240 Artijirial Insemination 



The practical iiu])()itaiice of artificial insemination of domestic 

 animals is to be found in the possibility by means of this method to 

 utilize the seminal fluid, secreted by the male when covering the female, 

 for the purpose of inseminating a number of other females (10-20) who 

 are "on heat"; to combat the barrenness of females caused by various 

 mechanical obstructions (stenosis of the neck of the womb, deflexion of 

 the neck of the womb, polypi, etc.); to cro.ss animals dirt'ering very 

 greatly in size and weight; to cross various ty]ies of animals (horses with 

 asses or zebras, cows witii bisons or aurochs, etc.); to utilize the repro- 

 ductive capacity of a valuable male in case of fatal injury or even death 

 of the latter resulting from causes of a non-infectious kind. (In the 

 latter circumstance, the seminal fluid is collected from the excised .se.xual 

 glands of the male, diluted with some solution beneficial to the life of 

 the seminal cells, and injected like natural seminal fluid into the vagina 

 of the female.) 



One of the great advantages of artificial insemination is to be found 

 in the fact that it dispenses with the necessity of bringing a valuable 

 male into close contact with an unknown female, as the semen can be 

 obtained vnth the aid of a well-known female or one specially selected 

 for the purpose. This circumstance is particularly important in areas 

 where such diseases as dourine, glanders, etc. are met with. 



We must also point out that in artificial insemination when the 

 presence of trypanosomes is suspected in the sperm, the possibility of 

 making the seminal liquid free from infection without killing the sperma- 

 tosomes, has in principle been proved. 



Finally, in artificial insemination the whole process takes place under 

 the control of the microscope, which makes it possible to determine in 

 every individual case before insemination the actiuil degree of mobility 

 of the seminal cells and their number. This enables the breeder to follow 

 and to determine the jjroductive abilities of the male before his stud 

 career commences, and not after, as was usually tlie case in natural 

 insemination. 



The greatest j)ractical importance of the method of artificial insemina- 

 tion is to be found in the possibiUty of applying it for purposes of mass- 

 raising of domestic animals and fullest utilization of particularly valuable 

 males. In order to secure for this method wide practical aj)plication it 

 was necessary to work out simple and safe technical means, to verify 

 them on a sufficient number of animals, ascertain the number of possible 

 inseminations from one "leap," the percentage of positive results, the 

 strength, fecundity and working ability of the young, and convince one- 



