Fertilities from Mating and Artificial Insemination with Frozen-Thawed Spermatozoa by Indexing LH Surge in Beagle Bitches

The purpose of this study was to examine fertilities from mating and artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed spermatozoa by indexing the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge with the Canine Ovulation Timing Test (ICG Status-LHTM) in beagle bitches. Eleven 2-8-year-old multiparous dogs were used for this experiment and blood was collected daily at 6-15 days after the onset of proestrus. Each serum sample was then used for detection of the LH surge. Five dogs were mated at 5 days after the LH surge. Whelping was successful in all dogs and litter size was 5.8 ± 1.9 (Mean ± SD). The remaining 6 dogs were artificially inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa at 4, 5 and 6 days after the LH surge. Sperm motility after thawing was 49.6 ± 3.6%. All dogs whelped and litter size was 4.0 ± 3.0. These results suggest that fertilities from mating and AI with frozen-thawed spermatozoa are satisfactory by indexing the LH surge with the Canine Ovulation Timing Test in dogs and further demonstrate that the optimal period for insemination is around 5 days after the LH surge.