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developed but the most popular method in goats is the use of electro ejaculator and artificial vagina. The later method, which gives the best quality, requires that the stud properly stimulated and then allowed to mount a teaser doe and ejaculates when the penis is directed into the artificial vagina. When an electroejaculator is used, rhythmic stimulation of the ampullae, accessory sex organs and the sacral nerve plexus cause erection and ejaculation. Semen should be evaluated for mass motility, individual progressive motility, volume, pH, ejaculate concentration and morphology. It is important that a strict sense of hygiene is maintained during the process of semen collection, processing and storage. Diluting/extending semen increases the volume and helps to increase the number of females serviced from one ejaculation as a normal ejaculate from a buck varies from 2 to 6.5 10 sperm/ml. Examples of commercially available semen extenders are sodium citrate diluent, Tris diluent, Cornell Union Extender, egg yolkphosphate [24]. Other non-conventional extenders include homogenized milk-fructose, homogenized whole milk-phosphate, Tris-coconut milk and coconut milk citrate [25]. Cryoprotectant glycerol, and antibiotics such as penicillin and streptomycin are added to semen extenders to inhibit bacterial growth [26]. Semen is stored for short term or long term depending on when it should be used. It can be refrigerated (+4C) for short term or in liquid nitrogen for long term (96C). Semen stored in liquid nitrogen can be viable for decades with

There are three methods of inseminating goats; intracervical, intrauterine (difficult), or laparoscopic insemination. For fertility to be optimum, semen must be deposited in the appropriate place in the reproductive tract of the female and at the right time (when a female is in estrus). In does, semen may be deposited in the vagina but the best location to optimize fertility is when semen is deposited in the inner cervix. Insemination in does requires the use of an insemination gun, pipette and vaginal speculum. AI guns are also referred to as pistolettes. There are three sizes of AI guns; 0.25 cc, 0.5 cc and Universal. A loaded AI gun consists of a plunger which forces a plug through the straw to expel semen, a barrel which houses the semen straw, disposable plastic sleeve (sock or sheath)—to keep the semen straw in place, semen straw and an O-ring-to maintain the inseminating sheath in place. Does must be restrained; vulva should be cleaned before inserting the inseminating gun. Semen should be slowly deposited near the uterine end of the cervix or just inside the uterus. The ease of inseminating goats varies, as it is simpler with older, multiparous does with larger and less convoluted cervix compared with younger does with smaller and highly convoluted cervix.

Goats continue to provide of nutritional, economic and social benefits. Reproductive biotechnologies should be adopted to improve the overall efficiency of goat production systems. Estrus synchronization and artificial insemination continue to be essential reproductive tech-

niques for genetic creation, diffusion and conservation of genetic resources.

limited deterioration in fertility.

136 Goat Science

4.3. Insemination technique

5. Conclusion

Bobwealth Oakina Omontese1,2\*

\*Address all correspondence to: drbobwealth@gmail.com

1 Artificial Insemination Unit, National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika-Zaria, Nigeria

2 Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
