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Equipment for Field Handling Frozen Semen

Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, Orono

ABSTRACT

Many workers have demonstrated that frozen semen can be used satisfactorily in artificialinsemination of dairy cattle and that it has many advantages. However, some artificial breeding associations have been reluctant to use frozen semen because of the large consumptionand high cost of solid CO₂ to the technicians and the unsatisfactory field handling equipment.

Satisfactory subzero cabinets should conform to the following principles:

1. Maintain an even, low temperature.
   
2. Use a minimum of solid CO₂.
   
3. Be able to store a maximum number of ampules in the space available.
   
4. Have a large CO₂ capacity.
   
5. Ampules should be easily accessible and easy to identify.
   

The equipment described hereafter was designed along these principles and fits into the following sequence of handling frozen semen (all semen prior to freezing is handled in a coldroom 5° C.).

1. Semen is extended and glycerolated.
   
2. Extended semen is hermetically sealed in glass ampules.
   
3. Ampules are placed in holders or cartridges.
   
4. Cartridges and ampules are placed in a circulating alcohol bath and frozen.