AbstractThe purpose of this bachelor thesis is to describe the use of artificial Insemination (AI) in sheep and discuss the possibilities for AI in Sweden. Male and female fertility, heat detection, semen handling and Insemination techniques in sheep are described. Advantages and disadvantages of AI are discussed. In order to achieve genetic progress it is important with well planned and implemented breeding programs. The Swedish Sheep Recording Scheme and computer software from Elitlamm are the basis for sheep breeding in Sweden.

The use of artificial Insemination (A.I.) as an alternative to normal mating in dog breeding in Sweden are controlled by regulations from the Swedish Board of Agriculture and by ethical rules assigned by the Swedish Kennel Club. Only veterinarians, who have a specific certificate and are specially trained and educated, are allowed to perform Inseminations in dogs. Each artificial Insemination must be documented and reported to the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) which, on the behalf of the Swedish Board of Agriculture, yearly presents statistics concerning the use of A.I. in Sweden. The objective of this study was to illustrate the use of artificial Insemination in dog breeding in Sweden for the last decade, using the yearly reports from the Kennel Club during the period of 1995 to 2004.

Syftet med vår uppsats var att visa föräldrabegreppets mångfacettering och vi exemplifierade föräldraskapet genom att studera lesbiska föräldrar som fått barn genom Insemination. För att uppnå syftet gjordes både litteraturstudier och kvalitativa respondentintervjuer. Studien hade ett socialkonstruktivistiskt perspektiv, rättsligt baserade perspektiv och ett visst barnperspektiv som teoretiska utgångspunkter. Dessa nyttjades även som analysverktyg och för att utforska motsägelserna i vårt material användes ett dialektiskt analysverktyg. Materialet analyserades enligt en ad-hoc metod.

Retrospective data from two stud farms, in this study named stud farm A and B, including 742 mares, was statistically analysed. Parameters included in the analysis were type of Insemination, date of the first Insemination, number of Inseminations, the age of the mares, if the mares had a foal or not, foaling date, result of pregnancy examination (if it was done), twin pregnancy and treatments given to the mares. The pregnancy results and the treatments where compiled into a number of frequency tables in which the mares where arranged according to age, month of first Insemination, foal or not and type of Insemination. There was a significant difference in pregnancy result between the years at both stud farms (2001 better than 2002). At stud farm A, in year 2001, month (at start of Insemination) significantly influenced the pregnancy result.

Den vanligaste produktionsformen av nötkött sker i dikobesättningar, där kor och kvigor förväntas föda en kalv per år. I sådana besättningar är fertilitet hos djuren en viktig faktor, då förmågan att föda fram en kalv varje år påverkar inkomsten. I Sverige används naturlig betäckning i störst utsträckning, men ett alternativ är artificiell Insemination. Syftet med detta arbete är att undersöka för- och nackdelar med artificiell Insemination och varför det inte används i samma utsträckning inom dikobesättningar som hos mjölkkor, samt när det kan vara aktuellt att använda sig av. Den artificiella Inseminationens påverkan på dräktighetsresultat varierar mycket i studierna, från 37 till 74 %, men det antyds att 50 % är ett gränsvärde där resultat över detta kan anses godtagbara. Ekonomiskt finns fördelar så som ökade kalvvikter och mindre förluster relaterat till kalvningssvårigheter, men nackdelar i form av ökade kostnader för veterinärtjänster och mediciner samt för arbete.

The purpose of this essay is to examine how same-sex couples experience the second-parent adoption process. To assist us, we have used our questions: how do the couples describe their experiences of the adoption process? Which are the couples? stories about the experience of contact with the involved professionals? What are the opportunities and barriers for same-sex couples to start a family? How do the couples describe their experience of reactions from the community and society, and how do they think the future will look like for same-sex couples? This study has been achieved through a qualitative approach. The empirical data is based on seven semi-structured interviews with same-sex couples or pair members that want to or have had a second-parent adoption. The theory we have used for analyzing the results is phenomenology with focus on queer theory, heteronormativity, and power.

Kvarstående endometrit efter betäckning eller Insemination, "perstistant mating-induced endometritis" (PMIE) har länge orsakat problem med fertiliteten hos ston och anses i vissa fall vara den största anledningen till infertilitet. Ett av de tydligaste tecknen på att ett sto drabbats av PMIE är att det finns ?2cm vätska i livmodern 6-24 timmar efter betäckning/Insemination. Det inte har funnits några standardiserade behandlingsprotokoll för PMIE men nya studier har visat en markant ökning i dräktighetsfrekvensen när ston som identifierats som predisponerade för PMIE har behandlats med glukokortikoider innan betäckning/Insemination. När ston med antingen tidigare oförklarad infertilitet eller tidigare symtom på PMIE behandlats med prednisolon innan Insemination har dräktighetsprocenten ökat från 3% till 65% dräktighet samt från 0% till 64,5% dräktighet.

The purpose of this essay is to examine how same-sex couples experience the second-parent adoption process. To assist us, we have used our questions: how do the couples describe their experiences of the adoption process? Which are the couples? stories about the experience of contact with the involved professionals? What are the opportunities and barriers for same-sex couples to start a family? How do the couples describe their experience of reactions from the community and society, and how do they think the future will look like for same-sex couples? This study has been achieved through a qualitative approach. The empirical data is based on seven semi-structured interviews with same-sex couples or pair members that want to or have had a second-parent adoption. The theory we have used for analyzing the results is phenomenology with focus on queer theory, heteronormativity, and power.

Millions of preselected progeny have been born since the development of The Beltsville Sperm Sexing Technology 1986. The method is based on flow cytometry and sorting is done on the basis of DNA difference of the X- and Y-chromosomes. Preselection of progeny provides an opportunity to obtain genetic gain and increased production as well as increased animal welfare and decreased environmental impact. However, the method is associated with low fertility, high costs and uncertainty whether the sorting process contributes to DNA damage and thereby results in genetically impaired progeny. Today, sex sorted sperm is only commercially available in the bovine industry, due to the fact that bull sperm is more suitable for selection than sperm from other species.

Artificial Insemination (AI) has had a great influence on the development of pig production and is today widely practiced (Gerrit et al., 2005). With AI, genetic progress can at a short period of time be spread worldwide compared with using natural service and the best boars can be intensively used. This is also one of the biggest risks with AI; the impact of semen containing a genetic disease or contamination of pathogens can be enormous. Fortunately, it is a small risk of disease transmission due to many tests of the boars and the semen before use (Maes et al, 2008). It is important that the boars used for Insemination have good breeding values along with good reproduction features and have good fertility results (Robinson et al., 2005).

Fertiliteten hos högavkastande mjölkkor i världen har en negativ trend. Eftersom brunststyrkan avtagit i takt med att mjölkproduktionen ökat, och lantbrukarna har allt mindre tid avsatt för observation av sina djur, finns en växande marknad för automatiska brunstpassningssystem. I denna studie utvärderas ett sådant system; Heatime®. Arbetet är tvådelat, och består av en retrospektiv studie av den eventuella förändring i besättningarnas fertilitetsresultat som uppkommit efter installation av systemet och en enkätstudie som utvärderade hur nöjda 65 lantbrukare var efter inköp. Efter att ha granskat och jämfört fertilitetsdata (antal kor, inkalvningsålder, kalvningsintervall (KI), kalvning till första Insemination (KFI), kalvning till sista Insemination (KSI), antal Inseminationer/serie, 56 dagar non-return, andel dräktiga av nypåbörjade och dräktighetsprocent per Insemination) från de databaser som finns i Sverige (kokontroll och seminrapportering) från två år före installation med två år efter konstaterades att dessa värden inte skiljde sig signifikant åt. Detta beror antagligen på att fertiliteten hos mjölkkor är så pass multifaktoriell att det finns fler faktorer än bara brunstpassning som påverkar resultaten. Resultaten av enkätundersökningen visade att majoriteten (94 %) av de som köpt systemet var så pass nöjda att de skulle köpa det igen, och 96 % av dem tyckte sig se en förbättring av fertilitetsresultaten efter installation. Vidare uppgav 76 % att de ansåg sig spara väsentligt med tid varje vecka efter installation av Heatime®. Om tid sparas varje arbetsdag utan negativ påverkan på fruktsamheten får detta ses som en vinst och skulle kunna motivera en installation av systemet.

To get a good economy on the dairy farms the fertility control of heifers and cows is a crucial factor. It is also important to know which key parameters that should be tracked. In this work well established routines for heat detection have to be applied. When the dairy farmers use technical aid in estrus control it is important not to forget that technical aids can not replace the human eye. Approximately 50 % of all opportunities to inseminate are missed because clear signs of estrus have not been displayed and/or recorded. The cattle fertility has been declining over recent years. During the same time the cow?s proceeds have increased, consequently applying a higher pressure on the cow and the manager.

Artificial Insemination (AI) has had a great influence on the development of pig production and is today widely practiced (Gerrit et al., 2005). With AI, genetic progress can at a short period of time be spread worldwide compared with using natural service and the best boars can be intensively used. This is also one of the biggest risks with AI; the impact of semen containing a genetic disease or contamination of pathogens can be enormous. Fortunately, it is a small risk of disease transmission due to many tests of the boars and the semen before use (Maes et al, 2008). It is important that the boars used for Insemination have good breeding values along with good reproduction features and have good fertility results (Robinson et al., 2005).

Uganda is one country with fastest growing populations in the world and with more than 25% of the population living in poverty. There is a rapid rural urban migration with increasing demands for food for low income earners especially in these areas. One way to mitigate food insecurity is to increase milk and meat production efficiency, and thus reproductive performance of cows is crucial for good production. A well-documented strategy for improving dairy cow productivity through faster genetic improvement is to breed dairy cows using proven semen via artificial Insemination (AI). AI has been used in Uganda for over 60 years but only less than 10 %, a small population of the country?s herd has been bred that way. The aims were to study knowledge, attitude and practices factors influencing cow fertility results on dairy farms around Kampala using AI and to propose ways of promoting increased use of AI in Uganda.

The aim of this paper is to examine the actualities of Information Practicefor single women whose parentage has been made possible through assistedreproduction, which places these parents in a norm-breaking position.Study issues related to parents? perceptions of information needs areinvestigated, as is the process of information retrieval and library usageas well as the obstacles and opportunities facing parents in search ofinformation related to their own family constellation. To this end, theoriesby Tom Wilson, Reijo Savolainen and Elfreda A. Chatman have been usedas a model of selection. Empirical data have been gathered from interviewswith eight single women, whose parentage has been made possible throughartificial Insemination or IVF with sperm from an open or anonymousdonor.