Electro Ejaculator Method for Semen Collection in Bulls

Electrical stimulation of the ampullae and seminal vesicles is performed using an electro ejaculator for semen collection in bulls.

Many instruments has been devised the collection of semen through electro ejaculation.

This method was used by Gunn in 1936 for rams. Later it was modified by Rowson and Murdock, Marden, Dzuik for collection of semen in bulls. Thibault et al. (1948) successfully used this for bulls.

The instrument consists of a rectal probe with paired rings of copper.

There are 30 rings which are insulated from each other with ebony. Sixty cycles alternate current is used. Voltage is increased rhythmically and returned back to zero in 3-5 seconds interval.

The next increase will be higher than the previous one. A bipolar electrode was devised by Dzuik et al. (1954) for collecting semen.

At one end it contained 6 metal rings spaced at 4.5 cm apart. These metal rings work alternate as positive and negative electrodes.

Procedure

The animal is restrained in a trevis/chute. The rectum of the animal is flushed with normal saline

The preputial hairs may be clipped, washed and dried. Teasing or sexually stimulating the bull before applying electro ejaculate may help to inform the quality and quantity of semen.

After cleaning the rectum the glove hand with the electrodes is inserted and passed forward up to 30 cm and the electrodes can be pressed down on the floor of the rectum directly over the two ampullae between the two diverting seminal vesicles.

An alternate current is passed starting at 5 voltage and return back to zero every 5 to 10 seconds.

Subsequent stimulations should go high and again come back to zero. This is gradually increased up to 15 volts. Generally the erection and ejaculation occurs at 10-15 volts when 0.5 to 1 ampere current is flowing.

The semen is collected in a clean sterile glass with a glass funnel.

The first portion generally consists of merely the watery secretion of the accessory glands and can be discarded. The portion is usually containing semen is collected and used.

Advantages

• Able to collect the semen from bulls that are not able to mount or having poor libido.
• Bulls that are recumbent but having good pedigree can be collected by this method.

Disadvantages

• The quality of semen collected by electro ejaculation cannot be compared with semen obtained by AV method because the non accessory sex gland secretion.
• It is painful to bulls.