Sheep AI, Day One

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We volunteered to be a test flock for a new sheep AI procedure. The plan for day 1 was to give the ewes their shots to bring them into heat. I didn’t get any pictures of the procedure, as we were working fast to get them all done.

For the actual inseminations, we’ll be putting the ewes into this squeeze chute.

The sheep squeeze chute can be seen set up next to the red barn.

We plan to collect semen for use in the AI, then donate some to the USDA NAGP gene bank. Rams have to have their pictures taken and scrotal circumference measured.

This ram is posing in front of a marked tarp for measurement.

The laboratory was set up inside the shop building, where we had heat and plenty of light.

A temporary laboratory is set up inside the shop.

The USDA-ARS people working in the temporary lab are shown below.

Specialists are working in the temporary laboratory.