Biological Factors and Environmental Influences Affecting Conception Rates
The success of an artificial insemination program is influenced by a complex interplay of animal-specific and external factors. Animal Factors include the age, breed, and "parity" (the number of times an animal has given birth) of the female; for instance, third-parity cows often show higher conception rates than first-calf heifers.
Environmental Stressors, particularly "Thermal Stress" during hot summer months, are known to significantly reduce fertility by impairing early embryonic development. Furthermore, the skill of the AI Technician is a critical variable; studies have shown that retraining can increase accuracy in semen placement from 25% to over 60%. Proper Nutrition and Body Condition Score (BCS) also play a vital role, as animals in poor nutritional states may experience "Postpartum Anestrus," where they fail to cycle normally, making AI impossible or ineffective.