Components and Layout of a Semen Station (AI Centre): Facilities, Housing, and Laboratory Standards

The components and layout of a semen station are crucial for ensuring high-quality semen production, animal welfare, and biosecurity. The semen collection centre is a place where the high pedigreed bulls are kept in a scientific manner with the aim of collecting good quality semen.

The semen collection centre itself is a big concern. It should be established in such a place where other animals cannot get easy access.

It is desirable to construct the station always outer place of the city and the dispatch should be done by a separate mobile van to the centres or a separate dispatch centre should be established in the city to avoid the disease transmission.

The station should have separate calf station where the calves are reared up to 6 months.

Then they are shifted to a another place called rearing station where the animals will be kept up to 11½ years and then they are shifted to the main collection station for training and collection of semen.

In every station the animals should be checked for the diseases and only negative animals should be transferred from one station to another station.

Components of a Semen Station

The semen station should have space and facilities for day to day operations.

The semen collection centre requires the following accommodations:

• Bull paddocks
• Semen collection shed
• Main evaluation and processing laboratory
• Frozen semen storage area
• Quality control lab
• Store for feed and fodders
• Segregation ward for sick animals
• Quarantine shed for newly introducing animals
• Protected open area for exercise with facility of bull exerciser
• Residential quarters

General Considerations

The semen collection centre should not be built in a low lying area where the rain water will stagnate.

It should be located in a place where other animals and persons should not have free access. It should be located away from city where there is less disturbance and pollution.

It should be located in a place where it is having all sorts of transport facility for the easy transport of semen.

Housing for Bulls

The individual pen for bulls with attached loafing area is always preferred. It is better to have two row system of housing with a centre railing area. Here the animals are tied head to head arrangement. This arrangement will help for easy feeding and cleaning of sheds.

The paddocks should be in a north-west to south-east direction in order to protect the bulls from sunlight and cold winds.

The bull should have a covered area of 16’ x 6’ with an open yard measuring 16’ x 20’. This open yard or loafing area helps provide natural exercise and exposure to sunlight

The ceiling should be 10–12 feet high, and the rooms should have adequate lighting and ventilation.

There should be a gap of 3-4’ between roof and ventilator.

The roofs should be designed to allow easy cleaning. Paddocks should have strong walls at least 6 feet high to prevent undue excitement caused by neighboring bulls and to discourage jumping from one pen to another.

The floor should be non-slippery, with a sufficient slope and proper drainage to prevent water stagnation in the pen.

All the corners of the housing should be rounded to facilitate better cleaning and disinfection. The feeding troughs should be semi-circular in shape to ensure that spilled feed falls back into the trough, thereby minimizing feed spoilage.v

The door should be wide and sturdy. The gate of the open pen should also be strong and of sufficient height. To provide cooling during summer, foggers should be installed on the ceiling.

Semen Collection Shed

The semen collection shed should be next to the bull paddocks but sufficient space should be there to have better control over the bulls.

The shed should be comfortable to the bulls. The construction of the collection yard should be in such a way that it should prevent exposure to sunlight and dust.

Provision should be there to for protection against cold and hot wind and also from rain. The shed needs a floor space of 8×9 meters which can accommodate two service crates.

Brick flooring is suitable where the collection is carried out than any other type of flooring.

Service crates should be made of iron rods. The crate needs arrangement for fastening the neck of teaser.

There should be provision for fastening the rope leading the nose ring to avoid bull’s escape.

Adjacent to crate there should be strong guard railing of suitable height and the attendant leading the bull should always position himself across the guard rail so that he remains protected.

The floor of the semen collection shed should be spread with thick layer of sand/soil and water should be sprinkled on it before semen collection.

The site of semen collection should not be overcrowded with unfamiliar bulls and new persons.

Semen Evaluation and Processing Laboratory

The main evaluation and processing laboratory should be very near to the collection shed because once the semen is collected it should reach the lab immediately for examination.

Longer the distance between collection shed and the laboratory will lead to the deterioration of semen quality during the transport time.

The laboratory should have restricted entry to the persons and laboratory should hygienic and dust proof.

The processing lab should have ante room (where the dresses will be changed), sterilization room, washing room, AV room, buffer and diluent preparation room, evaluation and processing room, freezing room, office cum record room, store room and computer room.

The evaluation and processing laboratory should have laminar air flows, working benches, and a refrigerator. The room temperature should always be maintained at 22–25°C.

The laboratory should have properly fitted electrical connections, adequate lighting, and sufficient power outlets.

There should good supply of water with wash basins and drainage facilities. The lab should not have cracks and crevices where the microorganisms will grow.

The flooring should be of granites or marbles instead of tiles where more gapping will be there which will facilitate organism growth.

There should be sufficient almirahs should be kept in sterilization room to store glass wares after sterilization.

Frozen Semen Storage Area

The semen, after freezing, should be kept in quarantine for one month before dispatch. There should be a separate room for storing all the laboratory products.

There should be a liquid nitrogen plant or should be purchased from outside for regular topping of liquid nitrogen during quarantine period.

Quality Control Lab

Every semen station should have separate quality control laboratory to evaluate the semen and also to have control over the hygienic measures to be followed in the station.

The veterinarian in charge of the quality control laboratory should possess adequate knowledge and strictly implement all quality control measures.

The product, i.e., frozen semen, should be evaluated for quality 24 hours after initial storage and again after 30 days of incubation before field distribution.

The fumigation of the main lab should be ensured by the quality control personnel. It should have adequate equipment required for routine operations.

The results of the quality control lab should be communicated for effective management of lab.

Store for Feed and Fodders

The bull paddocks should have a store for feed and fodder. Even though there is a regular supply of feed and fodder, the store will be helpful during emergencies.

The floor of the store should be free from moisture to prevent damage to the feed and fodder caused by water or dampness.

Concentrate feed should be kept on wooden planks at least 6 inches above the floor to protect it from floor moisture. Entry of rats and bandicoots into the store room should be prevented.

Segregation Shed for Sick Animals

The sick animals are placed in a sick animal shed. This not only helps in preventing the spread of disease but also allows special attention to be given to these animals.

The segregation wards should be clean, dry, hygienic, and comfortable for the animals, with sufficient ventilation and light.

An adequate supply of medicine should be kept on hand to treat these animals.

Open Area for Bull Exercise

The bulls that are not sick should be given daily exercise in a bull exerciser to maintain their health. The bull exerciser should be located near the bull paddocks.

A routine chart for bull exercise should be prepared and followed regularly.

In adverse environmental conditions, exercise may be avoided or the timing adjusted. A walk of 1½ to 2 km is sufficient for the bulls.

Residential Quarters for Workers

The residential quarters should be located at a sufficient distance from the bull shed. They should be positioned so that the bulls can be easily monitored.

These quarters are provided for the workers to stay during emergencies and to allow them to begin work early in the morning.

Quarantine Shed for Newly Introducing Animals

There should be a separate quarantine shed for animals newly arriving at the main station from the rearing station. These animals must be observed daily and screened for diseases (brucellosis, etc.) before being allowed entry to the semen collection area.