For the majority of dairy herds where artificial insemination (AI) is practiced, the limiting factor toward obtaining efficient reproductive performance is the failure to detect oestrus in a timely and accurate manner. Periodic visual observation has been the dominant method used to identify cows in oestrus. New approaches are being developed to provide automated systems of detection of oestrus...

In lighting studies with turkey hens, long ahemeral (AH; non-24 h) light-dark cycles have consistently resulted in greater, although not statistically significant, fertility than control 24 h light-dark cycles. The present study was designed to further evaluate AH lighting effects on fertility by an evaluation of the effectiveness of artificial insemination (AI) under less than optimal conditio...

Until recently, sperm donors have remained anonymous under the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act. There has been a distinct international trend towards allowing children access to identifying information about their donor. The UK has followed and, subject to parliamentary approval, children born by donations made after 1 April 2005 will be legally entitled to information revealing the...

Using data on age at 100 kg of three pig breeds (Large White, Landrace and Duroc) the connectedness between herds in China was evaluated by the connectedness rating (CR) method. The results show that most herds in China have low average CR (0-3.59%) with other herds. In Large White, of the 36 herds analyzed there are 20 herds, which are connected with at least one other herd. In Landrace and Du...

This study examined the psychological wellbeing of fathers and father – child relationships in families with a 7-year-old child conceived by donor insemination. Twenty-four donor insemination families and comparison groups of 25 egg donation and 32 unassisted-conception families were assessed using a standardized interview and questionnaires administered to the father, and father – child dyads ...

This article covers recent developments in the field of equine artificial insemination. Use of both chilled and frozen semen is discussed. For chilled semen, there is new information about what to do if the semen shipment is delayed and on maximising pregnancy rates in older mares by careful evaluation of the cervix. The number of motile sperm needed for insemination is reviewed in light of the...

The reproductive responses to one and two inseminations of fresh extended semen were compared in crossbred sheep housed in confinement. In three trials, ewes in progestogen-induced estrus were inseminated 54 to 56 h after sponge removal. Half the ewes received a second insemination 4 or 5 h later. Resultant fertility, litter size and embryonic mortality indicated no advantage to a double insemi...

Ensuring that a cow is effectively pregnant after an insemination is a key element in the management of dairy farms. Currently, the most common pregnancy diagnosis methods are echography and transrectal palpation which have to be done by a veterinarian or another qualified person between 30 and 90 days after the insemination date. Those methods present a certain cost, might be risky and have a ...

During the last 10 years the U.S. dairy industry has experienced a reversal of the decades-long trend in declining fertility traits. In fact, there is evidence that, nationally, this is contributing to improvements in pregnancy rates. And while these measures are still close to their historical lows, there is reason for optimism that this reversal will continue into the future. The reasons for ...