Getting started in the AI system
Rams selection and management
Mourad Rekik
EIAR-DBARC-ICARDA-ILRI (LIVES)-FAO Training
on Reproduction in Sheep and Goat, Debre Berhan,
Ethiopia, 13-15 October 2014

Synopsis
Framework
1. Sire selection
Areas of sire selection: genetics – conformation – sexual - health
Management of sires in the AI centre: nutrition – prophylaxis –
training on sperm collection – boosting of sexual potential
Management of sires during the AI campaign
Culling of AI sires
2. On farm data collection, record keeping and valorisation
What needs to be recorded
Flow of the data and potential recipients

If not within a genetic
improvement programme
Forget about AI
-Too expensive
-Laborious
- Success rates are not always rewarding

Sire Selection
(1) GENETICS
• Selection base: Performance recording
scheme (milk, meat, wool, fibre)
• Spot elite flocks
• Genetic evaluation
• Avoid mass selection

Accurate estimation of breeding values according to
selection objectives
Milk

Sire Selection
(2) CONFORMATION

Broad muzzle
A good ram should have:
• Good size and bone
• forceful and active
• Standing square on all four feet
Straight back
Thick chest
Have a good fleece
Deep hindquarters
The ideal Ram

Sire Selection
(3) SEXUAL
• Check for integrity of sexual organs
• Good scrotal development
• The bigger the testicles, the more sperm
produced.

Sire Selection
(4) HEALTH
• General clinical exam by a specialized vet
• Blood sampling and lab serology for major
prevalent contagious diseases and sexually
transmitted diseases
• No decision to move to the AI centre prior to
the lab results

Breeding Examination
Testicles
1. Testicles should be firm and springy, not
hard, soft or spongy.
2. Testicles should slide freely within
scrotum.
3. The epididymis (at the bottom of each
testicle) should be very firm and
prominent.
4. If you have doubts about lumps in
testicles, epididymis or spermatic cord,
consult your vet.

Management of the sires in the AI
centre
• Allow weaning stress in
the farm before moving
to AI centre
• Good respect of
hygiene and housing
conditions in the AI
centre
• Feed according to
requirements
(satisfactory growth
rate when young)
• Feed 110 % of the
maintenance
requirements when
adult; introduce green
forages in the diet
• Vet inspection every 3
months or when
needed (clinical exam,
deworming,
vaccinations…)
• Allow some exercice

Management of the sires in the AI
centre
• Start training on semen
collection during
breeding season
• Never use
electroejaculator
• Train in presence of an
induced female, by the
same persons, in the
same conditions (calm,
no stress…)
• Train twice a week (2
ejaculates per training
session)
• If inseminations are
carried out out of
season: boost sexual
activity (photoperiod
houses, Melatonin pre-treatment)
Insérer diapos sur les résultats de
notre entrainement (convention
avec OEP), l’effet de la
photopériode (cours)

Evolution en fonction du jour de collecte de la concentration et du nombre
total de spermatozoïdes dans les éjaculats
6000
5500
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
15/3
17/3
19/3
21/3
23/3
25/3
27/3
29/3
31/3
2/4
4/4
6/4
8/4
10/4
12/4
14/4
16/4
18/4
20/4
22/4
24/4
26/4
Jour de collecte
Spz (1000)
Concentration (1000
spz)/ml
Spz totaux (1000)
Période de réalisation des inséminations

Management of sires during the AI
season
• Maintain nutrient allowances to 110-120 % of
maintenance requirements
• Avoid any stressing interventions (shearing,
vaccinations…)
• Put to service all available rams (genetic
purposes, spread of the semen production
load, be patient with reluctant individuals)
• Cull 1/3 of the rams every year (reduce inbred
matings: sire – daughter; valorise genetic
progress accumulated in the field)

On farm data collection, record
keeping and valorisation

What needs to be recorded
• Everything that can help :
(1)to track down pedigrees for a precise genetic
evaluation,
(2) to identify factors and reasons of success or
failures of artificial insemination

• Farm
• Location
• Flock
• Date of sponge insertion (technician in
charge)
• Date and hour of sponge withdrawal and eCG
injection (technician in charge, dose of eCG)
• Date and hour of start of inseminations
(inseminator in charge)

• Ewe identification (age)
• Sire identification (all sires of the AI centre
must be evenly used in all flocks)
• Reintroduction of rams in the flock
• Return to oestrus???
• Outcome of pregnancy diagnosis
• Lambing date (litter size)

Flow of the data and potential
recipients
Farmer
Performance
Recording
Centre
Calculation of
breeding values
– classification
of animals
Selection
teams
AI centre
- Genetic Improvement authority
- University
Best if composed of farmers,
technicians and vets

Thank you