The Role of the A.I. Technician Quiz

Answer: 1930s

Ilya Ivanov was a Russian artificial insemination pioneer. Sponsored initially by the Russian royal family to work with horses, he expanded his work to other livestock. He also experimented with interspecific hybridisation. Controversially he attempted to create a human-ape hybrid.

A Dane, who had studied in Russia, set up the first co-operative for AI in Denmark during 1933. This in turn led to commercial AI operations being establish in the US during the 1930s. The job of the artificial insemination technician is therefore a relatively modern creation.

Answer: Much higher pregnancy rates

Pregnancy rates were initially lower than AI but are now similar to natural breeding.

In a non-AI situation, semen is at body temperature. To be useful in AI, a method was developed to store the semen for later use. Egg yolk proved to be the key in 1939 and still forms the basis of modern 'extenders'. Milk has a similar effect.

Once protected from cold shock, techniques were developed for freezing (and defrosting) the semen. Freezing the semen extends its useful life, potentially well beyond the life of the sire. The extenders also allowed the semen to go further so that as many as 100 animals can be fertilised from the one 'sample'.

Answer: Horses

Although commonly used with livestock, there are some US horse organisations which ban the use of AI, preferring conventional methods of breeding animals, despite the risks of injury during natural mating.

Some 75% of cattle in developed countries are the result of AI. This rises to 85% for pigs. For zoos, using AI techniques is often preferred to the risks involved in (say) lending rare animals to other countries.

Answer: Liquid nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is a convenient substance for storing the frozen semen in. It does not need pressurisation and is easily transported, although proper handling is required to avoid cold burns and asphyxiation in enclosed spaces.

Unlike nitrogen, hydrogen is dangerous when mixed with air. Brine does depress the freezing point of water but not low enough to be useful for long-term semen storage. Benzene is a solvent and is mainly used as a precurser to making other chemicals, and is also poisonous.

Answer: Straw

Early AI was done using semen delivered daily. When glycerol was added to semen extenders, a freezing technique was developed with glass ampoules used for holding the semen. During the 1960s a new technique involving plastic straws was developed and the name has stuck.

Answer: When it is on heat

An animal will not become pregnant unless it is at the correct stage of its oestrus cycle. To increase efficiency where large numbers of livestock are involved, the AI technician may use hormones to try and synchronise animals coming on heat. Having livestock of the same age (and hence same stage of development) may also help.

Answer: The time of day

The oestrus cycle for an animal varies according to species. For example, cattle, goats and pigs have a 21 day cycle. An experienced AI technician will know from observing the animal's behaviour and/or inspecting the animal, whether the animal is in good condition and ready for insemination.

Using hormones to induce oestrus is sometimes done where, for example, a farmer wishes to start milking a dairy herd around a particular date. Dairy cows only produce milk following calving.

Answer: To reduce parenting instincts

Parenting instincts in livestock are preferable to having the offspring abandoned and needing to be raised by hand.

There are a variety of reasons why artificial insemination (AI) is a valuable tool, including the other answers listed. The reduction of disease transmission can be achieved by including antibiotics in the semen extender. It can also be used to solve problems such as size differences between the parents, allows older or injured sires to procreate, and for the sire being on a different continent.

On the downside, AI needs more time, planning, specialist equipment and the use of specialists such as an artificial insemination technician.

Answer: Surrogacy

Surrogacy, where the mare's foal is carried to term by another mare, is probably the least disruptive way. The surrogate mare needs to be at the same stage in the oestrus cycle as the donor. This also allows valuable breeding mares to produce a number of foals during a single breeding season, instead of just one.

Waiting until retirement is not normally an option as the horse will typically be too old to breed. Timing pregnancies to the competition off-season would not work as the gestation period for horses is about 11 months.

Answer: No

Surprisingly, perhaps, the answer is no. The collection of semen typically takes place at specialist centres (such as bull studs) where the semen is collected in sanitised conditions, tested, extended and preserved for later use.