Artificial insemination in poultry breeding requires careful attention to several key steps to ensure the health of the birds and the success of the process. First, it's essential to manage the feeding of breeder chickens properly. Artificial insemination breeders are often kept in cages, which limits their movement and can lead to excessive fat accumulation. To prevent fatty liver disease and vent prolapse, feed amounts must be strictly controlled based on the chicken’s weight gain. This helps maintain optimal health and ensures that both roosters and hens remain suitable for semen collection.
Second, selecting and conditioning the right breeders is crucial. The roosters used for artificial insemination should have a soft abdomen, raised tail feathers, and a well-developed cloaca that opens fully during massage. They should also show strong sexual reflexes and produce high-quality semen. Before the actual insemination, roosters should be trained over two weeks to develop a conditioned response to the procedures, such as handling, massage, and ejaculation. This training usually involves around seven sessions to build familiarity and reduce stress.
Third, hygiene is of utmost importance. All equipment that comes into contact with the semen must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use. Boiling is the most effective method for disinfection, and distilled water should be used for this purpose. After disinfection, all items should be dried completely. For equipment that cannot be boiled or for hand disinfection, alcohol is an effective alternative, but it must be allowed to evaporate fully before any procedure begins.
Fourth, proper semen collection techniques are vital. Semen should be collected 3 to 5 hours after water deprivation. Each rooster has unique sexual reflexes, so the timing and force of the massage must be carefully adjusted. If the massage is too long or too forceful, the rooster may become unresponsive or even defecate, which can contaminate the sample. On the other hand, if the pressure is too light, the semen may not be fully expressed. During collection, fingers and collection cups must not touch the dispenser, and each rooster should be assigned a separate cup. After collection, the semen should be checked and combined using a dropper to avoid contamination. Any fecal contamination should result in discarding the sample. In winter, the collection cup should be preheated to 35–40°C to maintain semen viability.
Fifth, maintaining high-quality semen is critical. Good quality semen appears milky and thick. If the semen is discolored, thin, or mixed with feces, it is unsuitable for use. Microscopic examination of sperm motility and concentration is necessary to assess its quality.
Sixth, dilution of the semen should be done immediately after collection. The diluent must be prepared with clean, accurate tools and pure, fully dissolved ingredients. The dilution ratio should be calculated precisely, and the diluent should be warmed to 35–40°C before mixing. When adding the semen to the diluent, it should be done slowly along the side of the container and gently mixed with a pipette.
Finally, proper insemination technique is essential. The insemination tube should be inserted gently into the hen’s vagina without causing injury. It should be placed about 2.5 to 3 cm deep, and the pressure button should not be released immediately after injecting the semen to prevent loss. The tube should be held against the upper wall of the vagina to avoid leakage. A minimum of 10 million viable sperm per dose is required, and typically 50 microliters of good-quality semen is used. Insemination should be performed three hours after egg production, and a typical insemination cycle lasts 6 to 7 days under normal conditions.
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