 had the highest significant non-additive effect on four semen production traits in HOL. The rs41843851 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the region had a much lower P-value for the non-additive effect (P-value = 1.1 × 10−31) than for the additive effect (P-value = 1.1 × 10−8) in sperm motility. The AA and AB genotypes on the SNP had a higher phenotype than the BB genotype in HOL, and there was no bull with the BB genotype in JB. Our results showed that non-additive QTLs affect semen production traits, and a novel QTL accounting for non-additive effects could be detected by GWAS. This study provides new insights into non-additive QTLs that affect fitness traits, such as semen production traits in beef and dairy bulls.

Assessment of Frozen Semen Quality through Foldscope Microscopy- A Novel Application of Frugal Science to Reduce the Infertility Rate

Background: Quality determination of frozen semen before using for Artificial Insemination (AI) in cattle is of paramount importance. The success of cattle AI programs is largely depends on the use of good quality semen and thus assessment of semen quality parameters before AI will improve the conception rate and reduces the loss associated with repeated breeding. Among the various semen quality indicators, sperm motility is one of the important parameter and it should be evaluated immediately after semen collection (before freezing) and 24 hrs after freezing as per minimum standard protocol in frozen semen production. Though the motility is a major determinant of spermatozoa ability to reach the site of fertilization and it is affected by cryopreservation and subsequent poor cold storage facilities, motility is not frequently evaluated under field conditions. In the current scenario, many of our government AI sub-stations in remote villages are not equipped with microscope facility for semen quality evaluation before AI. Methods: In this study, we used foldscope, an origami-based paper microscope which give optical quality similar to conventional microscopes (magnification of 140X and 2-micron resolution), to evaluate the frozen semen motility at field level. In this study, the motility of spermatozoa was observed under foldscope and concluded that foldscope is very useful to asses the motility befor AI and improve the fertility in dairy animals. Result: We revealed that, utility of foldscope to assess the motility of spermatozoa was evaluated under field conditions and observed that 46% of sperms were motile. Further, evalaution of sperm motility before AI is not very common practice due to lack of microscope in many AI centres. Therefore, foldscope will be very useful at field conditions to avoid AI using poor quality semen and subsequent loss associated with repeat breeding problems.