Artificial Insemination Process

THE AI PROCESS

To become a successful inseminator, it is very important to always know where the tip of the insemination gun is located. The walls of the vagina consist of thin layered muscle and loose connective tissue. The insemination gun can be easily felt with the left hand in the rectum. As the breeding gun is inserted into the vagina, keep the gloved hand even with the gun tip (Figure #2).

Manure in the rectum can often interfere with the inseminator’s ability to palpate the cervix and gun tip. However, it is seldom necessary to remove all the manure from the bowel. Instead, keep the open hand flat against the floor of the rectum, allowing the manure to pass over the top of the hand and arm (Figure #3).

With the hand in the rectum, the inseminator may notice colon constrictions or "rings" attempting to force the left arm from the cow. To relax these rings, place two fingers through the center of a ring and massage back and forth. The constriction ring will eventually relax, pass over the hand and arm, and the inseminator can continue the palpation process (Figure #4).

Because the reproductive tract is freely movable, cows that have strong rectal and abdominal contractions in response to being palpated may actually push their reproductive tract back into the pelvic cavity. This will cause many folds to form in the vagina. In such cases, the insemination gun can get caught in these folds and little or no progress will be made until they are removed. If the cervix can be located, grasp it and gently push it forward. This will straighten the vagina and the gun should pass freely up to the cervix (Figure #5). The inseminator will note a distinct gristly sensation on the gun when it contacts the cervix.

The cervix (Figure #6) consists of dense connective tissue and muscle and is the primary landmark for inseminating cattle. It has often been described as having the size and consistency of a turkey neck. The size will vary, however, with post partum interval and age of the animal. The cervix usually has three or four annular rings or folds. The opening into the cervix protrudes back into the vagina. In most cows, the cervix will be located on the floor of the pelvic cavity near the anterior (front) end of the pelvis. In older cows, the cervix may rest slightly over the pelvic bone and down into the abdominal cavity.

Step #5: Once the gun is in contact with the external surface of the cervix, the inseminator is ready to begin threading the cervix over the end of the gun. Place the cervix on or over the insemination gun; the gun is not passed through the cervix. Excessive movement or probing with the insemination gun during this step is seldom productive. The key to mastering this step of the insemination process is to know how to hold and manipulate the cervix and concentrating on doing the work with the hand inside the cow, not the one holding the gun.

When the gun first contacts the cervix, the inseminator will usually find that the tip is in the fornix area directly over the top of the opening of the cervix. If this happens, grasp the external opening to the cervix with the thumb on top and forefingers underneath (Figure #7). This closes the fornix at top and bottom. It is also still important to know the location of the gun tip. This is accomplished by contacting the gun tip with the palm and 3rd and 4th fingers of the hand in the rectum. Use the palm and these two fingers to guide the gun tip to the cervical opening located between the thumb and forefingers. With gentle probing, the opening of the cervix should be located. The inseminator will feel the gun slide forward until it contacts the second cervical ring.

Step #6: Maintain gentle but steady forward pressure on the gun and slide the thumb and forefingers just in front of the gun tip and re-grasp the cervix. Because the cervix is composed of dense connective tissue and muscle, it is difficult to clearly distinguish the gun tip when it is located within thi