定时输精对母猪繁殖性能的影响

为了研究同期发情+定时输精对母猪发情率、妊娠率及产仔数的影响。试验1:将200头后备母猪随机分成两组,每组100头。所有后备母猪连续饲喂四烯雌酮(ATL)(15 mg/d)14 d,第15 d开始查情。试验组后备母猪停止饲喂ATL 24 h后肌注促性素(PMSG)、再过72 h肌注生源(Gn RH),肌注Gn RH 24 h后开始输精1次,过24 h再输精1次;对照组后备母猪停止饲喂四烯雌酮后有发情就开始输精,过24 h再输精1次(如还发情,第2次输精过24 h后再输精1次);试验2:将200头断奶母猪随机分成两组,每组100头,断奶第2 d开始查情。试验组断奶母猪断奶24 h后肌注促性素(PMSG),再过72 h肌注生源(Gn RH),肌注Gn RH 24 h进行输精1次,过24 h再输精1次;对照组断奶母猪发情就开始输精,过24 h再输精1次(如还发情,第2次输精过24 h后再输精1次);精液剂量为80 ml(2×109个精子细胞)。试验1结果显示,试验组的后备母猪的静立率(P>0.05)、妊娠率(P<0.05)、分娩率(P<0.05)、窝产仔数(P>0.05)均高于对照组。试验2结果显示,试验组的断奶母猪的发情率、妊娠率、分娩率均高于对照组(P>0.05),窝产仔数也高于对照组。试验结果表明,母猪肌注PMSG和Gn RH,可改善母猪的发情率、分娩率、窝产仔数,减少隐性发情母猪的漏配率。     

母猪倒骑式按摩输精法的应用效果研究

研究的目的是验证猪常规人工授精中倒骑式按摩法输精方法的效果,分析配种后受胎率与产仔数.在断奶发情的实验母猪发情鉴定表现定立表现时,采用倒骑式按摩法输精技术,实施子宫颈人工授精.按摩母猪乳房时间为30～60 s.输精完成后继续倒骑60 s.试验组与对照组相比,母猪发情表现主要集中在72 h到96 h之间,母猪断奶处理12...     

ACE inhibition in goats under fixed‐time artificial insemination protocol increases the pregnancy rate and twin births

To assess the effect of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the efficiency of the fixed‐time artificial insemination (TAI), 69 goats were divided randomly into two groups: enalapril (n = 35) and control (n = 34). In the experiment, all animals underwent the protocol of fixed‐time artificial insemination for 12 days. Enalapril group received enalapril maleate dissolved in saline (Enalapril, Lab Teuto Ltda) subcutaneously at the following doses: 0.2 mg/kg/day in D0‐D2; 0.3 mg/kg/day in D3‐D6 and 0.4 mg/kg/day in D7‐D11. The control group received the corresponding volume of 0.9% saline solution. We performed a single insemination 36 hr after sponge removal using frozen semen from two adult male goats with recognized fertility. The ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was 30 days after the artificial insemination (AI). There was significant increase in pregnancy rates and twinning as well as a decrease in foetal loss in animals receiving enalapril (p < .01). The use of ACE inhibitors during the TAI protocol was shown to be a promising alternative to increase the efficiency of such reproductive biotechnology.     

Gastrointestinal health and function in weaned pigs: a review of feeding strategies to control post‐weaning diarrhoea without using in‐feed antimicrobial compounds

For the last several decades, antimicrobial compounds have been used to promote piglet growth at weaning through the prevention of subclinical and clinical disease. There are, however, increasing concerns in relation to the development of antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains and the potential of these and associated resistance genes to impact on human health. As a consequence, European Union (EU) banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in swine and livestock production on 1 January 2006. Furthermore, minerals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are not feasible alternatives/replacements to antibiotics because their excretion is a possible threat to the environment. Consequently, there is a need to develop feeding programs to serve as a means for controlling problems associated with the weaning transition without using antimicrobial compounds. This review, therefore, is focused on some of nutritional strategies that are known to improve structure and function of gastrointestinal tract and (or) promote post‐weaning growth with special emphasis on probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, trace minerals and dietary protein source and level.     

Dietary administration of probiotics to sows and/or their neonates improves the reproductive performance,incidence of post‐weaning diarrhea and histopathological parameters in the intestine of weaned piglets

Probiotics have gained considerable attention with respect to their beneficial effects on livestock performance and health. The most significant effects of probiotics on the gut microbiota and the host animals take place when they are included in diets during particularly stressful periods such as weaning and/or at the beginning of the lactation period. The probiotics Bacillus mesentericus strain TO‐A at 1 × 10⁸ colony forming units (CFU)/g, Clostridium butyricum strain TO‐A at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g and Enterococcus faecalis strain T‐110 at 1 × 10⁹ CFU/g were used. Litter weight at delivery and ratio of return to estrous improved significantly (17% and 24% improvement, respectively) by probiotic administration to sows (0.2% (w/w)). Furthermore, the feed intake of the probiotics‐administered sows was greater than that of the control sows during the late lactation period. Post‐weaning diarrheal incidence and growth performance was improved by probiotics administration to neonates (0.02% (w/w)), while the combined use of probiotics in sows and their neonates induced the enlargement of villous height and prevented muscle layer thinning in the small intestine of weaning piglets. The administration of probiotics of three species of live bacteria improved the porcine reproductive performance around stressful periods of sows (farrowing) and piglets (weaning). [Corrections added on 26 April 2016, after first online publication: ‘Enterococcus faecalis strain T‐100’ has been corrected to ‘Enterococcus faecalis strain T‐110’ in the above paragraph and in the ‘Probiotics’ section under the Materials and Methods heading.]     

Improving ovulation in gilts using anti-inhibin serum treatment combined with fixed-time artificial insemination

For successful batch farrowing, porcine oestrus and ovulation must be synchronized using fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). However, exogenous gonadotropins, which are currently used in FTAI, negatively affect gilt ovulation. Here, we aimed to improve sexually mature gilt superovulation efficiency using passive immunization against inhibin during FTAI. Altrenogest-treated gilts were challenged with 10 ml anti-inhibin serum (AIS group, n = 6), 1,000 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG group, n = 6), or 10 ml goat serum (control group, n = 6). Gilts in the AIS and PMSG groups were inseminated according to the FTAI protocol, and gilts in the control group were inseminated during natural oestrus. When PMSG was replaced by AIS during FTAI of gilts, ovulation rate and embryos recovered were significantly greater in the AIS group as compared to the other two groups (p < .05). Especially the average number of 6–8-cell embryos in the AIS group was significantly higher than that in the PMSG group (p < .01). Moreover, the blastocyst number in the AIS group was significantly higher than that in the PMSG group and the control group (p < .05). But there was no significant difference in the blastocyst number between the PMSG group and the control group (p > .05). Besides, plasma levels of estradiol-β (E2) and progesterone (P4) were significantly greater in the AIS group as compared to the other two groups on Day 23 and D 27, respectively (p < .01). In summary, we devised an improved high-yield FTAI protocol for sexually mature gilts using AIS; this protocol had a greater superovulation efficiency than the FTAI using PMSG.     

In vitro evaluation of cryopreserved bovine sperm and its relation to field fertility in fixed‐time artificial insemination

This study aimed to assess characteristics of bovine cryopreserved sperm and evaluate its relation to field fertility in fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI). Semen samples of 16 bulls were used to inseminate 811 Nellore cows, and four of these bulls were also used to inseminate 101 Nellore heifers. Samples of the same ejaculate used for FTAI from each bull were analysed in the laboratory after thawing. Sperm motility and vigour were subjectively assessed by light microscope, and integrity of the plasma and acrosome membranes, and H₂O₂ production were evaluated by flow cytometer. Relation among sperm characteristics and pregnancy rate of cows and heifers were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Subjective sperm motility and vigour did not affect the probability of pregnancy in cows or heifers. In univariate analysis for pregnancy in cows, sperm traits related to acrosome injury positively affected probability of pregnancy mainly when associated with plasma membrane integrity; H₂O₂ production seems to be less important than plasma membrane integrity in affecting probability of pregnancy. In multivariate analysis, sperm traits related to injured acrosome positively affected probability of cow and heifer pregnancies while intact acrosome was negatively related to cow pregnancy. Intact plasma membrane and high H₂O₂ production were positively related to cow pregnancy but negatively related to heifer pregnancy. Results suggest that a capacitation‐like status of the acrosome may benefit probability of pregnancy in cows.     

Resynchronization of ovulation with new and reused intravaginal progesterone‐releasing devices without previous pregnancy diagnosis in Bos taurus indicus cows subjected to timed‐artificial insemination

The study aimed to evaluate pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) of cows subjected to synchronization and resynchronization in ovulation protocols using intravaginal progesterone‐releasing insert (P4) before pregnancy diagnosis (PD) and the relationship of PR with the diameter of preovulatory follicles (ØPOF) before TAI. Cows (n = 378) were distributed into two groups: a resynchronization group with new devices (GRN; n = 185) and resynchronization group with used devices (GRU; n = 193). On Day 0, both groups received a new P4 and estradiol benzoate (EB). On D8, P4 removal + D‐cloprostenol + eCG + estradiol cypionate (EC) was done. On d10, TAI was conducted. On d32, cows were resynchronized and divided into two groups, GRN (n = 185) and GRU (n = 193). The GRN group received a new P4 + EB, and the GRU group received a used P4 + EB. On d40, the P4 was removed + PD. The non‐pregnant cows received D‐cloprostenol + eCG + EC. US was done again on d42 to determine ØPOF before the second TAI. The P/AI of the GRN and GRU groups after synchronization were 56.2% and 57.0% (p = 0.87), respectively, and those after resynchronization were 58.0% and 37.3% (p < 0.008), respectively. The P/AI of the GRN and GRU groups observed after TAI (synchronization + resynchronization) were 81.6% and 73.1%, respectively (p = 0.047). No difference (p = 0.067) in ØPOF between the pregnant and non‐pregnant cows in the GRN was found, whereas the GRU group showed a significant difference (p = 0.003). Resynchronization protocols optimized the P/AI in both groups. New intravaginal devices resulted in greater P/AI and P/AI accumulation in resynchronization as compared with the GRU; the ØPOF was related with P/AI.     

Characterization of the LH peak after short and long fixed‐time artificial insemination protocols in sheep raised in the tropics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the peak in luteinizing hormone (LH) and the pregnancy rate of sheep (Texel × Santa Inês) in the tropics using short‐ (6 days) and long‐term (12 days) progesterone protocols followed by artificial insemination (AI) both in and out of the breeding season. Experiment 1 was conducted within (IN) the breeding season (autumn, n = 36), and experiment 2 was conducted outside (OUT) of the breeding season (spring, n = 43). In each experiment, the sheep were divided into two groups (6 or 12 days) according to the duration of treatment with a single‐use progesterone release vaginal device (CIDR^®, Pfizer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil), and blood samples were collected from 10 animals per group every 4 hr to measure the LH and progesterone concentrations. In the spring, the characteristics of the LH peak did not differ between groups; but in the autumn, there were differences between groups at the beginning (G‐6 IN: 36.44 ± 5.46 hr; G‐12 IN: 26.57 ± 4.99 hr) and end of the LH peak (G‐6 IN: 46.22 ± 7.51 hr; G‐12 IN: 34.86 ± 8.86 hr). The results showed alterations in the LH peak during the breeding season only in the sheep undergoing the short‐term protocol.     

Conception rate following artificial insemination with sexed semen in Holstein heifers under artificial cooling during summer compared with winter season

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to compare the fertility of Holstein heifers under cooling and inseminated with sexed semen during the summer versus winter...     

Estrous and ovulatory responses following cervical artificial insemination in Thai-native goats given a new or once-used controlled internal drug release with human chorionic gonadotropin

The study was conducted to compare estrous rate, ovulatory response, plasma progesterone concentrations, and conception rate following cervical artificial insemination in goats given a new or once-used controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Fifty-six Thai-native goats with the average age and body weight of 11 months and 17.3 kg received a 14-day treatment with a new CIDR device (Eazi-Breed^TMCIDR®, Pfizer, NY, USA) or a once-used CIDR device. All goats received a 300-IU injection of hCG (Chorulon®, Intervet International B.V., New Zealand) at the day of CIDR removal to induce ovulation. All goats displaying signs of Estrous behavior were artificially inseminated at 12 h after the onset of estrus with frozen semen. No differences in percentage of estrus and ovulation rates were observed; however, goats that received once-used CIDR devices exhibited shorter (P?P?>?0.05) between treatments during CIDR device insertion and at the time of CIDR removal except on day 4. No significant differences were found in overall conception rates between the treatments. This study indicates that the once-used CIDR device with hCG could be applied to synchronize the estrus and ovulation in small-size Thai-native goats without negative effects on Estrous behavior, ovulatory response, and plasma P4 concentration.     

A new device for deep cervical artificial insemination in gilts reduces the number of sperm per dose without impairing final reproductive performance

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of a new artificial insemination(AI) device specifically designed for gilts(Deep cervical AI, Dp-CAI) by means of which the sperm is deposited deeply in the cervix(8 cm more cranial than in traditional cervical insemination-CAI). New AI techniques have arisen in recent decades in the porcine industry, such as post-cervical artificial insemination(PCAI), which involves depositing the sperm in the body of the uterus [through a catheter(outer tube)-cannula(inner tube)] rather than by CAI. Although the PCAI method has been successfully applied in farm conditions to reduce sperm doses without impairing the reproductive performance, this technique has limitations in gilts mainly because of the difficulty involved in introducing the inner cannula through the cranial part of the cervix. For this reason, the Dp-CAI method described herein may be considered as an alternative to CAI and PCAI methods in gilts.Results: Gilts were divided in two experimental groups: 1) Dp-CAI: gilts(n = 1166) inseminated using 1.5 × 109 sperm/45 m L; 2) CAI(as a control group): gilts(n = 130) inseminated using 2.5 × 10~9 sperm/85 mL. The Dp-CAI method was successfully applied in 88.90% of the gilts, with no differences detected between gilts with 1 or 2 previous oestrus cycles, although the catheter could be introduced more deeply in 2 oestrus gilts(P 0.05). As the length of the insemination device that could not be introduced increased(at the moment of insemination), so the success rate of the Dp-CAI device fell, as did the total number of piglets born. When the reproductive output in CAI and Dp-CAI was compared, none of the parameters analysed [pregnancy and farrowing rates(%), and number of piglets born(total and live)] showed significant differences.Conclusions: The use of the Dp-CAI technique provides a new AI method as an alternative to CAI and PCAI for pigs. The device, especially designed for gilts, was used with a high degree of success reducing conventional sperm doses without impairing reproductive parameters.     

Fixed‐time Insemination in Pasture‐based Medium‐sized Dairy Operations of Northern Germany and an Attempt to Replace GnRH by hCG

A field study was conducted aimed at (i) evaluating the practicability of a fixed‐time insemination regime for medium‐sized dairy operations of north‐western Germany, representative for many regions of Central Europe and (ii) substituting hCG for GnRH as ovulation‐inducing agent at the end of a presynch or ovsynch protocol in an attempt to reduce the incidence of premature luteal regression. Cows of two herds synchronized by presynch and two herds synchronized by ovsynch protocol were randomly allotted to three subgroups; in one group ovulation was induced by the GnRH analog buserelin, in another by hCG, whereas a third group remained untreated. The synchronized groups were fixed‐time inseminated; the untreated group bred to observed oestrus. Relative to untreated herd mates, pregnancy rate in cows subjected to a presynch protocol with buserelin as ovulation‐inducing agent was 74%; for hCG it was 60%. In cows subjected to an ovsynch protocol, the corresponding relative pregnancy rates reached 138% in the case of buserelin and 95% in the case of hCG. Average service interval was shortened by 1 week in the presynch and delayed by 2 weeks in the ovsynch group. It may be concluded that fixed‐time insemination of cows synchronized via ovsynch protocol with buserelin as ovulation‐inducing agent is practicable and may help improve efficiency and reduce the work load involved with herd management in medium‐sized dairy operations. The substitution of hCG for buserelin was found to be not advisable.     

Investigation of in vitro measurable sperm attributes and their influence on electroejaculated bull semen with a fixed‐time artificial insemination protocol in Australian Bos indicus cattle

Increasing use of fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI) in beef cattle production has presented an opportunity for the use of fresh or chilled semen as an alternative to standard cryopreserved semen. The objective of this study was to examine in vitro sperm function and pregnancy rate of electroejaculated semen, chilled and stored for 48 hr, compared to conventionally cryopreserved semen with an optimized FTAI protocol in Brahman cattle. Semen from three Brahman bulls was collected, and aliquots were extended in either chilled (at 5°C) or frozen (LN₂) in a Tris‐egg yolk extender base with 2.4% or 7.0% glycerol, respectively. Semen samples were assessed 48 hr after collection or post‐thaw and warming, for sperm motility, in vitro sperm function and fertilizing ability, and used in a FTAI programme. The overall pregnancy rates was significantly different (p < .01) after FTAI with frozen (n = 173; 53.2%) and chilled semen (n = 174; 31.6%). In contrast, the in vitro sperm assessment showed that the chilled semen had significantly faster motility (p < .05), a higher proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa (p < .05), with significantly higher proportions of acrosome intact, viable spermatozoa (p < .01). This study showed that reasonable pregnancy rates in Brahman cattle can be achieved using FTAI with chilled semen collected using electroejaculation and stored for up to 48 hr. However, improvements in semen extenders are required in consideration of semen collection method to improve the longevity of sperm fertilizing ability to significantly increase FTAI output using chilled storage of bull semen.