Research Commons
      • Browse 
        • Communities & Collections
        • Titles
        • Authors
        • By Issue Date
        • Subjects
        • Types
        • Series
      • Help 
        • About
        • Collection Policy
        • OA Mandate Guidelines
        • Guidelines FAQ
        • Contact Us
      • My Account 
        • Sign In
        • Register
      View Item 
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Masters Degree Theses
      • View Item
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Masters Degree Theses
      • View Item
      JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

      Lowering Sperm Dose Rates in Frozen Semen for Bovine Artificial Breeding

      Pitt, Colin John
      Thumbnail
      Files
      thesis.pdf
      3.752Mb
      Citation
      Export citation
      Pitt, C. J. (2007). Lowering Sperm Dose Rates in Frozen Semen for Bovine Artificial Breeding (Thesis, Master of Education (MEd)). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/2232
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/2232
      Abstract
      The New Zealand Dairy industry relies on artificial breeding to produce high genetic

      merit replacement stock. Proven bull semen is extended and preserved as either

      ambient temperature product or as frozen doses. High fertility is essential to maintain

      synchronicity of lactation with the spring surge of grass growth.

      To improve efficiency in the utilization of the very best bulls producers try to lower

      sperm dose rates without compromising fertility. Livestock Improvement

      Corporation's (LIC) Long Last Liquid ™ (LLL) is most commonly used during the

      peak season and is their most important product. However, shortfalls and specifically

      targeted matings are met with frozen semen. Lowering sperm dose rates in both liquid

      and frozen semen maximises the usage of elite sires increasing genetic gain, lowering

      overheads and garnering premium prices for the semen producer.

      A product for improving frozen semen technology was developed whereby a discrete

      quantity of pretreated semen was placed alongside a beneficial post-thawing

      redilution medium in a standard semen straw. This emulated a larger-scale process

      developed to freeze semen in times of low demand and redilution into the LLL form

      for use as an ambient temperature product. This rediluted product has been proved to

      enhance semen survival and to allow fertility to be maintained at sperm dose rates

      lower than the widely accepted standard for frozen semen.

      The physical packaging of the semen into the industry standard single dose straw in a configuration that separated incompatible components was novel. This configuration

      was essential to prevent damage to the sperm during the freezing process from low

      solubility components in the post-thaw redilution medium. Separation between the

      semen and diluent within the straw was achieved by the introduction of a gas partition

      or air bubble between the two liquids.

      A large-scale field trial showed that the new product could produce savings of up to

      25% of the sperm needed for a semen dose to achieve equivalent fertility.

      Furthermore, the production cost per dose was lowered in comparison to the standard

      semen processing system used at LIC.
      Date
      2007
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Name
      Master of Education (MEd)
      Publisher
      The University of Waikato
      Rights
      All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
      Collections
      • Masters Degree Theses [2381]
      Show full item record  

      Usage

      Downloads, last 12 months
      56
       
       

      Usage Statistics

      For this itemFor all of Research Commons

      The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wānanga o WaikatoFeedback and RequestsCopyright and Legal Statement