Supplementary Readings | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Cleaning and Sterilization of AI Equipment

Cleaning and sterilizing AI equipment is crucial for effective artificial insemination.
Here are the recommended procedures:

Glassware

• New glassware should be soaked in 3% hydrochloric acid for 24 hours to neutralize alkali.
• Clean glassware thoroughly with tap water and then distilled water.
• For used glassware (semen collecting tubes, inseminating glass rods, pipettes), wash with hot water and Vim or 2% washing soda, using a brush.
• Rinse with tap water and distilled water.
• Dry all articles and sterilize in a hot air oven at 160°C for 30 minutes.
• Cloudy glassware due to deposits can be treated with a 5% solution of potassium dichromate or chromic acid for 24 hours before cleaning.

Rubber Articles

• Latex liners, cones, or prepared AV can be sterilized.
• After use, clean AV and cone in water with detergent, then rinse under tap water.
• Immersing in distilled water is essential.
• Due to venereal diseases in bovines, assembled AV should undergo steam sterilization (autoclaving at 10 lbs pressure).
• After sterilization, dry the AV and store in a dry, airtight container until needed.
• Some centers wrap AVs in sterilized paper or store them in a dedicated drying cupboard.

Note

• The steps ensure cleanliness and eliminate contaminants, contributing to the success of artificial insemination.
• Sterilization prevents the transmission of diseases and maintains the integrity of the equipment.
• Following these procedures is vital for a safe and effective artificial insemination process.

Instruments/Metallic Equipment

• Instruments like scissors, forceps, scalpels, and vaginal speculum can be washed as usual.
• Sterilize them in an instrument sterilizer at 100°C (boiling water) for 30 minutes.

Buffer Solutions

• Sterilize buffer solutions used for dilution in an autoclave at 15 lbs pressure for 20 minutes.

Management of Anestrus and Repeat Breeding Female

Anestrus

• Anestrus is a lack of heat cycles in females.
• Causes include non-functional ovaries, persistent corpus lutea (PCL), nutritional imbalances, and hormonal issues.
• Treatment involves finding the cause:
• Provide optimal nutrition, including protein, minerals, and vitamin A.
• Use gonadotropic hormones (FSH, PMSG) or GnRH to induce estrus.
• Milengestrol acetate (MGA), copper sulfate, and cobalt chloride may help.
• Painting cervix with iodine and using mineral mixtures can regulate estrus.
• Proprietary preparations like Fertivet tablets, Prepaline Fort, Tonophore, and Prajna capsules are effective.

Anestrus due to Persistent Corpus Lutea (PCL)

• Corpus lutea (CL) may be preventing estrus.
• Treat with GnRH, HCG, enucleation of CL per rectum, or Prostaglandin (PGF, alpha).
• Repeat treatments if needed.

Repeat Breeding

• A cow failing to conceive after 2-3 inseminations is a repeat breeder.
• Causes may include fertilization failure, early embryonic death, or delayed ovulation.
• Treatments involve addressing specific issues:
• Ensure proper ovulation.
• Check for oviduct obstructions.
• Address defects or deficiencies in eggs or sperm.
• Manage delayed ovulation.

Note

• Proper cleaning and sterilization of equipment ensure the success of artificial insemination.
• Management of anestrus and repeat breeding involves identifying and addressing specific causes to enhance fertility.

Early Embryonic Death

Causes

• About 50-60% of fertilized eggs may die within the first 35 days of pregnancy.
• Causes include:
  • Genetic defects in fertilized eggs or embryos.
  • Genital tract issues, including faulty implantation.
  • Infections like vibriosis, trichomoniasis, or brucellosis causing endometritis and embryo death.
  • Aging of the egg or aging of diluted semen.
  • Deficient progesterone or abnormal regression of the corpus luteum.
  • Blood group incompatibility between dams and sires.

Treatments

• Repeat inseminations for two days or inject 1000 IU of LH/HCG after insemination to induce ovulation.
• Intra-muscular injection of Gn-RH at insemination.
• Intrauterine injection of 1/2 gm streptopenicillin in 10 ml distilled water after insemination.
• If pyogenic infection is present, infuse 10 ml lugol's iodine diluted 1:50 in distilled water intrauterine. Follow with antibiotic treatment for 2-3 days, and insemination is done in the next cycle.
• Intrauterine infusion of Neomycin 0.35g/Nitrofurin 0.5 in 8-10 ml distilled water post-insemination shows positive results.

Note

• Early embryonic death can occur due to various reasons, and treatments involve addressing specific causes to improve pregnancy success.
• Careful management and treatments can enhance fertility and increase the chances of successful artificial insemination.