Precautions for Artificial Insemination in Blue Peafowl Breeding

① Cull inferior male blue peafowl: During the first and second semen collection training sessions, some inferior male blue peafowl may show indistinct reproductive papillae, low semen output, low sperm density and poor sperm motility. They should be marked, and if they still perform the same way later, they should be culled.

② Pay attention to semen quality: When collecting semen, take only pure white, highly concentrated semen; do not take yellow, brown or too thin semen. To reduce contamination of the semen by urine, feces and blood, semen collection should be carried out after the rare poultry have defecated, and the collection movements should be gentle; never use excessive force.

③ Semen handling must be appropriate: Do not use ordinary water to dilute semen; a specially prepared diluent must be used. All instruments that come into contact with semen must not carry alcohol or disinfectants. Blue peafowl sperm can maintain good fertilizing ability within the range of 10—40C, and a temperature of around 35C is especially ideal. In cold seasons, attention must be paid to keeping the semen warm; the temperature of the semen should reach 35℃ (this can be achieved by using a 35—40C diluent when diluting the semen). All instruments that come into contact with semen should be rinsed with a 35—40℃ diluent or physiological saline before semen collection and insemination to prewarm them.

④ Correctly master insemination techniques: Insemination must be timely. The sperm should be fully inseminated within half an hour after semen collection; otherwise sperm motility will quickly be lost, seriously affecting the fertilization rate. The insemination dose must be appropriate. Dilute the qualified semen collected 10-fold, and inseminate each female blue peafowl with 0.1—0.2 milliliters.

⑤ Insemination time: Generally choose the afternoon, after most female blue peafowl have finished laying eggs, with the evening being best. Insemination is generally carried out twice per week (on 2 consecutive days).

⑥ Insemination depth: generally l-2 cm inside the opening of the oviduct.

⑦ Adhere to hygiene rules: Instruments such as semen collection cups, syringes and insemination catheters must be strictly disinfected before use. If these instruments are disinfected with alcohol or disinfectants, they must be washed clean, ensure they do not contain these disinfectants, and then air-dried for later use; if needed urgently, rinse them once with semen diluent. The insemination catheter should be changed for each female blue peafowl inseminated, and used insemination catheters should be collected for disinfection before reuse.