Method and apparatus to reduce the number of sperm used in artificial insemination of cattle

摘要

The present artificial insemination instrument may include a single use, hollow, elongate, metal pipette and a single disposable syringe that is not toxic to bovine sperm. The apparatus is used with any type of diluent that is not toxic to bovine sperm. In various embodiments, a technician may use non-sorted reduced sperm count semen straws from a bull stud, cut an unsorted semen straw into several pieces to use one piece at a time per cow, thaw one straw and mix the non-sorted semen with diluent, or use reduced sperm count semen straws filled with sex sorted semen by the manufacturer. A procedure is disclosed to use the artificial insemination instrument, reduced sperm count semen from any of the aforementioned sources, a non-toxic syringe, and a diluent to achieve conception rates at least as good as conventional prior art device and procedure conception rates.

主权项

1. A catheter free, speculum free, non-surgical method for artificial insemination of a female bovine using reduced sperm count semen and a diluent, the method comprising the following steps:
(1) aspirating diluent into a single, disposable, syringe, the syringe being made of a material that is non-toxic to bovine sperm; (2) positioning an adaptor between the syringe and a reduced sperm count semen straw to facilitate aspiration of the reduced sperm count semen into contact with the diluent in the syringe forming an insemination solution within the syringe with the diluent; (3) attaching the syringe to a one-piece hollow, elongate, straight, rigid metal pipette having a constant diameter along its length, a longitudinal axis extending along its length, and a proximal and distal end, the distal end of the metal pipette being rounded and including no outlet port on the longitudinal axis of the pipette at its distal end but including only at least one transverse outlet port formed in close proximity to the distal end of the pipette, the at least one outlet port being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pipette; (4) inserting the distal end of the pipette sequentially through a female bovine's vagina, through the cervix and into the uterus using rectal palpation; and (5) pumping at least a portion of the insemination solution from the syringe through the pipette into the female bovine.