1. Biotech in Animal Reproduction

2. Terms Artificial Insemination Sperm Semen
The deposition of spermatozoa in the female by artificial means
Sperm
The male sex cell, produced by the testes
Semen
A fluid substance produced by the male reproductive system containing spermatozoa suspended in secretions of the accessory glands

3. Terms Sire Quarantine Protectant The male parent
Process that requires animals to be kept in isolation for a period of time to make sure they do not have a disease
Protectant
Substance such as glycerin added to semen before it is frozen

4. Terms Estrus Artificial Vagina Ejaculation
The period that a female animal is ready for mating
Artificial Vagina
A rigid tube used to collect semen for artificial insemination
Ejaculation
The discharge of semen from the reproductive tract of the male

5. Terms Conception Motility Extender
The beginning of gestation; when a sperm fertilized an ovum
Motility
Active movement in artificial insemination of the sperm
Extender
A substance, such a milk, egg yolk, glycerin, or/or antibiotics, that is added to semen to dilute and protect it

6. Terms Straw Hormone Estrus Cycle
Small hollow tubes that contain frozen semen
Hormone
A chemical substance produced by the body or introduced into the body to produce a specific effect
Estrus Cycle
The reproductive cycle in nonprimates

7. Terms Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Follicle Embryo Transfer
A hormone to induce estrus
Follicle
A small blisterlike development on the surface of the ovary that contains the developing ovum
Embryo Transfer
The process of removing an embryo from a superior female and implanting it into an inferior female.

8. Terms Dam Progeny Testing Donor Cow The female parent
Test of the value of an individual's genotype by looking at the progeny produced by different matings
Donor Cow
A cow that is of unusual value as a breeding animal, used for embryos

9. Terms Recipient Cow Superovulation Prostaglandins
A cow of ordinary value that will be implanted with a superior female’s embryo
Superovulation
Process of injecting the donor animal with a follicle stimulating hormone which will cause the animal to release several eggs instead of just one
Prostaglandins
Hormones that will make a recipient cow come into estrus

10. Terms Corpus Luteum Sperm Sexing Cytometer Cell Sorter
Active tissue that produces progesterone if conception occurs (Yellow Body)
Sperm Sexing
Separating the female (X) cell from the male (Y) cell in order to produce only male or only female offspring
Cytometer Cell Sorter
An instrument used to sort (X) sperm from (Y) sperm according to the amount of light given off by the chromosome

11. In this chapter:
Biotech in animal breeding
Advantages of artificial insemination
Process of artificial insemination
Semen processing, storage and shipment
Estrus synchronization
Egg production
Advantages of embryo transfer
Process of embryo transfer
Advantages of sexed semen
Sperm sorting
An Overview
Every aspect of the livestock industry is dependent on animal reproduction!!!!

12. Artificial Insemination
The deposition of spermatozoa in the female by artificial means
Sperm
The male sex cell, produced by the testicles
Semen
A fluid substance produced by the male reproductive system containing spermatozoa suspended in secretions of the accessory glands

13. Advantages Use of the highest quality animal available
Cost of semen vs whole animal
Availability of records
# of offspring (potential for 40,000+ from one male)
Goals & selectability for herd needs
Farm safety (No bull/aggressive male)
Reduced transmission of disease (genetic & sexual)
No quarantine time on out of country stock
Reduced sire cost to producers
Increased uniformity

14. Sire Progeny Testing The male parent
Test of the value of an individual's genotype by looking at the progeny produced by different matings

15. Development As far back as the middle ages
Collection of prized enemy stallions
First successful insemination: 1780
Lazarro Spallanzani
Dog
Little economic value at the time
1st large scale use
Russians 1900
Horse repopulation
Cattle & Sheep 1920/30s

16. How it works:

17. Problems? Preserving live sperm Freezing! ALL HAIL THE 1950s!!
2-3 day life span
Freezing!
Relatively few sperm survived
ALL HAIL THE 1950s!!
Protectant: Substance such as glycerin added to semen before it is frozen
Temperature lowered at a specific rate until -320°F
Will remain viable for years (30+!)

18. Any drawbacks? Labor intensive! Subject to potential abuse?
Monitor for estrus
Singular restraint & insemination
Requires skilled technician
Subject to potential abuse?
Accentuate damage of poor sire?
Additional capital & management
Others?

19. Semen Collection & Processing
Dummy animal & artificial vagina
Sperm examination
Number (15,000,000+ = normal)
Motility
Shape
Add extenders
Semen Collection & Processing
Artificial Vagina
A rigid tube used to collect semen for artificial insemination
Extender
A substance, such a milk, egg yolk, glycerin, and/or antibiotics, that is added to semen to dilute, nourish and protect it

20. Volume of Semen and Conc. Per Insemination
Species
Dilution Ratio
Volume/
Service
# Sperm/
Insemination
Bull
1:200
.5 cc
15,000,000
Stallion
----
5-10 cc
250,000,000
Boar
1:8 cc
2,000,000
Ram
1:1
50,000,000
Volume of Semen and Conc. Per Insemination
*1 cc is the volume of semen contained in each straw of bull and ram semen

21. Semen Collection by Specie
Semen Collection by Specie
Bull
Boar
Turkey

22. Straws: Small hollow tubes that contain frozen semen
Examined and packaged in straws
Stored at -320°F in liquid nitrogen
Thawed immediately before placed in female
Proper temp & speed
Straws: Small hollow tubes that contain frozen semen

23. When to breed:

24. Heat Detection Visible activity: But what if you’re not there?
Excitability, restlessness & noisy
Attempt to ride other cows
Stand to be ridden by other cows
But what if you’re not there?
Ruffled hair on tale head
High tail head appearance
Genital mucus
Swollen vulva
Tail chalk, kamars, heat detect systems
*In Cattle

25. Repro Cycle in Farm Animals
Species
Length of Estrus Cycle (d)
Length of Estrus
Time of Ovulation
Gestation Length (d)
Puberty (m)
Avg.
Range
Avg
Mare 21
10-37
5-6 d
1-14 d
24-28 h before end of estrus
336
10-12
Cow
19-21
16-24
16-20 h
8-30h
10-14h after end of estrus
281
4-8
Ewe 16
14-20
30 h
20-42h
1 h before end of estrus
150
Sow
18-24
1-5d
18-60h after estrus begins
112
5-7

26. Factors for Consideration
Highest conception rates = days after calving
Breed from 9 hrs following heat to 24 hrs after heat
Sperm will live about 24 hrs in the female repro tract
True heat is when a cow will stand to be ridden
Fertilization will occur immediately if sperm is present when the egg is released

27. Think about It:
Discuss how AI might be of economic importance to a livestock producer.
What is the female hormone produced by the ovary that regulates the heat period?
What is parturition?
What is semen extender?

28. Control of the Estrus Cycle
Elimination of consistent monitoring
Big savings!
Time
Labor
Costs
Hormone regulation!!
Control of the Estrus Cycle
Estrus Cycle
The reproductive cycle in non-primates

29. Hormones!! FSH LH Progesterone Prostaglandin Estrogen
A hormone to induce estrus & stimulate ovum release LH
Triggers ovulation
Progesterone
Produced by CL to maintain pregnancy
Prostaglandin
Hormones that will make a recipient cow come into estrus
Estrogen
Released by the follicle; signals heat

30. In other words: Organ/Site Hormone Released Target Site Result
Pituitary Gland
FSH
Ovary
Egg Mature/Release
Follicle
Estrogen
Heat LH
Ovulation
Corpus Luteum
Progesterone
Uterus
Maintains Pregnancy
Prostaglandin
If not pregnant
Blood Balanced
Cycle Over

31. FSH Stimulates follicle Begin cycle at injection
Synch groups of animals to ovulate at the same time
SAVES BIG!
Resources at breeding
Resources at calving/farrowing
Groups of same age animals

33. Embryo Transfer

34. Benefits of Embryo Transfer
Advancement of genetics from the dam
Progeny testing of females
Import and export without quarantine
Dual production system (milk & meat)
Twinning
Conversion from grade to registered/purebred

35. Disadvantages Narrowed genetic base Loss of diversity
Case and point: Guernsey cattle

36. Process of Embryo Transfer
Selection of donor and recipient cows
Donor depends on:
Milking ability
Ability to grow
Reproductive capacity
Show appeal
Recipient depends on:
Health
Ability to maintain pregnancy
Ability to deliver a healthy calf
Process of Embryo Transfer
Donor
A cow that is of unusual value as a breeding animal, used for embryos
Recipient
A cow of ordinary value that will be implanted with a superior female’s embryo

37. Get them In Synch!

38. Not like that! Prostaglandin Monitor CL Implant embryos Superovulation
Donor Animals
Recipient Animals
Superovulation
12-15 eggs
Inject FSH
Several follicles to shelter growing eggs
Prostaglandin
Causes estrus
Insemination
Collection
Grown for ~1 week
Prostaglandin
Causes estrus
Monitor CL
Implant embryos
In uterus

39. The Flush!
And not like this either!!!
Or this!!

40. The REAL Flush! Long rubber catheter Inflatable bulb
Passed through cervix to uterine horn
Inflatable bulb
Seals entrance to the uterus
Solution injection
Fill fallopian tubes and uterus
Drainage
Solution and eggs drain into collection cylinder
~6 embryos per flush
And afterwards?
The uterus is flushed again with a solution that will kill any remaining embryos to prevent infection.

42. The numbers
Up to 30 embryos could be obtained in one flush (usually 6-7)
Survival to term: 50-70%
Superovulated vs non
Non= 5 calves/year Super= 9-12 calves/year
Recovery = 50-90%*
Cattle = 50-80%
Horses = 40-90%
*Nonsurgical methods

43. Think About It
What support technology & procedures are involved in ET?
What are the advantages to embryo transfer?
What are the expected result rates of ET?
What is superovulation and why is it used?
Indicate expected recovery rates concerned with ET?
What is estrus synch?

44. Sperm Sexing Why? Depends on industry Dairy: Females = milk producers
Swine: Boar meat = odorous & unacceptable
Beef: Males = bull studs for breeding
Poultry: Females = layers

45. Chromosomes A refresher: Females have 2 X chromosomes
Males have an X and a Y
When eggs are formed they all have an X
Sex determined by which sperm fertilized the egg

46. Fluorescent dye adheres to sperm DNA
1989: Method patented
Fluorescent dye adheres to sperm DNA
Female chromosome has more DNA
More dye in the female chromosome (by %)!!
Sperm Sexing
Sperm Sexing:
Separating the female (X) cell from the male (Y) cell in order to produce only male or only female offspring
Cytometer Cell Sorter:
An instrument used to sort (X) sperm from (Y) sperm according to the amount of light given off by the chromosome

47. And now?
And now? Guarantee 85-95% accuracy (cattle)