Eight female Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were estrus-synchronized, and transcervically inseminated with frozen-thawed semen in September, 2009, about 2 to 3 months earlier than their natural breeding season. Intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices were inserted into vaginas of six Himalayan tahrs on September 7, and the other two on September 8 to suppress luteal function of ovaries. The devices had been placed deep inside the vagina prior to withdrawal on September 23. A day before CIDR removal, a combination of PMSG 400 IU and hCG 200 IU was intramuscularly injected. Forty hours later, frozen-thawed semen was transcervically inseminated. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 39 days later by analyzing progesterone level of serum. Every treatment was done under anesthesia inducted by xylazine injection. In conclusion, vaginal discharge of cervical mucus, hormonal changes induced by implant-typed or muscularly injectable hormones and widening of cervix enough to insert an insemination gun into uterine body were achieved in non-breeding season. Moreover, the first inseminated Himalayan tahr, 36 hours after CIDR removal was assumed to be pregnant but the fetus may have been lost due to the use of anesthetic drug.

Four estrus-induced Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen by laparoscopic or transcervical insemination techniques with no regard to the site of ovulation in non-breeding season. In June and July, 2009, estrus was synchronized by Eazi-Breed (Controlled internal drug release; Pfizer Animal Health, New Zealand) insertion for 16 days and PG 600 (PMSG 400IU, hCG 200 IU; Intervet, Netherlands) injection (IM) a day before removing . Forty eight hours later, laparoscopic or transcervical insemination was done to each of two tahrs under anesthetic condition inducted by ketamine (1.5 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.09 mg/kg). For examination of estradiol and progesterone, blood was collected right before insertion, PG 600 injection, removal and insemination. Estradiol levels of four tahrs (No. 1, 2, 3, 4) before insertion and insemination were 13.3, 8.8, 14.3, 12 pg/ml and 23.5, 25.5, 21.1, 11.5 pg/ml, respectively. Progesterone levels of four tahrs (No. 1, 2, 3, 4) before insertion and insemination were 1.8, 0.05, 0.63, 0.61 ng/ml and 1.03, 0.37, 1.48, 2.12 ng/ml. Except for No. 4 tahr, cervices showed cervical mucus and opened enough to penetrate with embryo transfer gun sheet usually used for cows. Therefore, No.4 was laparoscopically inseminated together with No. 1. In conclusion, none of four Himalayan tahrs was pregnant. However, we proved that estrus could be induced by CIDR and PG 600 injection in non-breeding season, and laparoscopic or transcervical insemination with frozen-thawed semen could be one of assisted reproductive techniques in Himalayan Tahr.

On January 6, 2010, two months earlier than normal breeding season, a red fox vixen was implanted with synthetic GnRH analogue, Deslorelin. Blood was sampled every 2~3 days from the day of implant to identifying spermatozoa on stains of epithelial cells. Estradiol and progesterone were examined. Even though the vixen was in non-breeding season, she was mated by a male fox. Pregnancy was confirmed by canine pregnancy detection kit that detect relaxin released from placenta. Four healthy pups were born on March 9, 2010. This is the first report showing synthetic GnRH can activate ovarian function and lead to fertile estrus of red fox in non-breeding season.

We report herein the successful results of estrus induction, sperm cryopreservation and kids born by transcervical insemination of frozen-thawed semen in a Saanen goat. Flugestone acetate (FGA: 60 mg) was inserted into vagina for 15 days. The goat was intramuscularly injected with 400 IU PMSG and 200 IU hCG (: Intervet, Korea) a day before withdrawal of the FGA sponge. Follicles and corpora lutea were identified on both ovaries by laparoscopy. Artificial insemination was performed 46 hours after removal of FGA sponge. The concentration of frozen-thawed semen was and 0.5 ml of frozen-thawed semen was transcervically inseminated into uterine body under anesthesia. Three kids, all females, were born 144 days after artificial insemination. This is the first report producing kids by transcervical insemination of frozen-thawed semen in a Saanen goat of which the estrus was induced by FGA sponges, PMSG and hCG during non-breeding season in Korea.