Should I...
you might take a camera with you. there must someone who would pay good money for pictures of that. don't forget to put a little lipstick on her.
Choppie White
www.lonestarsuperhogs.com
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Oh come on alterna! Sometimes going that extra mile is what it takes to get them bred! 
Regarding the absolute rods:
The idea behind these is to perform an "intra-uterine" insemination. The balloon inside the catheter is supposed to weave it's way through the cervix as you squeeze and allow the semen to be deposited on the other side. This is supposed to allow you to use a smaller dose with less sperm because none are being lost (trapped) in the cervix.
We've tested virtually every type of intra-uterine breeding device over the past 15 years. The conclusion is that IF you successfully pass the cervix without causing harm or dragging bacteria into the uterus, it is a successful technology. The problems though are many. In many gilts it is very difficult to almost impossible to pass the cervix as is the case also in some sows. In a practical farm setting, it is not a very useful technology.
The ab rods in particular do not have a problem with cervical damage as the balloon as rather harmless. However, it also will not completely pass the cervix on many sows due to the balloon length, and will not "deploy" in other sows (or often times in gilts) because it gets caught in cervical folds. Another issue is that it is necessary to squeeze the semen package, sometimes with a fair amount of force, to make the balloon "deploy". This pressure on the semen bottle damages sperm cells. Often times when pressure is applied to the semen package you will find more detached heads as a result. The third problem is that you are paying way too much money for a simple breeding rod just so that you can squeeze the semen in rather than breed properly.
The best solution remains tha same. A normal catheter, proper timing, and lots of stimulation.
Regarding the absolute rods:
The idea behind these is to perform an "intra-uterine" insemination. The balloon inside the catheter is supposed to weave it's way through the cervix as you squeeze and allow the semen to be deposited on the other side. This is supposed to allow you to use a smaller dose with less sperm because none are being lost (trapped) in the cervix.
We've tested virtually every type of intra-uterine breeding device over the past 15 years. The conclusion is that IF you successfully pass the cervix without causing harm or dragging bacteria into the uterus, it is a successful technology. The problems though are many. In many gilts it is very difficult to almost impossible to pass the cervix as is the case also in some sows. In a practical farm setting, it is not a very useful technology.
The ab rods in particular do not have a problem with cervical damage as the balloon as rather harmless. However, it also will not completely pass the cervix on many sows due to the balloon length, and will not "deploy" in other sows (or often times in gilts) because it gets caught in cervical folds. Another issue is that it is necessary to squeeze the semen package, sometimes with a fair amount of force, to make the balloon "deploy". This pressure on the semen bottle damages sperm cells. Often times when pressure is applied to the semen package you will find more detached heads as a result. The third problem is that you are paying way too much money for a simple breeding rod just so that you can squeeze the semen in rather than breed properly.
The best solution remains tha same. A normal catheter, proper timing, and lots of stimulation.
A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.
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We often use the absolute rods on sows, but don't use them on gilts. As Darin said, too many problems getting the sleeve to deploy on gilts.
You use a different technique with the absolute rods than with standard foam tips or spirettes. When using aboslute rods, you don't want the animal stimulated in any way. You check for standing heat, then put the boar (or boar scent) away and feed her so she's distracted -- no thoughts of romance. No weight on the back, no flank rubbing, etc. Get the rod locked and wait 2-3 minutes before attempting to inseminate. You want the cervix relaxed so the balloon can pass more easily. When we follow these steps with a sow, usually the sleeve deploys with one squeeze of the bottle -- whoosh--it's done.
We didn't do any replicated tests to compare absolute rods with regular rods, but I can tell you that our conception rate and litter size didn't seem to vary with rod type. I liked the absolute rods when breeding several sows at one time because I could heat check, get all the rods locked and then inseminate the animals one after another in the same order I seated the rods. I was always inseminating outdoors, and liked the way the absolute rods minimized the semen's exposure to sun, cold, etc.
Since I first learned with regular rods, I'd suggest that all beginners do the same. I still think that insemination timing is the most critical factor. Good heat detection= good insemination timing.
Alterna, swine A.I. isn't that difficult. It really won't matter whether you use a spirette or regular foam tipped rod so long as you get the rod locked in the right place, at the right time, stimulate the animal and allow her to draw in the semen at her own pace.
You use a different technique with the absolute rods than with standard foam tips or spirettes. When using aboslute rods, you don't want the animal stimulated in any way. You check for standing heat, then put the boar (or boar scent) away and feed her so she's distracted -- no thoughts of romance. No weight on the back, no flank rubbing, etc. Get the rod locked and wait 2-3 minutes before attempting to inseminate. You want the cervix relaxed so the balloon can pass more easily. When we follow these steps with a sow, usually the sleeve deploys with one squeeze of the bottle -- whoosh--it's done.
We didn't do any replicated tests to compare absolute rods with regular rods, but I can tell you that our conception rate and litter size didn't seem to vary with rod type. I liked the absolute rods when breeding several sows at one time because I could heat check, get all the rods locked and then inseminate the animals one after another in the same order I seated the rods. I was always inseminating outdoors, and liked the way the absolute rods minimized the semen's exposure to sun, cold, etc.
Since I first learned with regular rods, I'd suggest that all beginners do the same. I still think that insemination timing is the most critical factor. Good heat detection= good insemination timing.
Alterna, swine A.I. isn't that difficult. It really won't matter whether you use a spirette or regular foam tipped rod so long as you get the rod locked in the right place, at the right time, stimulate the animal and allow her to draw in the semen at her own pace.