AI On Farm
Manual
PREPARATION OF BTS-SEMEN DILUTION
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Preparation of 5 litres (8,80 pints) of semen dilution.
1. Take a packet with 250 gr. of BTS powder and pour it into a bottle of 5 litres
(8,80 pints) of distilled or demineralised/sterile water.
2. Shake the bottle thoroughly and heat the water with the added BTS powder to
35° C in a water bath.
3. Remember to write the date of the preparation on the bottle.
4. Make sure that the powder is completely dissolved.
5. Leave it for heating at 35o C for at least an hour; this ensures that the pH value becomes stable. The dilution is now ready for use.
6. Always shake the bottle thoroughly before you use it.
7. Measure the amount of BTS dilution which is to be used and mix it with the
correct amount of semen. See the example on side 5
2

The procedure as described above must be followed carefully, as it is very important
that the powder is completely dissolved before use

BST dilution may be kept for up till 14 days after the dissolution in the demineralised/sterile water

The dilution which is not used must be kept in the bottle at room temperature or in the
fridge. At subsequent use you only take the amount you need, heat it up to 35oC and
then add the semen.

The dilution may only be re-heated twice.

Use only water which is free of germs and bacteria and is pH controlled.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call the Unitron AI-Advisors.
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PROCEDURE FOR INTERNAL AI
1.
2.
Collection of semen:
1.1
Equipment
Disposable gloves (vinyl with corn flour), plastic bags, polystyrene
box, gaze for filtering, rubber bands, dummy.
1.2
Preparation
Make sure that the plastic bag is tight, place the bag in the polystyrene box, place the gaze over it, and place a rubber band around the
box so that the gaze and the bag are held firmly in their place. Put on
at least 2 pairs of disposable gloves.
1.3
Harvesting
Let the boar jump on the dummy. Let the boar’s penis get all the way
out, and empty the dorsal diverticulum (see figure Anatomy of genital
organs of the boar) of sheath by pressing toward the opening. Remove the outer gloves and use the clean gloves to grab around the
corkscrew shaped part of penis with a firm grip. Do not collect the
first part from the ejaculation because it contains a lot of bacteria, but
watch the ejaculation; when it gets light white you collect the remaining part. Continue collecting the boar for as long as he shows interest. It is very important that it is a good and positive experience to
the boar; otherwise it can be difficult to make it jump again at future
collecting.
Preparation of semen:
2.1
Equipment:
2.2
The quality of the semen must be examined after collecting:
1. Amount; 2. Smell; 3. Discolouration; 4. Examination under the
microscope; 5.Density
Amount:
Take the bag out of the polystyrene box and weigh it on the digital
scales. (1 gram = 1 ml.)
Smell:
It is very important to smell the semen. Boar semen hardly has a
smell. If it smells of urine or ammoniac it must be thrown out.
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.2.4
Microscope with phase contrast, thermometer, scales, water bath,
filling devise, unibags, dilution, straws and Colorimeter
Everything must be clean and dry (disposable).
Discolouration:The colour must be milky/greyish; if the colour is red/yellow it means
that there is blood/urine in the semen and it must be thrown out
Examination under the microscope:
Place an object glass on the microscope and place a drop of raw
semen on it (use a straw), and place a cover glass on top of the semen. Here after the semen is examined for mobility and for defect
sperm cells. Check that the sperm cells are moving around quickly,
in forward movements and are without defects. If more than 30 % of
the sperm cells are immobile or defect, the semen must be thrown
out, as there is a risk for if it is used.
2.2.5
Density:
Use the Colorimeter.
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Use of Colorimeter.
 Turn the Colorimeter on
 Place the cuvette in the holder; remember to turn it the right
way. The triangle must be turned ahead in the Colorimeter.
 Pour 2,7 ml. of dilution liquid the cuvette – use a large pipette.
 Press R so that the Colorimeter is zero set on the diluent.
 Fill in 0,3 ml. of raw semen – use the small pipette.
 Turn the cuvette 3 - 4 times so the semen and the dilution are
mixed thoroughly.
 Place the cuvette back in the holder and press T. Remember
to turn it the right way.
 Read the result right away and note it on list of jumps
 With help from the table - calculate how many portions you
can make.
 Remember to keep the quality of the semen in mind.
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Mixture ratio and calculation of semen portions.
Example:
250 ml of raw semen has been collected and a motility of 90% has been estimated.
The Colorimeter shows 1,45.
The Colorimeter table (page 9) shows that you must use 5,60 ml / raw semen pr. portion.
Every semen dosage must contain 100 ml.
250 ml raw semen / 5,60 ml = 44,64 dosages.
You can make 44 semen portions max.
44 portions X 100 ml = 4400 ml.
Semen and diluent will make 4400 ml.
4400 ml. – 250 ml. raw semen
= 4150 ml. diluent
You pour 4150 ml. diluent into a 5-litre Unibag.
Then you pour the raw semen into the diluent.
Then you take a sample of the mixed semen and examine it under a microscope to check
whether the semen has survived being diluted.
If the sample is all right, the semen may be poured into a bottle, tube or flat pack; or it may
be kept in a “semen cupboard” at 17 oC in Unibags until you need it.
During storage the “semen dosages” must be turned around a couple of times every day;
that way the sperm cells are mixed with the diluent.
Typical mistakes
Most mistakes are caused by bad hygiene and wrong temperature.
The materials are not clean and dry.
The materials has been used more than once and are not clean.
If problem occur - examine the following:
Wrong gloves (it must be vinyl gloves that are powdered with corn flour).
Has the BTS powder been dissolved completely?
The diluent has not been heated
Bad hygiene at collecting and handling of the semen
Wrong or no examination of the semen in the microscope
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Boars for Internal AI

The boar may be used when he reaches sexual maturity – for the most boars this
appears at the age of 7-9 months. Cross breads usually reaches maturity sooner
than pure breads.

Usually it is easier to get a boar to jump on a dummy if it has not tried to cover a
sow in the natural way.

The first time a boar is harvested you must examine the semen carefully – look at it
– smell it – and examine it under a microscope. If the semen is alright you make
three portions of diluted semen (Pour 90 ml. BTS dilution in three insemination bottles and hereafter 10 ml. of semen and keep it at 16-18° C.)

In the following three days one portion is reactivated a day (reactivations means
that the semen is heated to 38° C. for about 10 min.) and examined under a microscope. After both first, second, and third day at least 70% of the sperm cells must
be swimming around; if not the boar cannot be used for Internal AI.

The second time the boar is harvested you make as many portions as possible and
the largest amount of sows possible are fertilized.

After 3-4 weeks you will be able to tell whether the boar is able to fertilize a sow. If
you use a scanner on the animals you are also able to tell whether the size of the
litter is alright. If everything is fine the boar may be used as an IAI boar in the livestock.

Every quarter all boars must be checked to see if their semen is able to last three
days.
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Training of boars for internal AI

The boar should not be used for natural covering before he has jumped on a dummy, as this will make it difficult to make him jump on a dummy.

Place the dummy in the sty.

Make sure that the base is non-skid, when he jumps.

Leave the boar alone for a couple of minutes to see if he will jump by himself.

If he will not jump you may rub some secretion (from a sow in obvious heat) on top
of the dummy. The boar can smell this and it will increase his willingness to jump.

You may also push the boar away to stimulate him.

Only leave the dummy with the boar for as long as he shows interest to it. Max. 10
min. so that he does not get used to that he can decide when to jump.

If he does not jump the first time, repeat the procedure after a couple of days.

At harvesting it is important that it is a positive/good experience, so that he combines jumping with something good.

Praise the boar when he has done a good job.

Boars which are aggressive to people should be slaughtered as you will be nervous
around them, and the boars can feel that and they may take advantage of it.
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List of jumps Internal KS Colorimeter
Date
Boar no.
Amount
Motility
Density
No. of dosages
Notes
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Table for Semcheck II colorimeter
2,5 Billon cells per Ins. portion
Colorimeter reading
Density
1,90
1,85
1,80
1,75
1,70
1,65
1,60
1,55
1,50
1,45
1,40
1,35
1,30
1,25
1,20
1,15
1,10
1,05
1,00
0,95
0,90
0,85
0,80
0,75
0,70
0,65
0,60
0,55
0,50
0,45
0,40
0,35
0,30
0,25
90% motility
80% motility
70% motility
Raw semen pr. portion Raw semen pr. portion Raw semen pr. portion.
2,78
3,12
3,47
3,78
4,11
4,49
4,86
5,15
5,35
5,56
5,80
6,00
6,29
6,75
7,15
7,35
7,55
7,75
8,25
9,75
11,25
12,40
13,75
14,65
15,65
16,70
17,75
18,80
19,80
21,45
24,35
26,80
29,90
Scrapped
3,04
3,41
3,78
4,13
4,49
4,90
5,30
5,62
5,83
6,06
6,32
6,54
6,86
7,36
7,80
8,02
8,24
8,45
9,00
10,64
12,27
13,53
15,00
15,98
17,07
18,22
19,36
20,51
21,60
23,40
26,56
29,24
32,62
Scrapped
3,29
3,69
4,10
4,47
4,86
5,30
5,75
6,08
6,32
6,57
6,85
7,09
7,44
7,98
8,45
8,69
8,92
9,16
9,75
11,52
13,30
14,65
16,25
17,31
18,50
19,74
20,98
22,22
23,40
25,35
28,78
31,67
35,34
Scrapped
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Sperm cells
Coiled tail + distral droplet
Distral droplet
Proximal droplet
10
Coiled tail
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Genital organs of the pig
Urinary bladder
Uterine horn
Uterine horn apex
Uterine tube
Ovary
Uterine body
Neck of the womb
Egg bladder
Vagina tube
Mouth of urethra
Labia
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Anatomy of genital organs of the boar
a) Testis b) Caput epididymis c) Cauda epididymis body d) Cauda epididymis e)
Spermatic cord f) Vas deferens
h) Vesicular gland i) Prostate gland l) Cowpers
glands p) Sigmoid flexure
r ) The corkscrew shaped part of penis s) Retractor
penis muscles t) Urine bladder u) Pelvis symphysis
v) Rectum
y) Dorsal diverticulum of sheath
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