This document provides information on artificial insemination in small ruminants such as goats and sheep. It discusses the female reproductive anatomy and estrous cycle of goats and sheep. It also covers estrus synchronization methods, equipment used for artificial insemination, and techniques for intra-vaginal and intrauterine insemination. The advantages of artificial insemination include improving genetics, increasing meat and milk production, controlling breeding windows, and reducing disease risk. Disadvantages include start-up costs, additional management and record keeping required.

1. Artificial Insemination in Small Ruminants
Dan Severson
University of Delaware
New Castle County Extension Agent
severson@udel.edu
302-831-8860

2. AI
• What is AI?
• Factors Affecting Conception
• Advantages/Disadvantages
• Anatomy
• Reproduction Cycle
• Synchronization Methods
• Equipment
• Techniques
2

3. Factors Affecting Conception
• Management
– Nutrition
– Disease/Parasites
– Body Condition
– Season
• SOP
– Do Not Cut Corners
• Semen Quality
3

4. Advantages
• Genetics
• More Meat/Milk
• Future Cost and Benefits
• Safety
• Control Kidding/Lambing Window
• Buck Smell
• Housing/Pasture
• Disease
4

5. Disadvantages
• Start-Up Costs
• Management
• Time
– Heat Detection
– Record keeping
– Skill
• Poor sires
5

6. Female Reproduction
• Female serves several functions in reproduction:
1. Provide ova (eggs)
2. Provide proper environment for fertilization
3. Nurture the embryo/fetus (gestation)
4. Deliver fetus to exterior
5. Feed the young goat (lactation)
6. Provide for proper behavior patterns
• Attracting male and mating
• Demonstrating maternal functions
6

7. Female Repro Organs
7
• Ovaries
• Oviducts
• Uterus
• Cervix
• Vagina
• Vulva

8. Ovaries
8
• Have two principle
functions:
1) production of eggs (ova)
2) secretion of female
hormones (estrogen and
progesterone)

9. Fallopian Tube
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• Provide the site of fertilization and
early embryo development before
the embryo passes to the uterus.
• Transport the ova from the ovary
to the site of fertilization which
occurs midway down the oviduct.
• At the same time, moves the
sperm cells in the other direction
towards the ova from the uterus.

10. Uterus
10
• Small muscular organ that
provides protection and
nourishment for the developing
embryo.
• It consists of a body and two
uterine horns
• Inner lining of the uterus is made
up of many button-like
projections known as carunucles
• Transfer of nutrients between the
doe and the developing embryo
takes place via the placenta.

11. Cervix
11
• Muscular canal-like
structure that provides
closure to the uterus of a
doe.
• Protects the uterus during
pregnancy.
• During breeding, the cervix
also assists the movement
of sperm from the vagina to
the uterus.

12. Vagina
12
• The site of semen
deposition by the buck
during natural mating.
• Once deposited, sperm
cells are transported
into the cervix and
seminal fluid is either
absorbed by the vagina
or expelled.

13. Vulva
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• The external opening of
the female reproductive
tract.
• It serves as the
entrance for the penis
during breeding and is
the end of the birth
canal during parturition.

14. Goat External Os
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15. Goat Cervix
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16. Sheep External Os
16

17. Sheep Cervix
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18. Estrous Cycle of Goats
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19. Estrous Cycle of Goats
19

20. Sheep are Different
Cow Ewe Sow Mare
Estrous cycle
(d)
21 17 21 21
Proestrus (d) 3-4 2-3 3-4 2-3
Estrus (hr) 12-18 24-36 48-72 4-8
Metestrus
(d)
3-4 2-3 2-3 2-3
Diestrus (d) 10-14 10-12 11-13 10-12
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21. Insemination Timing
21

22. Signs of Estrus
• Seasonally Polyestrous and Short Day Breeders
• Stands to be mounted
• Vocal
• Flagging Tail
• Searches out a Male – Walking the fence line
• Restlessness
• Loss of Appetite
• Decrease Milk Production
• Frequent Urination
• Red Swollen Vulva – Mucous Discharge
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23. Sperm Cells
• Average Ejaculate ~ 1ml
• # of Sperm cells per ml ~3 billion
• ½ ml straw starts with ` 250 million
– Lose ½ during freezing – 125 million
– Lose ½ at thaw out - ~62 million
– Need a minimum of 60 million for pregnancy
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24. Approved Drugs for Sheep and Goats
• Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text
or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the University of
Delaware Extension and does not imply approval to the exclusion of
other suitable products or firms.
• Very few approved
– $
• Extra-label drug use
• Valid Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR)
College or Department name here 24

25. Estrus Synchronization
• Heat Check
– Series of Prostaglandin shots 10 days apart with heat check
and breeding
• NC Synch
– Combination of Prostaglandin and GnRH shots followed by AI
• CIDR’s
– Insertion of a Progesterone control device with a combination of
Prostaglandin and FSH shots

26. Estrus Synchronization Methods
• Heat Check
• NC Synch
• CIDR’s
Day 0
PGF2α
Day 10
PGF2α
Day 10-17
Breed
Day 0
PGF2α
Day 7
GnRH
Day 14
PGF2α
Day 17
GnRH/Breed
Day 0 CIDR
Day 11-17 Pull
CIDR
Administer FSH
Breed 48 hrs

27. Equipment
Semex
Canada
Semex Canada
N
a
s
c
o

28. Equipment
28

29. Intra-Vaginal
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30. Transcervical Technique
30

31. 31

32. Intrauterine Laparoscopic Technique
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33. 33

34. 34

35. 35
Intrauterine Laparoscopic Technique

36. 36

37. 37
Intrauterine Laparoscopic Technique

38. Is AI Right for You?

39. Thank You
Any
Questions?

40. References
• Greyliing, J. (2000). Reproduction traits in the Boer goat doe. Small
Ruminant Research, 36, 171-177.
• Kershaw, C., Khalid, M., Mcgowan, M., & Ingram, K. (2013). The
anatomy of the sheep cervixand its influence on yhe transcervical
passage of an inseminating pipette into the uterine lumen. Small
Ruminant Research, 110, 42-45.
• Faigl, V., Voss, N., Javor, A., Kulcsar, M., & Solti, L. (2012). Artificial
insemination in small ruminants - a review. Acta Veternaria
Hungarica, 60, 115-129.
• Sparks, D. (n.d.). Meat Goat Reproduction. Retrieved August 15,
2015, from shsu.edu/.../GoatReproduction-Sparks.ppt
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