Artificial Insemination Research Articles

Fertility and hatchability of KUB chicken eggs results from artificial insemination using liquid semen with carrot juice supplementation

Fertility and hatchability of KUB chicken eggs results from artificial insemination using liquid semen with carrot juice supplementation

EFFECTS OF INJECTABLE MINERAL AND VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE FERTILITY OF DAIRY COWS IN FTAI PROTOCOL

The study aimed to assess the impact of injectable mineral and vitamin supplementation, specifically Kit Adaptador®MIN and Adaptador®VIT (Biogénesis Bagó, Brazil), administered at the initiation of a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol, on the reproductive performance and fertility of Holstein cows. One hundred animals were divided into a non-supplemented control group (CG, n=50) and a treated group (TG, n=50). The TG received mineral and vitamin supplementation (1 mL/100kg live weight, IM) on the first day of the FTAI protocol (D0), along with intravaginal progesterone (P4) implantation and estradiol benzoate administration. Blood samples were collected at D0 and D17 to assess superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and P4 levels. Ovarian and uterine ultrasound evaluations were conducted at D0 and D17, with follow-up exams performed 30 days post-FTAI for pregnancy diagnosis. Results showed a larger corpus luteum diameter in supplemented cows (CG=2.14±0.11 cm vs TG=2.64±0.11 cm, P=0.0037), along with increased SOD activity (CG=22% vs TG=25.36%, P=0.045). Moreover, there was a significant difference in pregnancy rates between groups (CG=18.18% vs TG=39.13%, P=0.0029). Injectable mineral and vitamin supplementation at the start of the FTAI protocol may impact post-ovulation corpus luteum development, enhance pregnancy rates, and stimulate essential endogenous antioxidant mechanisms in Holstein cows.

Exploring how milk production, body weight and body condition dynamics affect reproductive success after artificial insemination in dairy goats

In the context of agroecological transition, breeding females with robust reproductive performance, leading to prolonged lactation sequences, is valuable for farmers. This study aimed to explore the relationship between artificial insemination (AI) success and phenotypic lactation curves that serve as proxies for key biological functions in Alpine and Saanen goats. Using data from two French experimental farms (1996-2021), the study analyzed time series data on milk yield (MY), body weight (BW), and sternal body condition score (BCS_S). These data were modeled at the lactation scale to characterize dynamic profiles and create clusters. Each phenotypic lactation curve was evaluated with three levels of detail: cluster membership, synthetic indicators, and model parameters. To investigate AI success, three datasets were used: 638 lactations with complete MY, BW, and BCS_S data; 1,359 lactations with MY and BW; and separate sets with 1,731 MY and 795 BCS_S records. A mixed logistic regression model (year as a random effect) assessed the relationship between AI success and phenotypic lactation curve characteristics. Results showed that for primiparous goats, AI success was influenced by MY clusters (p<0.05), while in multiparous goats, MY and BCS_S clusters did not influence AI success. However, indicators such as persistency (p<0.001) and BW repletion speed (p<0.001) were significant. Overall, the lactation curve shape was more important to AI success than milk production level, offering insights for enhancing reproductive performance in dairy goats.

Genomic regions associated with Holstein heifer times bred to artificial insemination and embryo transfer services

This study aimed to identify loci (p < 1 × 10−5) and gene sets (normalized enrichment score (NES) ≥ 3.0) associated with the number of times a heifer is bred to attain a successful pregnancy (TBRD) for Holstein heifers bred by artificial insemination (AI, n = 2754) or that were embryo transfer (ET, n = 1566) recipients. Eight loci were associated (p < 1 × 10−5) with TBRD in AI bred heifers and four loci were associated with TBRD in ET recipients. The gene set enrichment analysis with SNP data identified one gene set enriched (NES ≥ 3.0) with TBRD in AI bred heifers and two gene sets that were enriched with TBRD in ET recipients. The estimated pseudo-heritability for times bred to AI was 0.063 and 0.043 for ET. The identification of loci associated with embryonic loss aids in the selection of Holstein heifers with higher reproductive efficiencies that are AI bred or that are ET recipients.

S100A4 targets PPP1CA/IL-17 to inhibit the senescence of sheep endometrial epithelial cells

BackgroundGonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is commonly used in animal reproduction and production, but it was previously reported that GnRH decreases the embryo implantation rate during artificial insemination or embryo transfer in sheep. In addition to the finding that GnRH can target S100A4 to inhibit endometrial epithelial cells proliferation, it was also found that endometrial cells were in poor condition and experienced cell death in S100A4 knockout mice, but the mechanism is unclear.MethodsThe protein PPP1CA, which interacts with S100A4, was detected by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry of overexpression and knockdown of S100A4 and PPP1CA. The effect of S100A4 and PPP1CA on cell senescence was detected by Galactosidase staining. To further reveal the mechanism effect of S100A4 and PPP1CA on cell senescence, transcriptome sequencing was conducted. Additionally, in vivo experiments were performed to assess PPP1CA protein expression in the endometrial tissue of S100A4 knockout mice.ResultsS100A4 inhibited cell senescence by activating PPP1CA, while PPP1CA overexpression suppressed the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway. Inhibition of the IL-17 signaling pathway inhibited the senescence of endometrial cells.ConclusionS100A4 can target the PPP1CA/IL-17 signaling pathway and inhibit endometrial epithelial cell senescence.

Effect of Different Thawing Regimes on Cell Kinematics and Organelle Integrity of Nitrogen-Stored Wallachian Ram Spermatozoa

Artificial insemination is an advanced reproductive technology used to increase the number of lambs born from elite sires to accelerate genetic gain in a flock [...]

Integrating proteomics and metabolomics to evaluate impact of semen collection techniques on the quality and cryotolerance of goat semen

sResults of artificial insemination (AI) are affected by changes in sperm quality and the function throughout collection and preservation procedures. Proteome and metabolome alterations of sperm treated with the different procedures in goat, however, aren’t fully understood. To this end, we sought to investigate the impacts of rectal probe electrostimulation (EE) and artificial vagina (AV) semen collection methods on the quality and the cryotolerance of goat sperm, with additional focus on proteomic and metabolomic analyses. Semen samples were collected from Yunshang black goats and categorized into four groups: fresh sperm collected via AV (XAZ), fresh sperm collected via EE (XEZ), frozen sperm post-AV collection (DAZ) and frozen sperm post-EE collection (DEZ). Four comparisons (XAZ vs. XEZ, DAZ vs. XAZ, DEZ vs. XEZ, DAZ vs. DEZ) were performed, respectively. This study first evaluated sperm motility, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in fresh sperm quality parameters between the EE and AV methods. However, notable differences emerged post-cryopreservation. Specifically, the AV method proved more advantageous in preserving the motility, integrities of acrosome and plasma membrane, mitochondrial activity of frozen sperm compared to the EE method. Through the multi-omics approaches, a total of 210 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) related to sperm characteristics and function were identified across the four comparations. Moreover, 32 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) were detected. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis underscored significant molecular pathways in the co-enrichment of DAPs and DAMs, particularly focusing on the citrate cycle, ROS, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism etc. We elucidated the differential impacts of AV and EE collection methods on the quality and cryotolerance of goat semen from omics perspectives, which offer a critical foundation for further exploration into optimizing semen collection and cryopreservation techniques in goat breeding program.

The effect of ambient temperature and relative humidity in postpartum dairy cows on productive and reproductive performance and biochemical blood indices in the subsequent lactation

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of ambient temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) during the postpartum transition period on dairy cows’ milk performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices in the subsequent lactation. A total of 100 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows originating from five commercial dairy farms were categorized into three groups based on average T (&lt;16 °C, 16-20 °C and &gt;20 °C) and RH (&lt;65%, 65-75%, and &gt;75%) on the calving day (0d), and days 7, 14, 21 after calving. With increasing T and RH postpartum, the average daily milk yield during the first 150 days in milk decreased gradually, and the differences between T &lt;16 °C and &gt;20 °C and RH &lt;65% and &gt;75% groups were approx. 3.48 and 2.78 kg, respectively. Milk of cows exposed to increased T and RH was lower in protein, and lactose and higher in fat, milk urea, and somatic cell count. It was also characterized by altered fat composition. Ambient T during the postpartum period had a negative effect on cows’ fertility, which, however, was not affected by RH. The increasing T from &lt;16 °C to &gt;20 °C resulted in the later manifestation of the first estrous (by 27.7 days), a more extended artificial insemination service period (by 19.4 days), a higher number of insemination services per conception (by 0.92 on average), more days open (by 43.3 days), and a longer calving interval (by 43.3 days). Within ranges used in this study, increasing T and RH during the period from d 0 to d 14 postpartum led to decreased body condition score on day 21 by approx. 0.48 and 0.51 points, respectively. Furthermore, T and RH on a calving day were associated with altered biochemical blood indices on d 21 after calving, indicating a more severe negative energy balance and a state of inflammation. The results of this study suggest that dairy cows that calve when T &gt;16 °C should be provided cooling to ensure optimal environmental conditions for high milk production and prevent economic losses associated with reduced milk yield and low fertility.

Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Dairy Farms in Rural Assam: A Double Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

Analysing a sample of 245 smallholder rural dairy farms in Assam, it is found that most dairy farms operate at technically inefficient level. The analysis of input-oriented conventional and bias-corrected data envelopment analysis (DEA) procedure entails that most farms produce milk below the production frontier with underlying scope of reducing variable input component up to 50% to retain the same level of output. Further, exploring the bias-corrected efficiency score determinants, it is found that input use decision is superior for male-headed households, farms that are involved in fodder cultivation, farms with proximity to markets and resource poor farmers whose dairy farming is mostly a principal source of income. The findings of the study indicate presence of ample scope and potential to leverage the technical efficiency (TE) and thereby increase the socio-economic wellbeing of the smallholder dairy farm households in the state. The study also points towards the need for sensitising farmers about the improved dairy farm technologies such as artificial insemination to produce more crossbred cattle along with building a strong network of extension machineries.

Cryoprotective Assessment of Lycopene in Tris-based Extender on Freezability of Bull Semen

Background: Intensive use of artificial insemination is the demand of the present era, it deals with cryopreservation. During this process many changes, especially oxidative damages, which affect fertility and can be neutralized by supplementing some antioxidants. Methods: To conduct this study, a total of thirty-two ejaculates collected from four bulls were preliminary evaluated. Based on progressive motility and viability, qualified samples were processed for cryopreservation. Diluted ejaculates with Egg yolk tris glycerol (EYTG) were split into four aliquots and grouped as Group I: control (without lycopene), Group II, Group III and Group IV as treatment group with 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM and 1 mM lycopene respectively. Post-thaw evaluation for progressive motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, capacitation status, motility and kinematics, in vitro cervical mucus penetration and antioxidative enzymes activity was performed. Result: The treatment group containing 0.25 mM lycopene showed significant (P less than 0.05) improvement in post-thaw sperm progressive motility (%), viability (%), HOS response (%), capacitation status (%), motility and kinematics (CASA), bovine cervical mucus penetration and antioxidant activity (SOD, GST, MDA). This study concluded that lycopene supplementation in bull semen protects spermatozoa from cryo-injury and oxidative stress during the freezing-thawing process.

Sustainable Alternatives to the Reduction of Plastic Straws Used with Chilled Equine Semen

Currently, plastic is used being without any limitations. The livestock sector is no stranger to its use. For example, artificial insemination involves the use of different plastic materials, including semen straws and insemination catheters, which increase the levels of waste in our environment. Finding a sustainable solution to avoid plastic materials is a challenge. The aim of this study was to examine different biodegradable materials as alternatives to conventional syringes used for refrigerated equine semen. The materials tested were bamboo, avocado, grass, paper, Kraft paper, wheat, and rice. Bamboo and avocado were selected to continue testing with the refrigerated semen with a lifespan extended by INRA 96®; the rest of the materials did not meet the requirements necessary for preservation. Motility and movement kinetics tests were performed at 24 and 96 h of refrigeration to evaluate semen quality; relative to the control, significantly better results were displayed in regard to the total and progressive motility avocado straws. The kinetic parameters were comparable to the control for both materials and within normal ranges. After performing a microbiological control process for both straws, it was confirmed that there was no bacterial growth in either straw. We can confirm that avocado straws can be used to preserve chilled equine semen, guaranteeing seminal quality while being respectful to the environment.

An electronic medical record retrieval system can be used to identify missed diagnosis in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous disease. Due to difficulty accessing diagnostic services and a lack of awareness of the syndrome, clinicians often fail to recognize the classic phenotype, leading to missed diagnoses. Relevant medical records were accessed through The BIG DATA QUERY AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 1, 2012 to March 31, 2024. The search strategy included the following key terms: (bronchiectasis OR atelectasis OR recurrent cough OR recurrent expectoration OR hemoptysis) AND (sinusitis OR nasal polyps OR otitis media OR neonatal pneumonia OR neonatal respiratory distress OR ectopic pregnancy OR infertility OR artificial insemination OR assisted reproduction OR hydrocephalus OR congenital heart disease OR organ laterality defect OR right-sided heart OR semen OR consanguineous marriage). Patients were filtered according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and those with clinical suspicion of PCD were invited for screening, which included nasal nitric oxide and whole exome sequencing. A total of 874 medical records were retrieved. After filtering based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 65 patients with clinical suspicion of PCD were identified, 21 of whom accepted our invitation to complete PCD-related screening. Among them, four were diagnosed with PCD, one was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and one was diagnosed with immunodeficiency-21. This is the first study to use an electronic medical record retrieval system to identify missed diagnoses PCD. We believe that the methods used in this study can be extended to other rare diseases in the future.

Conception Rate in Dairy Cows Receiving a First or Repeatedly Used Controlled Internal Drug Release Devices in Timed Artificial Insemination Protocol

Controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices for releasing progesterone have been used for reproductive management in dairy cattle. In order to minimize the cost, the devices can be reused upon disinfection after being used for 7-8 days. Therefore, the aim of this research is to compare the conception rate of dairy cows after the first, second, and third-use of CIDR devices timed following artificial insemination (TAI) protocol. A total of 783 cows receiving short-term hormonal protocol (9.5 days) by inserting CIDR for 7 day. At the initiation of the TAI protocol, cows were randomly assigned into three groups, (1st CIDR; n = 312), (2nd CIDR; n = 233), and (3rd CIDR; n = 238). Moreover, in each CIDR group, cows were subdivided into two types (primiparous and multiparous cows). Cows in all groups were inseminated on day 9.5 of the TAI protocol. Diagnosis of pregnancy was performed using ultrasound on days 30 and 60 after insemination. From the results, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd used CIDR devices did not significantly change the conception rates on days 30 (28.8% vs. 25.3% vs. 28.2%, respectively) and 60 (26.9% vs. 24.5% vs. 27.7%, respectively) post-TAI in dairy cows (P &gt; 0.05). The embryonic loss did not differ among cows receiving the 1st, 2nd and 3rd used CIDR devices (6.7% vs. 3.4% vs. 1.5%, respectively) (P &gt; 0.05). For each CIDR group, parity (primiparous and multiparous) did not alter conception rates on days 30 and 60 post-TAI and embryonic loss in dairy cows (P &gt; 0.05). Our findings indicate that the CIDR device could be used for at least three times in the TAI protocol in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows.

Reproductive efficiency in Bos indicus and Bos indicus crossed: impact of timed artificial insemination (TAI) using a progesterone and estradiol benzoate-based protocol

ABSTRACT Data from 15,342 bovine females subjected to timed artificial insemination (TAI) were analysed with the objective of assessing the pregnancy rate (PR) and its association with breed, number of uses of intravaginal implant, body condition score (BCS), animal categories, number of AI, and estrus expression before TAI. The protocol involved administering intravaginal progesterone + estradiol benzoate (day zero), progesterone removal + prostaglandin F2α+estradiol cypionate + equine chorionic gonadotropin (day 8) and TAI + gonadotropin-releasing hormone (day 10) in animals without estrus. Crossbred cows demonstrated higher PR. Non-suckling cows, those with 1st – and 2nd-use implants, and a single-dose implant demonstrated higher PR between categories; the BCS (>2.75–3.5) resulted in better overall PR. There were no differences in the general PR between number of AI. 2nd-use implants resulted in a better overall PR. Primiparous cows resulted better PR with 3rd-use implants. Animals in estrus before TAI demonstrated a higher PR. In conclusion, this study observed no significant differences in general PR among number of AI. Second-use implants were effective. Crossed and non-suckling cows, and 1st – and 2nd-use and single-dose implants exhibited higher fertility. Estrus before TAI favoured PR.

A review on the functional roles of trehalose during cryopreservation of small ruminant semen.

Sperm cryopreservation is an approach to preserve sperm cells in liquid nitrogen or other cryogenic media for future use in assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination. Sperm cryopreservation has been extensively used in the dairy industry and has attained excellent results after artificial insemination. However, for small ruminants the application of sperm cryopreservation is limited, due to the poor quality of frozen semen and special characteristics of the reproductive female tract. In order to improve post-thaw semen quality various cryoprotectants are used. Currently, many types of cryoprotectants, such as permeable organic solvents, sugars, antioxidants, and natural or synthetic ice blockers, have been tested on small ruminants' sperm cryopreservation. Among them, trehalose; has shown potential acting as an excellent cryoprotectant for semen freezing. While, the exact roles and action mechanisms of trehalose during cryopreservation remain unclear. In this review, we systematically summarized the present usage status, potential action mechanisms, and future application prospects of trehalose in small-ruminant sperm cryopreservation.

Role of intra-individual variation in the detection of thresholds for DFI and for misclassification rates: A retrospective analysis of 14,775 SCSA® tests.

Sperm DNA damage is associated with reduced male fertility after natural conception and intrauterine insemination. However, the impact on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and especially intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments is still unclear. Few studies have focused on the intra-individual variation in DFI even though it may have an important role to play in terms of detection of thresholds and for misclassification rates. Results for Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA®) tests performed for 70 European fertility clinics between January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2022 were examined. A small retrospective study included 406 couples receiving their first treatment with IVF or ICSI. These results were then used for a mathematical simulation to investigate the role of intra-individual variation. The large retrospective study included a total of 14,138 diagnostic tests and 637 tests from an IUI study. The distribution of DFI was assessed for the IUI cohort and cohorts of patients attending Sims IVF and Fertility Center Hamburg (FCH). Descriptive analysis of the data was performed regarding time of year, male age, and year. When DFI was above the thresholds of 15 and 25, a significant reduction in ongoing pregnancies after 12weeks of gestation was observed for IVF and ICSI treatments, respectively. For IVF treatments, the pregnancy rate was reduced from 45.1% to 24.6%, odds ratio=2.58 (p=0.004). For ICSI treatments, the pregnancy rate was reduced from 48.6% to 29.6%, odds ratio=2.00 (p=0.032). Intra-individual variation was significantly related to the misclassification rate and the sample size required to identify a threshold. The percentage of patients with a DFI below 15 was 64.8% for the IUI cohort and 51.7% and 41.6% for cohorts of patients attending Sims IVF and FCH, respectively. The median DFI for these cohorts differed significantly and was 11.6, 15.0 and 17.2, respectively. DFI shows a seasonal variation, and increases with male age. During the past 15 years, the median DFI has increased by 0.05% per year (p=0.02). Ongoing pregnancy rates are reduced significantly for both IVF and ICSI treatments when DFI is above the thresholds of 15 and 25, respectively. The misclassification rate and the required sample size increase with increasing intra-individual variation. Couples with a DFI above 15 are more likely to experience failed assisted reproductive technology(ART) cycles. DFI appears to have increased during the past 15 years.

Swine Industry in Canada: Biosecurity in Live Animal, Semen Transportation, and Embryo Transfer

The pork industry, a key player in the Canadian economy, significantly contributes to livestock production, international trade markets, and employment. The multi-faceted swine industry is comprised of nucleus, multiplier, and commercial herds. The recognition and application of exemplary internal and external biosecurity measures are paramount for maintaining sustainable swine production. Historically, live animal transport has been an important means of disseminating superior genetics between production herds and poses a considerable risk for disease transmission and biosecurity breach points. The industry has evolved over time to employ other methods, through the shipping of boar semen and the adoption of artificial insemination practices to acquire genetic resources with a lower risk of disease transmission. These effective changes have led to an improvement in herd health, production performance, and efficiency. In particular, the industry&amp;rsquo;s dedication to enhanced biosecurity is evident in the effort to streamline embryo collection and transfer procedures. Such advances reduce the potential need to transport live animals, thereby lowering the risk of introducing infectious agents. This review article explores the different forms of disseminating swine genetics, namely, live animal, semen transportation, and embryo transfer, examining potential breaches in biosecurity, and discussing mitigation strategies that reduce disease transmission to protect the health of animal stock.

Evolution of Population Structure, Reproductive Performance, Inbreeding, and Genetic Diversity in Ecuadorian Charolais Cattle.

The objective was to evaluate the evolution of the population structure, reproductive performance, inbreeding, and genetic diversity in Charolais cattle. Official genealogical information from the Ecuadorian Charolais Association was divided into five populations: (a) historical (total), (b) 2008-2012 (natural mating period), (c) 2013-2017 (natural mating + artificial insemination period), (d) 2018-2022 (artificial insemination + embryo transfer period), and (e) the reference (known sires and dams) from which the population structure was evaluated using pedigree completeness and the generation interval (GI). Meanwhile, for genetic diversity (GD), inbreeding (F), average relatedness (AR), and the effective population size (Ne) were estimated. The gene origin probability (number of founders, effective number of founders/ancestors, and number of founder genomes) explaining genetic variability, reproductive efficiency, the number of offspring per sire and dam, and the average ages of parents at the birth of their offspring were determined. The database was analyzed using the ENDOG, POPREP, and CFC software programs. The results indicate that pedigree completeness and the GI decreased over time among populations, although the first generation showed higher values. The sire gametic pathway was greater in all populations. F increased over time, although not markedly. Although Ne variations were observed, the levels remained above the recommended limit value. The GD loss increased progressively over time although the most recent population was not significantly affected. Finally, the female reproductive efficiency increased over time as well. In conclusion, the Charolais cattle GI should be reduced. After 2012, the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and breeding schemes raised the GD loss. Finally, the F increased over time although it could be reduced using foreign genetic resources in the current Ecuadorian Charolais population.

The association of men's beverage intake with semen quality and assisted reproduction outcomes in patients undergoing fertility treatment.

Although some studies have investigated the relationships between beverage intake and reproductive health these have generated conflicting results. To evaluate the associations between men's beverage intake and semen quality parameters and couple outcomes of medically assisted reproduction. The relationship between preconception beverage intake and semen quality was evaluated in 896 semen samples from 343 men. The relation between beverage intake and medically assisted reproduction outcomes (fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, total/clinical pregnancy loss, and live birth) was evaluated in 296 men and their female partners who underwent 714 medically assisted reproduction cycles: 306 intrauterine insemination cycles and 408 in vitro fertilization. Intake of caffeinated, alcoholic, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverages and sub-groups were considered as exposures. Caffeinated, alcoholic, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverage intake was not associated with semen quality parameters or with fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, or live birth in couples undergoing medically assisted reproduction. When specific types of beverages were explored, there was an inverse association between a greater intake of coffee/tea with caffeine and lower live birth probabilities in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization cycles. The adjusted probabilities (95% confidence interval) of live birth in the lowest and highest tertiles of intake were 0.49 (0.38, 0.61) and 0.33 (0.24, 0.43) for coffee with caffeine, and 0.49 (0.33, 0.51) and 0.31 (0.22, 0.41) for tea with caffeine. A similar trend was detected with liquor intake and live birth probabilities: 0.45 (0.37, 0.53) and 0.32 (0.25, 0.41). We also found an association between a greater beer intake and higher live birth probabilities. The adjusted probabilities (95% confidence interval) in the lowest and highest quartile of intake were 0.32 (0.23, 0.42) and 0.51 (0.39, 0.62). Male preconception intakes of coffee, tea, and liquor were inversely associated, whereas beer intake was positively associated with the probability of live birth during infertility treatment.

Rising trends in the use of frozen dog sperm: a retrospective study in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Sperm cryopreservation is a valuable technique for storing valuable canine genetics. However, little is known concerning the fate of frozen sperm stored in a sperm bank. This study aimed to characterize dogs presented for sperm cryopreservation and describe the use and popularity of frozen sperm in the Netherlands and Belgium over recent years. Medical records from dogs presented for sperm cryopreservation between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2022 at two different freezing centers were reviewed retrospectively. Imported frozen sperm was excluded due to lack of usage information. Each sperm cryopreservation was considered a single event, and data were collected separately for each cryopreserved sample. A total of 3,090 ejaculates from 1,040 males of 157 different breeds were included and investigated using exploratory data analysis. The findings showed a steady rise in the popularity of sperm cryopreservation, with annual growth rates ranging from 8.4 to 41.9%. The majority of dogs (88.5%) were between 1 and 9 years old at the time of sperm cryopreservation, with nearly one-third aged 2-4 years. Most dogs were collected for sperm cryopreservation once (62.8%) or twice (21.6%). Sperm banks were used for both short- and long-term storage needs, and 6.83% of ejaculates were eventually discarded. The primary use of froze sperm was for international shipment, while 21.8% was used locally for artificial insemination. Depending on the year of cryopreservation, between 44.1 and 79.6% of frozen ejaculates remained unused or only partially used at the time of data collection. The results of this study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the use and popularity of frozen sperm among dog breeders in Belgium and the Netherlands and suggest a change in breeding practices in recent years. The percentage of breeders resorting to sperm cryopreservation and the extent of frozen sperm use in current breeding strategies remain to be defined in future studies.