Pregnancy Interruption and Breeding Techniques in the Artificial Insemination of Cows

Abstract

A study was made comparing the effects of artificial insemination techniques on maintenance of pregnancy in cows (64th to 152nd day of pregnancy). Using semen diluted with sodium citrate-sulfanilamide-yolk, seven cows were inseminated by the rectovaginal technique with mid-cervical deposition of semen and eight cows with intrauterine semen deposition. All cows that received mid-cervical semen depositions continued normal pregnancies and had normal intact fetuses and fetal membranes when slaughtered 18 to 44 days later. Of eight cows inseminated just into the uterus, one aborted 9 days after the insemination. The remaining, cows of this group had fetal resorptions, as manifested by a purulent discharge prior to slaughter and the presence of disintegrated fetuses and fetal bones upon slaughter 18 to 77 days following the insemination. In four of six cows that were inseminated into the uterus with diluted semen containing added penicillin and streptomycin, normal pregnancies continued, while pregnancy was interrupted in the other two. Therefore, mid-cervical deposition of the semen by the rectovaginal technique is recommended in the artificial insemination of cows. © 1952, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.