[Effect of the type of restraint of sheep during artificial insemination on their fertility].

Studies were carried out to establish the effect of the various methods of restraining the sheep at their artificial insemination on the rate of conception. It was found that as a result of the fixing technique practiced up to then with sheep stress conditions developed that varied in number and effect, which led to a lower conception rate. The use of a new technique and technology of fixing and inseminating the sheep, with which all unfavourable stress factors were fully avoided, raised the conception rate by 7 to 14 per cent. A new equipment was used that made unnecessary the driving, seising; and lifting the animals as they themselves passed onto the platform for fixing and insemination. With the employment of the new method the enhanced vaginal contractions, which stood in the way of proper insemination, were lowered from 26 to 8.2 per cent as against the old technology. The new equipment further made it possible to shorten the time of inseminating each animal twice to three times and thus shorten the time for the semen to stay out of the animal body. This, in turn, also produced a favourable effect on the impregnation of sheep.