Frozen semen insemination

Question 1

The pregnancy rate for frozen semen remains at…%?

Answer 1

30-40%

Question 2

Success of the program depends on many steps (5):

Answer 2

• Post-thaw fertility (not just motility) of the stallion
• Selection of a suitable mare candidate
• Appropriate storage, thawing and handling of semen
• Timing of insemination
• Appropriate post-breeding treatments

Question 3

Do younger stallions tend to produce smaller quantities of sometimes lower-quality spermatozoa?

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

The Ideal Frozen AI Mare: Younger Mares (4)

Answer 4

• <12 years
• Maidens
• No history of post breeding induced endometritis
• Good physical health and body condition

Question 5

The Ideal Frozen AI Mare: Older Mares (3)

Answer 5

• Foaled recently
• Uterine biopsy of I or IIA
• Avoid foal-heat breeding

Question 6

Why is timing of insemination with frozen semen CRUCIAL?

Answer 6

Spermatozoa partially undergo capacitation as during the freezing process

Question 7

What is capacitation?

Answer 7

•Capacitation is the final maturation step required prior to fertilisation

Question 8

Where does capacitiation occur?

Answer 8

•Capacitation occurs inside the oviduct of the mare under natural conditions

Question 9

Why is capacitation such a problem

Answer 9

•Capacitation leads to cell death within approx 6-12 hours

Question 10

When do we want to inseminate with frozen-thawed semen?

Answer 10

• Ideally within 3 hours of ovulation

* Practically within 6 hours before or after ovulation

Question 11

Monitor mare’s reproductive tract ultrasonographically: Note down when uterine oedema and dominant follicle >/= 35mm… next step?

Answer 11

•Administer hCG (Chorulon) or deslorelin (Ovuplant) at 10pm that night

Question 12

Monitor mare’s reproductive tract ultrasonographically: Note down when uterine oedema and dominant follicle >/= 35mm..Administer hCG (Chorulon) or deslorelin (Ovuplant) at 10pm that night….next step?

Answer 12

•Ultrasound again 32 hours later (i.e. 6am)

Question 13

Ultrasound again 32 hours later (i.e. 6am)… then? (2)

Answer 13

• Continue monitoring every 2-3 hours from 6am

* Inseminate immediately before or immediately after ovulation is detected

Question 14

Example:

• Thursday – mare TUW, uterus 2, 32mm follicle • Friday – mare TUW, uterus 2+, 36mm follicle

Answer 14

Administer hCG at 10pm

Question 15

Example cont:
• Saturday – mare TUW, uterus 2+, 39mm softening follicle
• Sunday – commence scanning at 6am
•6am & 8am - mare TUW, uterus 3, 43mm soft follicle
•10am – follicle very soft, uterus losing oedema – inseminate?
•12 midday – corpus haemorragicum (CH) – mare has ovulated…. What should we do?

Answer 15

Inseminate

Question 16

•Double insemination (2)?

Answer 16

• Inseminate 24 and 40 hours after hCG/deslorelin

* Use additional frozen semen or split dose

Question 17

List 4 facts about deep uterine horn insemination

Answer 17

• Rectally guided insemination
• Deposit semen as close to the end of the uterine horn as possible
• Same side as the ovulation
• Most common for frozen semen

Question 18

List 3 facts about Hysteroscopic insemination

Answer 18

• Video endoscope
• Low numbers of sperm
• Compromised fertility of stallion

Question 19

Post Breeding Endometritis can be defined as:

Answer 19

Inflammation and fluid in the uterus post breeding or artificial insemination

Question 20

Frozen semen tends to induce a greater inflammatory response of post breeding endometritis. True/false?

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Treatments for Post Breeding Endometritis include intra-uterine therapy such as:

Answer 21

• Antibiotic therapy – bacterial culture
• Flushing with saline solutions
• Oxytocin