Artificial Insemination (AI)

Question 1

What is artificial insemination?

Answer 1

Artificial insemination (AI) is the process of placing a pipette through the cervix of the mare and depositing semen into her uterus.

Question 2

In preparation for AI, mares should be …………… and/or ……………….in order to determine their oestrous state.

Answer 2

teased, ultrasound scanned

Question 3

What drug can be administered to mares in the luteal phase (so long as the CL is greater than five days old) in order to shorten their cycle and improve predictability of ovulation?

Answer 3

Prostaglandin (PGF2α)

Question 4

When deciding on the day on which to administer PGF2α, remember that semen can generally only be shipped on a week day, so it is best to administer PGF2α between …………….. and ………… depending on the size of the dominant follicle at the time of administration.

Answer 4

Thursday and Sunday,

Question 5

mares with smaller follicles at the time of PGF2α administration usually return to oestrus more rapidly than those who have larger follicles. . T/F?

Answer 5

FALSE: mares with larger follicles at the time of PGF2α administration usually return to oestrus more rapidly than those who have smaller follicles.

Question 6

When should daily scanning be commenced?

Answer 6

Daily scanning should be commenced at the first signs of oestrus

Question 7

What are the main things we monitor in the daily scans? (2)

Answer 7

monitoring changes in follicle size and uterine oedema.

Question 8

On the day on which the dominant follicle first reaches ….. in diameter, semen can be ordered to arrive on the following day..

Answer 8

35-38mm

Question 9

An ovulation induction agent such as ………… can be administered once shipment of the semen has been confirmed.

Answer 9

(hCG or a GnRH agonist)

Question 10

When should mares be scanned (post insemination) to ensure that ovulation has occurred?

Answer 10

within 48 hours of insemination

Question 11

Explain why post-breeding treatments may be required by some mares..

Answer 11

reduce infection, fluid and inflammation and maximise the likelihood of conception.

Question 12

Frozen semen should be inseminated during the period from …………, to ……………………..

Answer 12

12 hrs before to 6 hours after ovulation

Question 13

Deslorelin - GnRH agonist (Ovuplant):

Answer 13

Subcutaneous implant that releases a GnRH agonist – hastens ovulation

Question 14

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - hCG (Chorulon)

Answer 14

LH-like action – hastens ovulation. Effective only when a mare has a 35mm+ follicle

Question 15

Prostaglandin – PGF2 (e.g. Estrumate, Lutalyse)

Answer 15

•Lyses the progesterone-producing CL
•Causes mare to come into oestrus and ovulate 2-7 days following administration, depending on size of largest follicle at the time of administration
Causes cramping and sweating