The AI clinic was just one of two training clinics sponsored by the Minnesota Dairy Goat Association on November 14th, 2009. Our thanks go to Karyl Dronen from Houston, Minnesota, as the main organizer of the AI Clinic. She arranged for our trainer, Lee Ann Berglund-Fosdick, lined up the semen that was used for the session, and coordinated the activities of the day. As well, we want to thank Vince and Christine Maefsky and family for providing the site for the clinic and the does that were used as subjects for the session. Part of this process is getting those does synchronized in their estrus cycle to be prepared for AI, so the Maefsky's also bore that responsibility, as well as providing a great location at Poplar Hill Farm.

We also want to take this opportunity to mention the second clinic, Cheesemaking, which was conducted by Marge Kitchen of Houston, Minnesota, and thank her for all the hard work in preparing and conducting this session. As the organizer and trainer, Marge put in a tremendous amount of time to provide an excellent workshop for the participants, not to mention the baking of muffins by Marge and Karyl to nourish the students.. The full class of 12 budding cheesemakers were taken through a step-by-step basic training and received a cheesemaking book for reference.
  A good time and good cheese sampling were had by all.

Part of the Class of 2009 for the MDGA AI Clinic
conducted by Lee Ann Berglund-Fosdick, DVM (4th from right) at Poplar Hill Farm

Thanks to Poplar Hill Farm for providing an excellent location for the Clinic with classroom space and plenty of subjects for AI. Heat synchronization was used to make sure there would be does at the right stage of estrus.

Lee Ann examines a droplet of semen from one of the donated straws used for the class. A magnification of 100X is sufficient to see movement and determine viability of the semen, but a magnification of 400X is needed to determine the condition of individual cells. A simple microscope capable of the lower magnification can be purchased as cheaply as $20.

With speculum inserted in the doe, a special narrow fiber optic light is used to illuminate the the tube and the vagina of the doe to assist in locating of the opening of the cervix. A much greater conception rate is achieved if the insemination gun can be threaded through the cervix and semen deposited directly into the uterus.

Careful records should be kept for each doe inseminated, including information on the degree of difficulty of the procedure. Each straw of semen is labeled with the name and registration number of the buck, the date of collection and the name of the processor. This information must be provided to ADGA at the time of registration for any kids resulting from the insemination. The straws should be retained but are no longer required for registrations.






 

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