Insemination related factors affecting fertilization in estrous-synchronized cattle

In addition to the requirements for healthy well-managed cattle and the sound application of synchronizing drugs, many other factors can also play a role in determining the success of an AI–estrous synchronization program. Considering the economic investment in semen and drugs, the success of such a program must be judged on the basis of pregnancy rate to the first artificial insemination service. Also, a good first service pregnancy rate response usually signifies conditions are good for second service and the breeding season in general. Additional key factors to be considered as impacting pregnancy rate to first service are semen quality (primarily dependent on choice of bull), the timing of insemination and the competence of the inseminators in handling and placement of semen. In most breeding strategies, whether estrous synchronization is employed or not, the semen quality, placement, and timing of insemination are critical to a successful pregnancy. The nature of subfertility due to the male/inseminate is proving as complex as that due to the female. Research in our laboratory utilizing accessory sperm (measure of sperm available for fertilization) and subsequent embryo quality (measure of fertilizing sperm and egg competence) have given us some insights to the problems associated with attempts to optimize pregnancy rate to AI. In this presentation I would like to address some of these insights particularly those associated with the semen/bull and the timing of insemination.