The attempts to improve the conception rate of transvaginal artificial insemination using frozen-thawed semen by using a Foley catheter to retain semen adjacent to the cervical os in ewes

抄録

A new transvaginal artificial insemination (AI) procedure by frozen-thawed semen using a Foley catheter in ewes was performed in the present study. A 30-ml ballon was fixed in the vagina and frozen-thawed semen expelled into the vagina was retained near the cervical os for approximately 30-60 min. In the first trial, a single AI was performed on eight ewes after estrus synchronization and one ewe became pregnant (12.5%). In the second trial, AI was performed for two consecutive days on the seven ewes that did not become pregnant in the first trial. Three of the seven (42.9%) ewes become pregnant. These results suggest the usefulness of transvaginal AI by frozen-thawed semen using a Foley catheter for two consecutive days.