A device for preserving a predetermined dose of liquid-based substance, notably animal semen or a preservation medium containing embryos or tissue samples, comprises a tube (11) made of a weldable plastics material. The tube allows a service state in which a receiving portion (21) intended to contain the said predetermined dose has a circular cross-section whereas a sealing portion (22) comprises a welded pinch (19) and a transition zone (23). Over at least part of the sealing portion a differentiating edge region (28) gives the external surface of the tube a visual appearance different from the visual appearance of the external surface of the tube outside of the differentiating edge region. A range comprises such a device and a similar device but without the differentiating edge region.

The straw comprises a tube (11) and a gas-permeable liquid-tight stopper (12), which stopper is disposed in the tube in the neighborhood of one end (16), which tube and which stopper are configured for the stopper to be able to slide in the tube towards the other end (17), said tube being transparent or translucent, said stopper comprising an identifier component (13) configured to emit, when it is illuminated with ultraviolet light, light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak having a crest of predetermined wavelength in visible light, whereas when it is illuminated by visible light said identifier component does not emit said light of which the spectrum comprises said peak.

The disclosure relates to Bovine germplasm of Bos taurus variety JE840003146074527. Included in the present disclosure are cells comprising the Bovine variety JE840003146074527. Also provided by the present disclosure are tissue cultures of cells, animals obtained from said cells, and parts thereof, including F1 spermatozoa. The disclosure further provides for methods of breeding, selecting, and using the germplasm to improve existing commercial cattle herds generated from in vitro fertilization methods and progeny cattle obtained from in vitro fertilization and implantation and artificial insemination methods.

The straw comprises a tube (11), a stopper (13) arranged in the tube and having a passage (35) extending through it, and an emptying needle (14) having a first portion (31) protruding from said stopper as far as a distal end (19) situated in said tube, and a second portion (32) situated in said passage (35) of the stopper, said needle and said stopper forming an insert (12) entirely disposed in said tube and having an internal conduit (24) fluidically connecting the internal spaces of said tube that are situated to either side of said insert, said internal conduit being formed at least in part by the needle. The assembly comprises the straw and a device configured to make an opening in the tube. The method comprises the steps of establishing a fluidic communication between the needle and a receptacle, there of making an opening in the tube in order to connect said dose of liquid-based substance to the atmosphere and allow it to flow.

The invention relates to a feeding and positioning device (5) for straws (2) for packing animal semen on a support (4), with a feeding hopper (20) having an inner space (21) which receives the straws and is partially delimited by an inclined and electrically conductive bottom wall (38), an evacuation chute (22) with an inlet orifice, which opens into said inner space, and with an outlet orifice opposite said support, a disentangling system (25) having an electrically conductive and movable part configured to come into contact with said straws and to set them in motion in said inner space, an electrically conductive support, and a mechanical connection interface of said movable part on said support, and electrical connection elements which are directly connected, respectively, to said bottom wall and said support and to said movable part and said support.

A method is for determining the quality of an animal's semen. The method includes the steps of collecting at least one fresh or frozen semen sample, and measuring at least one absorption spectrum X.sub.j of at least one sample of the semen. The sample is collected to a straw for artificial insemination with animal semen obtained by implementing the method. A computer and software are used for the implementation of the method.

An apparatus for collecting seminal fluids, and specifically an artificial cervix for collecting seminal fluids for artificial insemination, is provided herein. The cervix comprises an elongated cylindrical member having either a closed end for receiving and storing ejaculated semen or an open end for allowing ejaculate to pass through, and an open end having a rim of a diameter sufficient to receive the penis of the animal. A handle can be detachably connected to said cylindrical member that allows users to hold the cervix in the correct position during collection of the animal's seminal fluids.

The invention relates to a storage receptacle (1) with a longitudinal opening (5) through which straws (2) for packing liquid-based substance are passed in a predetermined orientation of the straws, a housing (3) provided for the straws and configured to be inserted slidably in a cover (4) of the receptacle, the latter having an open configuration, in which the housing is partially inserted in the cover and the opening is free for the passage of the straws, and a closure configuration, in which the housing is inserted in the cover and the opening is closed by the cover in order to prohibit the passage of the straws. The housing has a parallelepipedal shape, a first front wall in which the opening is formed, a first bottom wall, two first longitudinal wails extending parallel to the opening, and two first side walls which each have two diagonals of a length less than or equal to the length of the straws.

The invention relates to a method for increasing the lifespan of animal sperm comprising contacting said sperm with an inhibitor of Slo3 potassium channel. The invention also relates to a use of an inhibitor of Slo3 potassium channel, for increasing the lifespan of animal sperm or motility of capacitated animal sperm, comprising contacting an inhibitor of Slo3 potassium channel with said sperm. Moreover, the invention relates to an artificial insemination instrument for use in artificial insemination of an animal, comprising animal sperm in contact with an inhibitor of Slo3 potassium channel. The invention also relates to a method for artificially inseminating an animal using said artificial insemination instrument. Eventually, the invention relates to a method for increasing the fertility of an animal, comprising contacting sperm of said animal with an inhibitor of Slo3 potassium channel; then artificially inseminating said animal with said sperm.

The straw includes a tube (11) extending between a first end (16) and a second end (17) and includes a gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable plug (12). The tube (11) is made of a thermochromic material that reversibly changes colour at a pre-set temperature threshold, by virtue of which colour change the tube (11) has a first visual appearance if the temperature thereof is below the preset threshold and a second visual appearance that is different from the first visual appearance if the temperature thereof is above the preset threshold.