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B122 Semen Handling
Name _________________________________ Date _____________
Objectives
In this lesson we will cover the details on the equipment used for transcervical
artificial insemination (A.I.) and basic semen storage and handling.
Semen Storage/Tank Design
Frozen semen is stored on the farm in a tank filled with ______________________.
This unit is somewhat like a thermos bottle in design with a rugged outer jacket
of
_________________________ or stainless steel and an inner compartment that
contains liquid nitrogen and the _____________________ that hold ___________ of
semen.
The space between the inner and outer jackets is insulated and under extreme
______________________.
A hard foam insulating plug extends from the top and continues down into the
neck of the unit to minimize evaporation and keep foreign objects out of the
tank.
The temperature of liquid nitrogen is _________________ F.
The rate of evaporation, or holding time, depends on tank construction.
In order to maintain the desired temperature, the tank must be
___________________
before the nitrogen has completely ___________________________.
Refilling usually occurs when there is approximately _______ inches of nitrogen
left.
Depending on the tank, it may need to be refilled every _____ weeks to every
______ months.
Protect the tank
The tank must be kept _____________________ and protected from _____________ at
all times.
Damage may result in a loss of vacuum, which allows evaporation to occur
rapidly. If
the damage goes unnoticed, the tank may go dry in less than _______ hours, and
the semen will no longer be usable.
A ______________________ anywhere on the outer jacket indicates that nitrogen is
boiling away, and the semen should be transferred to another tank immediately.
Checking Nitrogen Level
The nitrogen level should be checked frequently and recorded between scheduled
refills to ensure that the evaporation rate is not too great.
The liquid nitrogen level in the tank can be measured by inserting a wooden
______________________ into the tank for ______________ seconds.
Remove it from the tank and wave it vigorously for _____ seconds.
The position of the _______________________ is equal to the depth of the liquid
nitrogen in the tank.
Canisters & Canes
Six to eight ___________________ , which hold a variable number of ___________
of semen, are suspended from the top of the tank neck. Each canister is a hollow
metal cylinder open at the top with a perforated bottom. This construction
allows access from the top while permitting liquid nitrogen and vapor to pass
through the bottom.
Semen
Semen is usually packaged in _________________ straws. Straws are placed into
containers called ______________________, usually in groups of ______ straws.
_______ goblets snap into each cane, one above the other. At the top of the
cane, a metal tab is marked with the bull’s name or code number.
To ensure positive identification, each breeding unit is labeled with the male’s
1.
2.
3.
Keeping an Inventory
It is very important to keep an accurate inventory of the contents of the semen
to save
time and reduce _______________________ to the warmer air outside the
tank.
The following are a few suggestions for maintaining an inventory:
Attach mailing _____________________ on the inside of the semen tank lid with
the bull's name, canister number, and cane code (providing the lid is big
enough).
Use mailing labels, same as above, except place them on the indexing ring by the
canister handle.
Keep a _____________________ with a chart. It is important to know exactly how
much semen is on hand and where it is located.
Precautions
Never drop a ____________________________ into the tank, lower it slowly.
Never wear _____________________ or cloth ___________________ that could
absorb liquid nitrogen which could cause _______________________ if it contacts
the skin. If skin blisters or if eyes are affected, seek medical attention
immediately.
A.I. Equipment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Semen Handling
Frozen semen is a ______________________ product, and all
____________________________________ decrease semen quality to some degree.
For practical purposes, the most damaging temperatures begin in the
_____________ of the tank where a transition to atmospheric temperature is
evidenced by a frost line.
The number of ______________________ to the warmer temperatures of the neck
and the environment must be ______________________________.
If implemented, the following tips will reduce temperature fluctuation and
damage to semen:
Keep a ____________ of the contents of each canister, recording the cane
identification for each bull and the number of breeding units.
Amend this log as semen is removed to avoid needless inventory manipulations.
Do not ________________________ the canister. Overcrowding makes cane withdrawal
difficult and slow.
Learn to work in the _______________________possible part of the neck of the
tank.
Never keep canes or canisters raised for more than ____________ seconds. If the
desired action cannot be completed within that time, stop and lower the canister
for at
least _________ seconds and try again.
Once a straw is removed from its goblet on the cane, _______________. Do not
return it to the tank.
To remove a single straw from the tank, move the canister from its storage
position into the center of the tank. Raise the canister slightly and, while it
is still down below the neck, use a flashlight to locate the desired cane of
semen within the canister.
Lower the canister to the center floor of the tank for 30 seconds, then raise it
again into the neck with the right hand and grasp the desired cane in the left
hand. Lower
the canister immediately, then use ________________________ to grasp the desired
straw.
Thawing the Semen
Fill the thaw jar with _____________ water, and check frequently to ensure the
temperature is constant.
Remove the desired straw from the tank and immediately place it in the thaw jar,
handling the straw by the tip only or with the ______________________________.
(The warmth from a person’s fingers can cause the semen to warm unevenly, thus
lowering the number of live sperm post-thaw.)
Remove the straw from the thaw jar after __________ seconds. If properly
handled, the semen will remain viable for up to _______________ minutes
post-thaw.
Water is ________________________, so ____________ the straw thoroughly with a
paper towel.
Loading the Insemination Gun
To help curb undesirable semen temperature fluctuations, choose a
_______________ area for loading the guns and inseminating cattle.
Before loading the insemination gun, _________________________ by stroking it
vigorously with a hand and pull the plunger back about 6 inches.
Partially remove a plastic breeding ____________________ from the container so
it is easy to grasp when needed. Make certain no crack exists at the breeding
end.
Remove the straw from the thaw water and wipe it completely __________ with a
paper towel.
Loading the Insemination Gun
Check to see that it contains semen from the desired bull and that a small
_______________ is at the _________________________. If the bubble is not at
the crimped end, gently ______________ the straw until the bubble moves to its
correct position.
If the printing cannot be read on the straw, do not use it. Later, ask the semen
supplier for a replacement.
Place the __________________________ end of the straw _______ the gun. The straw
will stop at exactly the right depth.
Use the ________________________ and cut off the straw 1/4" below the lab seal.
Make a right angle cut to the straw.
Slide the plastic ___________________________ over the straw and gun. Be sure
the
plastic O-ring is __________________________ on the gun. If it is not, it may
become tight before the sheath is all the way on the gun.
Firmly tighten the plastic ring with a twisting motion.
Temperature Control After Thawing
Since the straws are thawed in 95 degree water, thermal protection must be
provided, especially on cold days.
Never allow semen to ___________________________! Try to keep the semen
temperature near ____________ degrees while loading the gun and preparing to
breed the cow.
Research has shown that the temperature of semen will change to the environmental
temperature in about _________________ seconds if held in an unprotected gun.
Semen Handling during
Hot/Cold Weather
During hot weather, before loading the straw, make sure the insemination gun is
not so hot that it will cook the semen.
For maximum thermal protection during cold weather, follow the following
guidelines.
___________________________ the gun by stroking it vigorously with a hand five
or six times.
Hold the gun ______________ in your ___________________ to keep it warm.
Insert the straw in the gun and cut the straw tip.
Reinsert the loaded gun back down inside your _______________________.
When you have the animal secured, your arm inserted in her rectum, and her vulva
cleaned and open, quickly remove the gun from the package in your shirt and
insert it into the vagina.
Cleaning Equipment
While artificial insemination cannot be completely aseptic, it should be
performed in
as _______________________ a manner as possible.
Insemination sheaths are disposable and should be used only __________________.
All equipment should be _____________________ in soapy water on a regular basis.
Rinse all equipment thoroughly with hot water after washing.
Record Keeping
A certain percentage of inseminations will fail to result in conceptions.
The best way to determine why the attempt failed is to keep accurate
________________________ on each animal’s cycle and each insemination.
In evaluating a missed conception consider these questions:
Was the female in ________________ standing heat?
Was the insemination too early or late?
Was the ______________________________ below freezing (this could chill thawed
semen and kill sperm)?
Was the cervical penetration insufficient?
Was the female cycling normally?