SpermVital AS was founded by the Norwegian cattle breeding company Geno and the SINTEF Group. Together, these two companies have developed a revolutionary insemination technology for artificial insemination of domestic animals.
Traditional technology
Artificial insemination (AI) of domestic animals was invented as early as the 1700s. However, only with the advent of successful cryopreservation of sperm in the 20th century did the technology transform modern domestic animal breeding. Most research efforts since then have focused on improving the survival of fresh and frozen semen until application.
A new idea
The SpermVital technology adds another dimension by extending the life of spermatozoa after insemination. To achieve this, sperm cells are immobilized in a natural substance before cryopreservation. This immobilization preserves energy and enables a controlled release of sperm cells in the uterus after insemination over an extended period of time. This makes timing of insemination less critical with regards to ovulation in the female, and increases the odds of fertilization success.
Advantages
- Timing of insemination will be less critical
- Heat detection will be easier to perform
- Conception rate will be higher than or at least equal to conventional semen
- Inseminations per heat can be reduced
- Inseminations per synchronised heat can be reduced
- Inseminations on weekends and public holidays can be reduced or avoided altogether
- Conventional insemination equipment and technique is used
For the herd owner, this translates to reduced insemination costs and improved herd fertility, both factors that lead to increased profitability.