Colorado Agriscience Curriculum Unit 4 – Reproduction and Genetics Lesson 17 Artificial Insemination Part 2

Colorado Agriscience Colorado Agriscience CurriculumCurriculum

Unit 4 – Reproduction and Unit 4 – Reproduction and GeneticsGenetics

Lesson 17 Lesson 17 Artificial InseminationArtificial Insemination

Part 2Part 2

22Unit 4, Lesson 17 - Artificial InseUnit 4, Lesson 17 - Artificial Insemination Part II Pagemination Part II Page

Removal of a straw of semen Removal of a straw of semen from an A.I. Freezer and loading in from an A.I. Freezer and loading in

a syringea syringe1. Put cold water in your cito thaw and plug it in to turn it on. 1. Put cold water in your cito thaw and plug it in to turn it on. If available, put a thermometer in the cito thaw to check If available, put a thermometer in the cito thaw to check temperature. Temperature should be between 94 and 96 degrees temperature. Temperature should be between 94 and 96 degrees F. The green light should come on when it is ready.F. The green light should come on when it is ready.

2.2. Locate cito thaw right next to your freezer to Locate cito thaw right next to your freezer to ensure the straw will not be exposed to ensure the straw will not be exposed to environmental conditions for long. environmental conditions for long.

3.3. Open the main lid to the freezer and pull the Open the main lid to the freezer and pull the stopperstopper

4.4. Know the canister number that your practice straws are Know the canister number that your practice straws are in.in.

5.5. Put on a cotton glove to insulate left hand.Put on a cotton glove to insulate left hand.

6.6. Remember canister can not be in the neck of the freezer Remember canister can not be in the neck of the freezer for longer than 10 seconds.for longer than 10 seconds.


Removal of a straw of semen from Removal of a straw of semen from an A.I. Freezer and loading in a an A.I. Freezer and loading in a

syringesyringe 7. Pull canister handle to the middle so you can pull the 7. Pull canister handle to the middle so you can pull the

canister up. canister up.

You cannot pull straight up because the canister is offset so You cannot pull straight up because the canister is offset so it will not dislodge. it will not dislodge.

Just position the canister so it is in the middle of the tank Just position the canister so it is in the middle of the tank but still at the bottom. but still at the bottom.

Put the straight part of the handle in between your index Put the straight part of the handle in between your index finger and middle finger of your left hand. finger and middle finger of your left hand.

Keep the straight part in between your left hand’s fingers, Keep the straight part in between your left hand’s fingers, face down while you pull the canister up with your right face down while you pull the canister up with your right hand. hand.


Also keep the straw tweezers in your right hand. Once you Also keep the straw tweezers in your right hand. Once you are in the neck of the freezer take your fore finger and are in the neck of the freezer take your fore finger and thumb of your left hand and pull up the desired cane. thumb of your left hand and pull up the desired cane.

You should be able to grasp the desired cane by keeping You should be able to grasp the desired cane by keeping the canister 1 1/4” from the top. the canister 1 1/4” from the top. (If the correct cane cannot be located within 10 seconds lower (If the correct cane cannot be located within 10 seconds lower

the canister into the freezer for 10 to 15 seconds. the canister into the freezer for 10 to 15 seconds.

Let the canister with the other canes drop a little ways into Let the canister with the other canes drop a little ways into the freezer while keeping hold of the desired cane. the freezer while keeping hold of the desired cane.

Squeeze and hold the canister handle between your fingers Squeeze and hold the canister handle between your fingers and use your tweezers, in your right hand to pick the straw and use your tweezers, in your right hand to pick the straw out of the goblet. out of the goblet.


Pull your canister back up into the neck Pull your canister back up into the neck and drop the cane back into the canister.and drop the cane back into the canister.

Plunge the canister back into the freezer Plunge the canister back into the freezer while at the same time putting the straw while at the same time putting the straw into the cito thaw. into the cito thaw.

Close cito thaw lid. Close cito thaw lid. (This whole task has to be done in less than 10 (This whole task has to be done in less than 10

seconds.) Put stopper back in freezer and seconds.) Put stopper back in freezer and close lid.close lid.


Equipment

The Insemination Kit

1. Cito Thaw

2. Straw Thermos

3. Cito Cutter/ Scissors

4. Syringe/ A.I. Rod

5. Plastic Sheaths

6. Paper Towels

7. Plastic Shoulder-Length Gloves

8. Lubricant

9. Cotton Glove

10.Safety Glasses

11.Tweezers The underlined words have arrows going to the items in the box. If you just click they will show in order.


Step OneStep One

The most important thing that you can The most important thing that you can do is keep good records on do is keep good records on insemination insemination

Record which bull you used on each cow or Record which bull you used on each cow or heiferheifer

Date when you A.I. each cow or heiferDate when you A.I. each cow or heifer Records can also provide you with Records can also provide you with

information on the cow or heifer’s cycling information on the cow or heifer’s cycling periodperiod


Plug in the cito thaw and let the water you put into it warm up to the right temperature.


When the Cito Thaw ready light is on, check the temperature of the water on the Thaw Monitor

The temperature of the water should be between 94 and 96 F.


This is a picture of the equipment that is needed to A.I. A.I. Liquid Nitrogen

Tank

The A.I. Box with the equipment inside


• A cane and goblet help keep the amps and the straw organized

• They also keep the straw from falling into the bottom of the liquid nitrogen freezer


The liquid nitrogen freezer should be padlocked at all times when it is not in use. Always make sure that the refrigerator is on cardboard or on carpet.


If you are unable to find the correct rack within ten seconds, lower the canister into the freezer for about ten to fifteen seconds. After that you should be able to try again.


When you lift the canister up hold the handle in between your first and second fingers with the palm of your hand down towards the refrigerator.


Hold the cane with your gloved hand and use the tweezers with your other hand to get the straw that you want out of the goblet. Make sure that you do all of that in ten seconds or less.


After getting the straw that you want, quickly place the straw in the cito thaw. While you are putting the straw in the cito thaw, lower the rack and the canister back into the refrigerator.


. Loading a straw in the A.I. . Loading a straw in the A.I. SyringeSyringe

1.1. Keep the straw in the cito thaw for at least 30 Keep the straw in the cito thaw for at least 30 seconds, but not more than 15 minutes.seconds, but not more than 15 minutes.

2.2. Once the straw is thawed, pull it out of the thaw Once the straw is thawed, pull it out of the thaw unit and dry it off with a paper towel. Water is unit and dry it off with a paper towel. Water is lethal to sperm.lethal to sperm.

3.3. Cut the crimped end with the cito cutter. Do not Cut the crimped end with the cito cutter. Do not cut the end with the cotton plug.cut the end with the cotton plug.

4.4. Obtain a sheath and push and twist the straw until Obtain a sheath and push and twist the straw until it clicks into the adaptor.it clicks into the adaptor.

5.5. Push the straw and adapter into the sheath until Push the straw and adapter into the sheath until the cotton plug end is just on the outside of the the cotton plug end is just on the outside of the sheath.sheath.

6.6. Pull back the syringe plunger about 5 inches.Pull back the syringe plunger about 5 inches.7.7. Place the sheath over the syringe with the straw Place the sheath over the syringe with the straw

going inside of the plunger.going inside of the plunger.8.8. Push the sheath all the way onto the syringe, Push the sheath all the way onto the syringe,

forcing the adapter to the bottom of the sheath.forcing the adapter to the bottom of the sheath.


Loading a straw in the A.I. Loading a straw in the A.I. SyringeSyringe

9.9. Secure the spiral syringe by pushing and twisting the Secure the spiral syringe by pushing and twisting the sheath onto the spiral part of the syringe.sheath onto the spiral part of the syringe.

10.10. Press the plunger in until you feel it hit the cotton plug. Press the plunger in until you feel it hit the cotton plug. Do not press too hard and lose any semen.Do not press too hard and lose any semen.

11.11. Wrap the end that is inserted in the cow with a paper Wrap the end that is inserted in the cow with a paper towel.towel.

12.12. Tuck in your shirt.Tuck in your shirt.13.13. Put the semen in the front of your shirt to keep the Put the semen in the front of your shirt to keep the

semen warm until you find the target in the cow.semen warm until you find the target in the cow.14.14. Pull the syringe from you shirt and deposit water slowly Pull the syringe from you shirt and deposit water slowly

into a waste basket.into a waste basket.15.15. Undo the sheath and discard it so another student can Undo the sheath and discard it so another student can

use the syringe.use the syringe.


After 30 seconds with the straw in the cito thaw, take it out and wipe off all the water because the water will kill the semen.


Use the cito cutter to cut the end of the straw off in a straight, even cut so that the straw will seed properly.


When you place the straw into the sheath, you hold the sheath’s blue stopper in place with your left hand and place the end of the straw that you cut into the stopper until it clicks in place.


Push the straw down into the sheath until there is about an inch of the straw still sticking out of the end of the sheath


Grab the A.I. rod in your right hand and have the sheath and straw in the left hand. Make sure that the plunger of the A.I. rod is out about four inches, this is so that you will not push any of the semen out of the straw while putting the sheath on the A.I. rod. Put the end of the A.I. rod on the palm of your hand as shown and then, with the sheath in between your thumb and your first finger, guide the straw into the A.I. rod.


This is showing the A.I. rod and the sheath at the end when the stopper is pushed all the way down.


When you push the sheath onto the A.I. rod and you near about an inch of the end make sure that your O-ring is over the sheath and then slide both of them up. Some A.I. rods also have you twist the sheath into place instead of using the O-ring.


After you are all set up, put a towel on the end of the A.I. rod and put it down your shirt, with your shirt tucked in. This is to keep the semen warm until you are ready to insert the A.I. rod into the cow or heifer.


After you have the A.I. rod in your shirt, turn your shoulder length glove inside out and put it on your left hand if you are right handed, and your right hand if you are left handed. After you put the shoulder length glove on, put some lube on and then you are ready to go to the cow or heifer.

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Colorado Agriscience Curriculum Unit 4 – Reproduction and Genetics Lesson 17 Artificial Insemination Part 2