Thawing/holding sahiwal semen straws in ice water for artificial insemination in cattle - An adaptive experience

This study investigated a practical method of carrying frozen semen for artificial insemination (ai) in small sized cattle herds. conception rate of frozen semen of three sahiwal bulls thawed either at 37°c for 45 sec (warm water thaw,wwt) or in ice water at 5°c for 35 min (ice water thaw,iwt) was compared. a total of 301 cows were inseminated in district mianwali (pakistan). overall conception rate (determined by rectal palpation after 45 days of ai) with two thawing methods (wwt,71.3%; iwt,68.9%) did not differ (p > 0.05). there was no bull effect (p > 0.05) on the conception rate with wwt and iwt (bull i,66.0 and 76.0%; bull ii,76.0 and 61.2%; bull iii,71.7 and 69.2%). it is concluded that iwt of sahiwal bull semen for 35 min did not seem to have adverse effects on cow conception. copyright 2015 zoological society of pakistan.