Laparoscopic artificial insemination of white-tailed deer with fresh sex-sorted semen

Abstract

This case study describes the feasibility of using chilled, sex-sorted semen for laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI) in the captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) industry. Ejaculates from 3 bucks were collected, extended, and shipped overnight for flow cytometric sex-sorting. Sex-sorted semen was chilled and shipped back overnight. Synchronized does were bred using chilled, sex-sorted (n = 30, farm 1; n = 10, farm 2) or conventional frozen (n = 7, farm 2) semen by laparoscopic AI. Does were subsequently turned out with bucks. Percentage of bucks born via AI with sex-sorted semen was 85% (28/33) for farm 1 and 100% (16/16) for farm 2. Percentage of bucks born by natural cover was 50% (12/24) for farm 1 and percentage of bucks born by using either conventional semen or live cover was 56% (9/14) for farm 2. This case study demonstrated acceptable results using chilled, sex-sorted semen in white-tailed deer herds as a technique to manipulate the sex proportions per breeding season.