The present study aimed to verify the effect of different cervical insemination techniques with frozen semen on pregnancy of 234 Corriedale ewes, in natural estrus. Frozen semen in pellets from three Suffolk and one Corriedale ram were used in this experiment. One hundred and thirty-six ewes were inseminated through the cervix, with (60) and without (76) cervical traction. As the control group, ninety-eight ewes were submitted to laparoscopic insemination. Pregnancy rate was verified by ultrasound, the data were divided in superficial and deep penetration based in the degree that the catheter passed through the cervix. Considering the total number of ewes submitted to cervical insemination, the pregnancy rate was 44.19% and 32.26% for deep and superficial cervical deposition of the semen, respectively. The cervical insemination without traction resulted in 28.95% of pregnancy, which is statistically lower to that observed by laparoscopic insemination (57.14%; p < 0.001) and similar to the results obtained with cervical traction (45.00%). However, the percentage of pregnancy was similar between the insemination by cervical traction and laparoscopy. In conclusion, the results suggest that pregnancy rate of ewes, in natural estrus, is similar when either cervical traction or laparoscopy is used to inseminate with frozen semen.
ovine; artificial insemination; frozen sêmen
