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.

A device for artificially inseminating a mammal with sperm from a male breeding animal is disclosed, the sperm being introduced through the vagina of the animal into or onto the uterus of the animal which is to be inseminated. The device comprises a tube which can be moved on the uterus through the vagina of the animal which is to be inseminated, and a heatable chamber for accommodating a thin tube containing the sperm, and a drive for removing the sperm from the thin tube and the uterus-sided opening of the tube. The device comprises a mechanism enabling the thin tube to be moved out from the chamber into the tube.

An apparatus may include a plunger and a substantially cylindrical body. The substantially cylindrical body may include an end portion having rounded edges and may define a cavity sized to receive the plunger. The substantially cylindrical body may include at least one opening extending from the cavity to an external surface. The at least one opening may a substantially irregular shape. In some embodiments, the at least one opening may extend from the cavity through a nub to the external surface. The nub may have a rounded shape. In some embodiments, the substantially irregular shape may include one of a slit, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, an hourglass shape, a rectangular shape, and a diamond shape. In some embodiments, the opening may be part of a non-cylindrical fluid passage.

The artificial insemination device for animals comprises a cannula (1); an insertion tip (2) placed on one of the ends of the catheter (1), said insertion tip (2) having one or more holes (7); and a fixing element (3) placed on a cannula (1), wherein said fixing element (3) comprises a tubular portion (8), a first frustoconical portion (4) and a second frustoconical portion (5). The artificial insemination device for animals according to the present invention enables, by not disturbing or hyperstimulating the animal, the cannula to reach the uterus and be fixed in the correct position in order to suitably perform post-cervical insemination in young sows.

An appliance includes a handle, a speculum tube extending axially from the handle as far as a distal end where it has an opening, a video viewing system having a lens arranged in the speculum tube and a transmission device connected to the lens and connectable to a remote viewing screen, and a lens support for keeping the lens in a predetermined position with respect to the speculum tube, in which position the lens is near the opening and opposite the space situated beyond the opening, characterized in that the speculum tube has an end part and a main part extending between the end part and the handle, the end part being arranged around the support and delimiting the opening, the end part being elastically deformable and the main part being rigid.

The invention relates to methods of increasing the genetic progress of a line, breed or herd of swine through the use of sex-selected sperm cells in artificial insemination techniques. The invention also encompasses methods of artificially inseminating a swine via deep intrauterine catheter or via a laparoscopic procedure, which allow the use of reduced doses of sex-selected sperm cells.

The present artificial insemination instrument may include a single use, hollow, elongate, metal pipette and a single disposable syringe that is not toxic to bovine sperm. The apparatus is used with any type of diluent that is not toxic to bovine sperm. In various embodiments, a technician may use non-sorted reduced sperm count semen straws from a bull stud, cut an unsorted semen straw into several pieces to use one piece at a time per cow, thaw one straw and mix the non-sorted semen with diluent, or use reduced sperm count semen straws filled with sex sorted semen by the manufacturer. A procedure is disclosed to use the artificial in semination instrument, reduced sperm count semen from any of the aforementioned sources, a non-toxic syringe, and a diluent to achieve conception rates at least as good as conventional prior art device and procedure conception rates.

An automated controlled device for livestock management and methods of use thereof. The device includes a housing configured to be inserted into a body cavity. One or more reservoirs are configured to be located within the housing and to store a fluid. One or more pumps are coupled to the one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are configured to deliver fluid stored in the one or more reservoirs to an area external to the housing during use. A microcontroller is coupled to the one or more pumps. The microcontroller is configured to operate the one or more pumps to deliver a predetermined volume of the fluid stored in the one or more reservoirs to the area external to the housing at a scheduled time

A sterile Intracervical Insemination (ICI) fertility kit, method of sterilization, and method of use for performing self-insemination. Each sterile kit comprises: up to three sets of individually wrapped sterile, disposable, syringes and semen collection jars; printed instructions; and a QR code. The collection jar comprises a snap-on lid, and an inner surface with seamless edges to prevent semen residue. The syringes and jars are sealed in plastic wraps permeable to air and gas, and impermeable to pathogens; and are sterilized via gamma radiation or ethylene oxide. Fresh or frozen, unwashed or washed, semen is deposited into the jar, pulled into the syringe, and administered cervically during a user's maximum monthly level of luteinizing hormone. The syringe distal end is designed to push all semen out of the syringe then plug the end closed, while preventing semen residue from collecting within the syringe. Large circular syringe handles facilitate stable handling.

An injector for injecting a fertilized ovum(ova) or a sperm(s) for artificial insemination into a uterine body, by which an injection pipe can be introduced smoothly into a uterus, is disclosed. An injector for a fertilized ovum(ova) or a sperm(s) of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a guide pipe for insertion into a uterine body, an injection pipe which is inserted into the guide pipe and has a length longer than the guide pipe, and a nozzle connected to a frontal end of the injection pipe, wherein the injection pipe comprises a flexible 1st pipe section constituting a frontal side of the injection pipe, and a 2nd pipe section being more rigid than the 1st pipe section and constituting a rear side of the injection pipe.