By: Muhammad Tegar K.K. S.Pt
First Expert in Livestock Breeding

Artificial Insemination (AI) technology in Indonesia has always been a "mainstay" in developing the national livestock industry. This technology has proven to contribute to increasing population and improving the genetic quality of livestock. Every year, around 1.5 million calves are born as a result of AI out of a total of 2.7 million calf births each year (Anonymous, 2000). However, not all AI activities are always successful. The Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health released the national S/C ratio, which is 1.8. This means that, on average, a new cow becomes pregnant after about 1.2 AI doses.

The success of AI programs is influenced by several factors, including:
  1. Semen Quality and Semen Handling, particularly post-thaw motility or post-thawing motility (PTM). The semen producers must distribute frozen semen that adheres to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 4869.1:2008. Frozen semen should have a concentration of 25 million straws, minimum PTM spermatozoa percentage of 40%, and maximum abnormal spermatozoa percentage of 10%. Semen that falls below SNI standards is discarded or unused (Anonymous, 2000). The decrease in semen quality, especially in motility, usually occurs due to poor semen handling in the field. Cows inseminated with frozen semen with PTM ≥ 40% achieve a high pregnancy rate of 90-100%. In comparison, cows inseminated with frozen semen having PTM of 5-20% achieve a lower pregnancy rate of 80%. This can be caused by incorrect positioning of semen during spraying while the cow moves or improper timing of AI. Another possible cause is a low number of motile spermatozoa (20%), which leads to few spermatozoa capable of reaching the fallopian tube, resulting in a low fertilization rate. The reduced sperm motility is due to temperature changes (cold shock) during the process of freezing and thawing fresh semen. According to Rodriguez-Gil et al (2007), the addition of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) can maintain the motility percentage of sperm after thawing. The treatment with GM-CSF preserves the motility of fresh sperm (88.9%) after thawing, maintaining it at 67.3%, compared to untreated samples (55.2%). Susilawati (2011) stated that spermatozoa capable of reaching the fallopian tube are not more than 1000. AI using various levels of post-thaw sperm quality demonstrates that higher PTM percentages result in a higher alternative rate of errors in predicting pregnancy using the NRR method.
  2. Inseminator's Skill in Depositing Semen. Often, the improper thawing process affects success. Thawing should be done at a temperature of 37-38°C according to standard procedures. At this temperature, sperm motility is highest compared to lower or higher temperatures. Proper thawing temperature increases the chances of pregnancy. Sayoko et al (2007) stated that thawing using warm water yields a higher percentage of live spermatozoa compared to using well water.
  3. Female Livestock. Healthy female livestock with no reproductive abnormalities are suitable for AI. The Body Condition Score of the female cow should be moderate (score 2.5-3), not too fat or too thin. Female cows with a wide pelvis are better suited as AI recipients.
  4. Heat Detection and Accurate Timing of AI. After ovulation, the egg cell can survive only 10-12 hours in the female reproductive tract. This short timeframe must be utilized effectively. The right time for AI is when the female cow is in heat during the morning, it should be inseminated in the afternoon, and vice versa. In this case, the farmer must know how to detect heat. Signs of heat include swollen and reddened vulva, mooing, mucus discharge, mounting behavior, and restlessness.
 
REFERENCES
Anonymous. 2000. Petunjuk Teknis Pengawasan Mutu Bibit Ternak. Directorate General of Livestock, Directorate of Breeding.

Hardjopranjoto, S. 1995. Ilmu Kemajiran Pada Ternak. Airlangga University Press. Surabaya

Prayogo, T. B. 2008. Peningkatan Keberhasilan Kebuntingan Melalui Modifikasi Teknik Deposisi Semen Pada Sapi Peranakan Ongole (PO). Skripsi. Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Brawijaya University. Malang.

Sayoko Y, M Hartono, and PE Silotonga. 2007. Faktor?faktor yang Mempengaruhi Persentase Spermatozoa Hidup Semen Beku Sapi pada Berbagai Inseminator di Lampung Tengah. Kumpulan Abstrak Skripsi Jurusan Produksi Ternak. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung.

Selk, G. 2007. Artificial Insemination For Beef Cattle. Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University. https://osuextra.okstate.edu.

Susilawati T (2011. Spermatology. UB Press. Brawijaya University

Rodríguez-Gil JE, Silvers G, Flores E, Jesús Palomo M, Ramírez A, Montserrat Rivera M, Castro M, Brito M, Bücher D, Correa J, Concha II. 2007. Expression of the GM-CSF receptor in ovine spermatozoa: GMCSF effect on sperm viability and motility of sperm subpopulations after the freezing-thawing process. Theriogenology. 67:1359-1370.

Tappa, B., R. Harahap, S. Said, R. Ridwan, H.Yanwa and E.Sophion. 2012. Efforts to Improve the Genetic Quality of Beef Cattle and Forage Livestock Farming in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Development of the NTT border region through technology application. https://www.elib.pdii.lipi.go.id/katalog/index.php/search katalog/ .../9477. [Accessed on November 6, 2012].