VII. Interactions involving semen fertility levels, sperm dose rate, and technician ability

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Abstract
From among 122 inseminating technicians employed by the Taranaki Livestock Improvement Association, the results obtained by the group of 7 technicians achieving the highest conception rates in cows (C.R. = 1- to 49-day non-return rate) when using semen of above-or below-average fertility were compared with the results obtained by the group of 7 technicians achieving the lowest conception rates in cows. The C.R. difference between the two groups of technicians when using semen of above-average fertility was 11.8% compared with 11.6% when using semen of below-average fertility. A similar trial, with 8 technicians in each group, showed that increasing the dose rate from 2.5 × 106 total sperm did not significantly reduce the C.R. differences between the 2 groups (6.5% v. 6.3%). sperm per insemination with 16 ejaculates of semen when processed in Caprogen containing Split-batch procedures were used to compare dose rates of 2.5, 3.75, and 5.0 × 106 total catalase (8 sires × 2 ejaculates per sire). The average C.R.s of 67.0, 67.7, and 68.4% respectively did not differ significantly, sperm dose rate accounting for only 2% of the total variation. Interaction between semen fertility level, sperm dose rate, and relative technician ability did not contribute to C.R. differences between sires or technicians.

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