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. 2025 Oct 24:12:1667834.
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1667834. eCollection 2025.

Optimizing artificial insemination in goats: semen deposition site and vaginal mucus characteristics as predictive biomarkers

Ting-Chieh Kang  1   2 , Kai-Fei Tseng  1 , Hsin-Hung Lin  1 , Tsai-Tzu Chen  1 , I-Ling Lai  2 , Perng-Chih Shen  2   3
Affiliations

Optimizing artificial insemination in goats: semen deposition site and vaginal mucus characteristics as predictive biomarkers

Ting-Chieh Kang et al. Front Vet Sci. .

Abstract

Artificial insemination (AI) is a critical tool for genetic improvement and fertility management in goats. This study examined the effects of semen deposition site (uterine body, cervix, vagina) and vaginal mucus type (cloudy, turbid, clear) on pregnancy rate, kidding rate, and average litter size in 300 CIDR-synchronized Alpine does in southern Taiwan. Semen deposited in the uterine body combined with cloudy mucus yielded the highest pregnancy rate (55.9%), while vaginal deposition with clear mucus resulted in the lowest (30.7%). Two-way ANOVA showed significant main effects and interactions for pregnancy rate and average litter size (p < 0.05), but no significant effect on kidding rate. Pregnant does exhibited lower vaginal mucus electrical conductivity, higher pH, and elevated temperature compared to non-pregnant does, suggesting these parameters as potential biomarkers for estrus detection. Findings highlight the importance of precise semen placement and optimal mucus condition for improving AI protocols in goats.

Keywords: alpine goats; artificial insemination; biomarkers; fertility; semen deposition site; vaginal mucus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of semen deposition sites during artificial insemination in goats. (A) Vaginal deposition: semen placed in vaginal cavity without cervical penetration. (B) Cervical deposition: semen deposited 2 cm into cervix through cervical rings. (C) Uterine body deposition: semen placed directly into uterine body through complete cervical passage. Arrows indicate semen placement locations.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vaginal mucus types of artificial insemination. (A) Clear, (B) Turbid, (C) Cloudy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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