Short Communications
First results from insemination with sex-sorted semen in dairy heifers in Macedonia
Ljupche Kochoski * ,
Zoran Filipov ,
Ilcho Joshevski ,
Stevche Ilievski ,
Filip Davkov

Mac Vet Rev 2015; 38 (1): 107 - 111

10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.10.025

Received: 03 June 2014

Received in revised form: 01 September 2014

Accepted: 15 October 2014

Available Online First: 31 October 2014

Published on: 15 March 2015

Correspondence: Ljupche Kochoski, ljupce.kocoski@uklo.edu.mk
PDF HTML

Abstract

Science has been searching for a long time for a reliable method for controlling the sex of mammalian offspring. Recently, the application of specific modern cellular methodologies has led to the development of a flow cytometric system capable of differentiating and separating living X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm cells in amounts suitable for AI and therefore, commercialization of this sexing technology. The aim of this work was to present the first results of heifers that introduce bovine AI with sex sorted semen, for the first time in Macedonia. Insemination with sex sorted cryopreserved semen (2x106 spermatozoa per dose) imported from the USA was done at two dairy farms in ZK Pelagonija. In total, 74 heifers (Holstein Friesian) were inseminated. Inseminations were carried out in a timely manner following a modified OvSynch protocol. During the insemination, the sperm was deposited into the uterine horn ipsi lateral to the ovary where a follicle larger than 1.6 cm was detected by means of transrectal ultrasound examination. Pregnancy was checked by ultrasound on day 30 after the insemination. Overall, the average pregnancy rate in both farms was 43,24% (40,54% and 45,95%, for farm 1 and farm 2, respectively). All pregnant heifers delivered their calves following a normal gestation length (274,3 days in average) and of the 32 born calves, 30 (93,75%) were female. In conclusion, since the first results from inseminations with sex-sorted semen in dairy heifers in Macedonia are very promising, the introduction of this technique may bring much benefit to the local dairy sector. Average pregnancy rate seems similar with results obtained following ‘regular’ inseminations, notwithstanding the relatively low number of spermatozoa per insemination dose. Due to the latter, we however recommend inseminations only to be carried out by experienced technicians followinga TAI protocol and ultrasound examinations of the ovaries prior to insemination.

Keywords: sperm sexing, heifer, ultrasound, artificial insemination


References

1. Johnson LA, Flook JP, Hawk HW, Sex preselection in rabbits:live births from X and Y sperm separated by DNA and cell sortingBiol Reprod 1989; 41: 199-203.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod41.2.199. PMid:2804212
2. Seidel GE, JrSchenk JL, Herickhoff LA, Doyle SP, Brink Z, Green R.D, Cran D.G, Insemination of heifers with sexed spermTheriogenology 1999; 52: 1407-1420.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(99)00226-5.
3. Welch GR, Johnson LA, Sex preselection:laboratory validation of the sperm sex ratio of flow-sorted X- and Y-sperm by sort reanalysis for DNATheriogenology 1999; 52: 1343-1352. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(99)00221-6.
4. Johnson LA, Sexing mammalian sperm for production of offspring:the state-of-the-artAnim. Reprod. Sci 2000; 60–61: 93-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00088-9.
5. Kočoski Lj, Kitanvoski D, Najdovski Z, Application of sex-sorted semen in bovine reproductionMac. Vet. Rev 2011; 34: 259-98.
6. Otto FJ, Hacker U, Zante J, Schumann J, Göhde W, Meistrich ML, Flow cytometry of human spermHistochemistry 1979; 62: 249-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00508445.
7. Pinkel D, Lake S, Gledhill BL, Van Dilla MA, Stephenson D, Watchmaker G, High resolution DNA content measurements of mammalian spermCytometry 1982; 3: 1-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cyto.990030103. PMid:6180870
8. Garner DL, Gledhill BL, Pinkel D, Lake S, Stephenson D, Van Dilla MA, Johnson LA, Quantification of the X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa of domestic animals by flow cytometryBiol Reprod 1983; 28: 312-321. http://dx.doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod28.2.312. PMid:6682341
9. Johnson LA, Flook JP, Look MV, Flow cytometry of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm for DNA using an improved preparation method and staining with Hoechst 33342Gamete Res 1987; 17: 203-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1120170303. PMid:3507347
10. Johnson LA, Method to preselect the sex of offspringUnited States Patent 1991; 5: 135759-
11. Moruzzi JF, Selecting a mammalian species for the determination of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermJ Reprod Fertil 1979; 57: 319-323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0570319. PMid:513021
12. Atanasov B, Mickov Lj, Esmerov I, Ilievska K, Nikolovski M, Dovenski T, Two possibile hormonal treatment methods for inducing follicular growth in dairy cows with inactive - static ovariesMac Vet Rev 2014; 37: 2171-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.09.023.
13. Seidel GE, JrGarner DL, Current status of sexing mammalian spermatozoaReproduction 2002; 124: 733-743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/rep.0.124073. PMid:12537000
14. Garner D.L, Seidel G.E, JrHistory of commercializing sexed semen for cattleTheriogenology 2008; 69: 886-895. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.01.006. PMid:18343491
15. Macedo G. G, de SáFilho M. F, Sala R. V, Mendanha M.F, de Campos Filho E.P, Baruselli P.S, Alemayehu Lemma, The use of sex-sorted sperm for reproductive programs in cattle. Success in artificial insemination - quality of semen and diagnostics employedIntech Open Access 2013; 39-61.PMid:23380037
16. Klinc P, Rath D, Application of flow cytometrically sexed spermatozoa in different farm animal species:a reviewArch. Tierz., Dummerstorf 2006; 49: 141-54.
17. Otava G, Comparative study of conception rate on heifers artificially inseminated with sexed and conventional semenLucrari Stiinlifice Medicina Veterinara 2010; XLIII: 2Timisoara 46-51


Copyright

© 2015 Kochoski Lj. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 38, Issue 1, Pages 107-111, p-ISSN 1409-7621, e-ISSN 1857-7415, DOI: 10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.10.025, 2015