Device for artificial insemination of farm animals and protective sleeve for such a device

Abstract

The invention relates to an insemination probe (1, 1') intended to be used to artificially inseminate a farm animal without cleaning the vulva of said animal, comprising an insemination probe body (11) carrying an insemination head (12).According to the invention, said insemination probe (1, 1') comprises a protective sleeve (2) covering at least part of said insemination head (12) and at least part of said insemination probe body (11), the protective sleeve being intended to be introduced into the vulva (9) of the animal up to a visual marker of the insertion limit, said protective sleeve (2) comprising, at an end (22) located on the side of said insemination head (12), a total or partial closure means (23) configured to open under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head (12) against said closure means (23) during a movement of the insemination probe body (11) in said protective sleeve (2) after insertion of the insemination probe (1, 1') into the vulva of the animal.

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of instruments used for the artificial insemination of livestock.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a device for artificial insemination, including of sows, designed to inseminate a dose of semen in a simple, rapid, and hygienic manner. The invention also relates to a protective sleeve intended for use in such a device. Previous art

[0003] Artificial insemination is considered the oldest of the biotechnologies of animal reproduction and is the subject of specific practices enabling the success of this procedure.

[0004] US document 2005 / 137448 A1 describes an embryo (or semen) deposition catheter in the uterus, the catheter being equipped with a protective sheath.

[0005] Artificial insemination is performed in several consecutive steps. The first step involves thoroughly cleaning the animal to be inseminated. The practitioner will clean the vulva by rubbing it with a material (paper, cloth, wipe, etc.) to mechanically remove any dirt. This material may be soaked in a washable and / or disinfectant solution.

[0006] The second step involves positioning and inserting an artificial insemination probe into the animal's cervix. This step of artificial insemination allows the semen to reach the uterus for fertilization.

[0007] Depending on the type of probe used, it is sometimes necessary to break and remove a breakable section of the probe located at the tip to be inserted into the animal's reproductive tract. Removing this section reveals and exposes a wax plug designed to melt at a temperature of approximately 37°C (which corresponds to the internal temperature of a sow's reproductive tract), thus releasing semen held under pressure.

[0008] The cleaning step prior to the introduction of the probe is therefore essential / decisive so as not to introduce pathogens at the same time as the semen during the introduction of the artificial insemination probe.

[0009] However, animals often have a significant level of soiling, making cleaning difficult and arduous. In fact, removing the particles is complex, and it is not uncommon to find that, even after cleaning, particles remain trapped in the crevices of the animal's vulva.

[0010] Often, even after meticulous cleaning, practitioners find that dirt / particles, and therefore pathogens, have been introduced into the animal's genital tract via the probe during its positioning and insertion. Thus, even if the animal's vulva appears visually clean, it may still be contaminated with bacteria, which is unsatisfactory.

[0011] To address some of these drawbacks, washable and / or disinfectant solutions are sometimes used. However, some of these solutions, used to disinfect the animal's vulva, can be spermicidal. Therefore, this can impair sperm survival and thus reduce reproductive performance / results.

[0012] Finally, the cleaning phase as currently performed is not very ergonomic for the practitioner, as they must bend over to clean the vulva. It is also very time-consuming, representing approximately half of the total time for the insemination procedure. These two constraints therefore play a major role in the fact that this cleaning step is sometimes performed hastily by practitioners.

[0013] This cleaning step, as it is currently performed, is therefore unsatisfactory. Indeed, it is a tedious step that offers little added value for practitioners. Furthermore, when this cleaning step is not carried out perfectly, it leads to a reduction in reproductive performance.

[0014] There is therefore a need to provide a solution enabling simple and rapid artificial insemination while respecting the health requirements essential to the success of this technique. Summary of the invention

[0015] The technique of the invention makes it possible to overcome at least some of the drawbacks raised by the prior art. More specifically, the invention relates to an insemination probe intended for use in artificially inseminating a farm animal without cleaning the vulva of said animal, the probe comprising an insemination probe body carrying an insemination head.

[0016] According to the invention, said insemination probe comprises a protective sleeve covering at least part of said insemination head and at least part of said insemination probe body, the protective sleeve being intended to be inserted into the vulva of the animal up to a visual marker of the insertion limit, said protective sleeve comprising, at an end located on the side of said insemination head, a means for total or partial closure of the sleeve wall, this total or partial closure means being configured to open under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head against said closure means during a movement of the insemination probe body in said protective sleeve after insertion of the insemination probe into the vulva of the animal.

[0017] The protective sleeve according to the invention allows the user (the practitioner) to insert an insemination probe into the vulva, protected by this sleeve from dirt and pathogens present on the animal's vulva. Consequently, the practitioner no longer needs to clean the animal's vulva before performing the artificial insemination. Therefore, the insemination is performed in a single step instead of two. Thus, the invention allows the user to save considerable time by almost halving the time spent on an artificial insemination.

[0018] In the case of a probe with a breakable section at the free end of the insemination head, the protective sleeve is configured to allow this breakable section to remain accessible outside the sleeve, without compromising the protection of the insemination probe. The sleeve is therefore considered to at least partially cover the insemination head. The sleeve then has a means of partial closure (through hole) configured to allow this breakable section to protrude from the sleeve and subsequently allow the insemination head to pass through when the probe body is moved within the protective sleeve after the probe has been inserted into the animal's vulva.

[0019] In the case of a probe without such a breakable section, the sleeve completely covers the insemination head. The sleeve then has a fully closing mechanism designed to release and open under a predetermined force exerted by the insemination head against the closure mechanism during movement of the insemination probe body within the protective sleeve after the probe has been inserted into the animal's vulva. Once the closure mechanism has released, a passage hole allows the insemination head to move through the sleeve.

[0020] In all cases, the insemination probe is fully / optimally protected, thus preventing contamination of the animals by dirt and pathogens located on the vulva. The invention therefore allows the user to improve and simplify the sanitary safety of the artificial insemination procedure.

[0021] The invention also allows the user to improve the ergonomics of the artificial insemination procedure since this procedure no longer requires scrupulously cleaning the animal's vulva prior to inserting the probe, a step which was time-consuming and tiring for the practitioner.

[0022] The invention also makes it possible to reduce the amount of waste generated by the act of artificial insemination since it is no longer necessary to use washing wipes.

[0023] Thus, the invention proposes a novel and inventive approach to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. Since the insemination probe is completely protected from the elements, it is no longer necessary to clean and disinfect the vulvas before performing inseminations. Therefore, the insemination procedure according to the invention is much simpler and faster without the cleaning and disinfection step required by the prior art. The benefits are thus evident in both reproductive performance and improved ergonomics and working comfort for the practitioner.

[0024] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve covers between one quarter and two thirds of the insemination probe body.

[0025] According to another particular aspect of the invention, said visual marker is a marking on the sleeve delimiting a portion for gripping by the user and a limit of penetration of said protective sleeve into the vulva of the animal.

[0026] This design makes it easy for the practitioner to determine how far the protective sleeve should be inserted into the animal's vulva. The protective sleeve also features a gripping area that is helpful for the practitioner when moving the insemination probe body, and therefore the insemination head, through the sleeve.

[0027] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve is made of a non-spermicidal material, and is resistant to the acidity of animal secretions and to the heat of animals.

[0028] Such a material ensures optimal protection of the insemination probe head while guaranteeing high performance in reproducing the insemination procedure.

[0029] According to another particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve is made of a waterproof material selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, paper, cardboard, or a mixture of these materials.

[0030] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said insemination head has, at its free end, a breakable part extending at least partly outside said protective sleeve having a means of partial closure.

[0031] Indeed, some insemination probes have a breakable section that must be removed before insertion into the animal's reproductive tract. Therefore, the invention provides a protective sleeve designed to allow access to the breakable section of the probe head while protecting the rest of the insemination head. To achieve this, the sleeve incorporates a partial closure mechanism in the form of a hole for the probe head to pass through.

[0032] According to another particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve is made of a woven material.

[0033] According to yet another particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve is made of microfiber fabric.

[0034] The use of a woven material, particularly microfiber fabric, ensures smooth gliding of the insemination head through the protective sleeve. This type of fabric also effectively traps any soiling present on the animal's vulva. Finally, using fabric to make the protective sleeve facilitates its removal from the animal's vulva.

[0035] According to another particular aspect of the invention, said probe comprises a lubricating material disposed between said protective sleeve and the insemination probe body and / or said insemination head.

[0036] The use of a lubricant inside the protective sleeve facilitates the insertion of the insemination head into the animal's vagina and out of the sleeve via the total or partial closure mechanism. This lubricant also facilitates the movement of the probe body within the sleeve. The lubricant may be in the form of a lubricating solution or any other type of product, such as a liquid, solid, powder, or gel.

[0037] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the means for total or partial closure is in the form of a pre-cut.

[0038] Such a closure method is relatively simple and reliable. It therefore guarantees optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0039] Even if the sleeve is partially open, there may be pre-cuts across the rest of the sleeve's width to facilitate opening when passing the probe.

[0040] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the means for total or partial closure is in the form of a folding of walls forming said protective sleeve.

[0041] Such a method of closure is also relatively simple and reliable. It therefore ensures optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0042] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the means for total or partial closure is in the form of a bonding of walls forming said protective sleeve.

[0043] Such a method of closure is also relatively simple and reliable. It therefore ensures optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0044] According to another particular aspect of the invention, the total or partial closure means takes the form of a weld or fusion of walls forming said protective sleeve.

[0045] Such a method of closure is also relatively simple and reliable. It therefore ensures optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0046] According to another particular aspect of the invention, the means of total or partial closure is in the form of a seam or a weave of walls forming said protective sleeve.

[0047] This method, particularly suitable when the material used to make the hygienic sleeve is woven, is also relatively simple and reliable. It therefore ensures optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0048] All these solutions, whether for total or partial closure, facilitate the creation of an opening in the end of the sleeve under a predetermined force, allowing the probe head and body to pass through the sleeve. The goal is for the closure system to seal off as much of the sleeve's end area as possible. A breakable section for probe access is mandatory, as this section must be broken. To minimize the risk of contamination, the partial closure should create the smallest possible opening.

[0049] The invention also relates to a method of artificial insemination of a farm animal using an insemination probe without cleaning the vulva of said animal, said method comprising the steps of: provision of an insemination probe as described above; optionally, in the case of an insemination probe comprising a breakable part, breaking and removing the breakable part; positioning of said insemination probe at the level of the vulva of an animal to be inseminated; introduction of said insemination probe at least partially covered by said protective sleeve into said vulva of the animal; movement of the body of the insemination probe in said protective sleeve until the breakage or opening of said total or partial closure means; movement of the body of the insemination probe through said protective sleeve to the cervix of the animal to be inseminated; deposition of the semen in the cervix of the animal.

[0050] The method of inseminating a livestock animal using an insemination probe according to the invention is relatively simple and quick compared to prior art solutions. Indeed, the use of the protective sleeve on the insemination probe eliminates the need to clean the animal's vulva before inserting the probe. The time required for artificial insemination according to the invention is therefore almost halved compared to prior art methods.

[0051] When the insemination probe used includes a breakable portion extending outside the sleeve, the procedure includes a step, implemented prior to positioning said insemination probe at the vulva of the animal, consisting of breaking a breakable portion located at the end of the probe to be introduced into the genital tract of the animal.

[0052] The invention also relates to a protective sleeve intended to cover at least part of the insemination head and at least part of the body of an insemination probe as described above for artificially inseminating a farm animal without cleaning the vulva of said animal, the protective sleeve having a visual marker of the limit of insertion of the insemination probe into the vulva of the animal, said protective sleeve further comprising, at one end, a means for total or partial closure of the wall of the sleeve, this total or partial closure means being configured to open under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head against said closure means during a movement of the body of insemination probe in said protective sleeve after insertion of the insemination probe into the vulva of the animal. List of Figures

[0053] The invention, and its various advantages, will be more easily understood in light of the following description of two illustrative and non-limiting embodiments thereof, and the accompanying drawings, among which: [ Fig 1 ] illustrates an insemination probe, in side view, incorporating a protective sleeve according to the invention, at the time of positioning in front of the animal's vulva; [ Fig 2 [ ] is a side view of the insemination probe figure 1 , after insertion into the animal's vulva; [ Fig 3 [ ] is a side view of the insemination probe figure 1 , after moving the insemination probe body through the protective sleeve in order to perform the insemination operation on the animal; [ Fig 4] illustrates a variant of an insemination probe having a breakable portion extending outside the sleeve, in side view, employing a protective sleeve according to the invention, at the time of positioning in front of the animal's vulva; and [ Fig 5 [ ] is a diagram illustrating the process of artificially inseminating a farm animal using an insemination probe according to the figures 1 to 3 or according to the figure 4 . Detailed description of two embodiments of the invention

[0054] The general principle of the invention is based on the implementation of a sanitary / hygienic protective sleeve covering at least part of an insemination probe, and more particularly at least part of the insemination head and at least part of the insemination tube of the insemination probe intended to be introduced into the genital tract of the animal.

[0055] This sleeve is partially inserted into the animal's vulva, up to a visual marker on the sleeve, like a limit marking for insertion.

[0056] Such a sleeve has an opening provided with a means of total or partial closure which allows, when a predetermined force is exerted on the closure means by the body of the insemination probe during a movement of the latter in the protective sleeve, to open the opening of the protective sleeve in order to allow the movement of the body of the insemination probe through the protective sleeve to the cervix of the animal so as to carry out the insemination operation.

[0057] The use of the protective sleeve according to the invention therefore eliminates the need for the preliminary step of cleaning and disinfecting the animal's vulva. As described previously, this step, performed before insemination, presented several drawbacks that the invention resolves.

[0058] There figure 1 illustrates an artificial insemination probe 1 for livestock, in side view, comprising a protective sleeve 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0059] The insemination probe 1 typically comprises an insemination head 12 fixed to an insemination probe body 11. The insemination head 12 has a shape adapted to penetrate the animal's vulva 9 and perform the insemination. In this example, the insemination head 12 comprises two grooved spheres.

[0060] In this example, the insemination probe body 11 has a length of approximately 40 cm and a diameter of approximately 6 mm. The insemination head 12 has a total length of approximately 4 cm and a maximum diameter of approximately 2 cm. It is understood that any other insemination probe, of different types and dimensions, can be considered without departing from the general principle of the invention, including so-called self-insemination probes.

[0061] According to the invention, the insemination probe 1 is partially covered by a sanitary / hygienic protective sleeve 2. The protective sleeve 2 is intended to be slipped / installed onto the insemination head 12 and thus to cover the insemination head 12 and at least part of the body of the insemination probe 11, as illustrated in the figure 1More specifically, the protective sleeve 2 covers the insemination head 12 and between one quarter and two thirds of the length of the insemination probe body 11, so as to protect the insemination head 12 from dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9 of the animal at the time of its introduction.

[0062] In this example, the insemination probe 1 has a total length of approximately 44 cm (40 cm probe body 11 and 4 cm probe head 12). The protective sleeve 2 is approximately 20 cm long. It therefore covers about half of the insemination probe 1.

[0063] The protective sleeve 2 has a longitudinal body 20 having, at a first end 21, a first opening which allows the protective sleeve 2 to be threaded onto the insemination probe 1.

[0064] The second end 22 of the body 20 of the protective sleeve 2, located on the side of the insemination head 12, has an opening that is totally or partially closed before the insemination probe 1 is used to inseminate the animal. To this end, the second end 22 has a total or partial closing means 23 configured to yield / break or open under a predetermined pressure from the body of the insemination probe 11 so as to create an opening at the second end 22 to allow the passage of the insemination probe 1 through the second end 22 after the protective sleeve 2 and the insemination probe 1 have been introduced into the vulva of the animal.

[0065] The closure means 23 is total or partial. It is therefore configured, on the one hand, to make the second end 22 watertight, or partially watertight, before use of the probe 1 and, on the other hand, to give way / break or open under a determined pressure of the insemination probe body 11 against the closure means 23 so as to allow the passage of the insemination probe body 11 through the second end 22.

[0066] The protective sleeve 2 therefore has a specifically positioned closure means 23 guaranteeing (almost) complete protection of the insemination head 12 but also allowing easy opening as soon as a determined pressure / force of the insemination probe body 11 is applied against the closure means 23.

[0067] For example, the closure means 23 may be in the form of a pre-cut at the second end 22, a folding of the walls of the protective sleeve 2, a bonding of the walls of the protective sleeve 2, or a protective sleeve 2 made up of two parts folding over each other at the second end 22. The closure means 23 could also be in the form of a weld or fusion of walls or a weave forming the protective sleeve 2. It is understood that any other solution allowing the same objectives / results as those described above would not deviate from the general principle of the invention.

[0068] The protective sleeve 2 is essentially an overwrap or sanitary protective cover that shields the probe tip from vulvar contamination. The practitioner does not need to clean the vulva, resulting in considerable time savings and improved working comfort. This protective sleeve 2 is made of a flexible or rigid material, waterproof or not, non-spermicidal, and resistant to the acidity of animal secretions and the body heat of animals. For example, the protective sleeve 2 is made of polypropylene plastic, polyethylene, or any material suitable for isolating the insemination head 12 from the vulva 9 and conforming to its intended use, such as plastics, paper, cardboard, fabrics, or microfibers.

[0069] It is understood once again that any other material which would meet these constraints would also be suitable for the implementation of the invention and would therefore not deviate from the general principle of the invention.

[0070] The protective sleeve 2 according to the invention further comprises a visual marker, here a marking 24 identifying the insertion limit of the protective sleeve 2 in the vulva 9 of the animal, as illustrated in the figure 2 . Such a marking 24 therefore allows the practitioner to easily and quickly identify the insertion limit of the protective sleeve 2.

[0071] Rather than a marking on the surface of the protective sleeve 2, the visual marker could consist of one or more notches for the insertion limit of the protective sleeve 2, a pre-cut, or a difference in material or color of the protective sleeve 2.

[0072] The marking 24 is located at a distance from the second end 22 of the protective sleeve 2 that is approximately equal to the length of the insemination head 12. More specifically, the distance between the marking 24 and the second end 22 of the protective sleeve 2 is slightly greater than the length of the insemination head 12. In this way, the protective sleeve 2 is inserted into the vulva 9 without reaching the animal's clean vaginal area, thus avoiding the introduction of dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9.

[0073] The marking 24 delimits a gripping portion 25 and a penetration portion 26. More precisely, the gripping portion 25 constitutes the portion of the protective sleeve 2 located on the side of the first end 21 relative to the marking 24. The other portion of the protective sleeve 2, called the penetration portion 26, is intended to be inserted into the vulva 9 of the animal.

[0074] The marking 24 is positioned so as to provide a sufficient gripping portion 25 for the practitioner when performing the operation of moving the insemination probe 1 through the protective sleeve 2, as described below.

[0075] The length of the protective sleeve 2 is selected to allow the insertion of a portion 26 of the protective sleeve 2 and a part of the insemination probe body 11, which carries the insemination head 12, into the animal's vulva 9, while still allowing access to the gripping portion 25 for opening the closure means 23 when it is located in the animal's vulva 9. In this way, the insemination head 12 does not come into contact with the animal's vulva 9 during the insertion of the insemination probe 1. Therefore, it does not come into contact with dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9.

[0076] We now describe, in relation to the figures 1 to 3, the way in which the protective sleeve 2 is used according to the first embodiment of the invention during an artificial insemination of a farm animal.

[0077] There figure 1 This illustrates the insemination probe 1, including a protective sleeve 2, when positioned in front of the vulvar opening 9. In this position, the insemination probe 1 is not yet inserted into the animal's vulva 9. The protective sleeve 2 covering the insemination probe 1 conforms to the detailed description above.

[0078] On the figure 2The insemination probe 1, covered by the protective sleeve 2 according to the invention, is partially inserted into the vulva 9 of the animal. In this position, portion 26 of the protective sleeve 2 of the insemination probe 1 is inserted into the vulva 9 of the animal. It should be noted that the protective sleeve 2 is inserted into the vulva 9 approximately to the mark 24, which indicates the insertion limit of the protective sleeve 2.

[0079] In this position, the insemination head 12 is always protected by the protective sleeve 2. In this way, when the insemination probe 1 is introduced into the vulva 9 of the animal (which represents the critical phase in the prior art), the insemination head 12 is never in contact with the vulva 9. The insemination head 12 cannot therefore be soiled by dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9 of the animal.

[0080] Next, and as illustrated on the figure 3, the body of the insemination probe 11 (and therefore the insemination head 12) can be pushed / moved through the protective sleeve 2 to reach the reproductive organs of the animal to be inseminated.

[0081] To do this, once the insemination probe body 11 and the protective sleeve 2 are positioned as shown in the figure 2 The practitioner pushes on the insemination probe body 11 while holding the gripping portion 25 of the protective sleeve 2 so that the total force exerted by the insemination head 12 against the closure means 23 causes the closure means 23 to give way (i.e. the pre-cut, folding, gluing, welding, weaving, or sewing, for example, forming this closure means) and then opens the opening located at the second end 22.

[0082] When the closure is partial and an opening persists, the force exerted by the insemination head 12 against the partial closure means 23 further opens the opening.

[0083] By continuing to push on the insemination probe body 11, the latter and the insemination head 12 will therefore pass through the closure means 23 (as illustrated in the figure 3 ) to then penetrate the animal's vagina (not illustrated), that is, beyond the vulva 9, in order to deposit / inject the semen.

[0084] There figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of an insemination probe 1' according to the invention when positioned in front of the vulva entrance 9. In this position, the insemination probe 1' is not yet introduced into the vulva 9 of the animal.

[0085] The common characteristics of insemination probe 1' and insemination probe 1 are not described again in detail.

[0086] The insemination probe 1' therefore comprises an insemination head 12 fixed on an insemination probe body 11. In this variant, the free end of the insemination head 12 has a breakable portion 121 which protrudes from the insemination head 12. This breakable portion 121 is intended to be broken and removed by the user before introducing the insemination probe 1' into the vulva of the animal.

[0087] The insemination probe 1' is partially covered by a sanitary / hygienic protective sleeve 2. As before, the protective sleeve 2 is intended to be slipped or installed onto the insemination head 12, and thus to cover the insemination head 12 and at least part of the body of the insemination probe 11, as illustrated in the figure 4. More specifically, the protective sleeve 2 partially covers the insemination head 12, as well as between one quarter and two thirds of the length of the insemination probe body 11, so as to protect the insemination head from dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9 of the animal at the time of its introduction.

[0088] Similar to the insemination probe 1 described previously, the protective sleeve 2 has a longitudinal body 20 comprising, at a first end 21, a first opening which allows the protective sleeve 2 to be threaded onto the insemination probe 1'.

[0089] The second end 22 of the body 20 of the protective sleeve 2, located on the side of the insemination head 12, is partially closed before use of the insemination probe 1' for insemination of the animal.

[0090] According to this variant, in order for the breakable portion 121 of the insemination head 12 to be accessible to the user for breaking and removing this breakable portion 121, the protective sleeve 2 does not completely cover the insemination head 12. In fact, the protective sleeve 2 only partially covers the insemination head 12 to allow access to the breakable portion 121.

[0091] More specifically, the protective sleeve 2 includes, opposite the breakable part 121, a light (or hole - not visible in the figures) configured to allow only the passage of the breakable part 121. To achieve this, the passage light is narrow / tight and has dimensions adapted to those of the breakable part 121. Furthermore, after the breakable part 121 is broken and removed, the narrowness of the light prevents dirt / particles from entering the protective sleeve 2. This hole is even more prominent after the removal of the breakable part but remains small enough for the sleeve to fulfill its role of protecting the probe head.

[0092] Thus, only the breakable part 121 protrudes from the protective sleeve 2 before its removal by the practitioner and the introduction of the probe into the animal's vulva.

[0093] For each of the insemination probes 1 and 1' described above, the protective sleeve 2 is made of a non-spermicidal material that is resistant to the acidity of animal secretions and to the heat of the animals. For example, the protective sleeve 2 is made of a woven material, preferably microfiber fabric, so as to allow the insemination head 12 to be isolated from the vulva 9.

[0094] The use of microfiber fabric ensures smooth insertion of the insemination head 12 through the protective sleeve 2. The microfiber fabric also effectively traps any soiling present on the vulva. Furthermore, using microfiber fabric to manufacture the protective sleeve 2 facilitates its removal from the animal's vulva.

[0095] In the second embodiment, and particularly due to the use of fabric to manufacture the protective sleeve 2, the partial closure means 23 is preferably obtained by weaving or sewing walls of the protective sleeve 12 at the second end 22. Thus, obtaining the partial closure means 23 is simple to implement and makes it possible to guarantee a reliable and effective closure of the protective sleeve 2 and access to the breakable part, while allowing a desired opening when pressure from the insemination head 12 is applied to the closure means 23.

[0096] However, it is also understood that the partial closure means 23 could be in the form of a pre-cut at the second end 22, a folding of the walls of the sleeve 2, a gluing of the walls of the sleeve 2 or a sleeve 2 made up of two parts folding over each other at the second end 22. The partial closure means 23 could also be in the form of a weld or a fusion of walls forming the protective sleeve 2.

[0097] Again, the protective sleeve 2 includes a visual marker, preferably a marking 24 identifying the insertion limit of the protective sleeve 2 in the vulva 9 of the animal.

[0098] Rather than a marking on the surface of the protective sleeve 2, the visual marker could consist of one or more notches for the insertion limit of the protective sleeve 2, a pre-cut, or a difference in material or color of the protective sleeve 2.

[0099] The insemination probe 1 or 1' further includes a lubricating material (not shown) disposed between the protective sleeve 2 and the insemination probe body 11 and / or the insemination head 12.

[0100] The use of a lubricant facilitates the insertion of the insemination head 12 into the animal's vagina after the closure means 23 of the protective sleeve 2 has been pierced / broken when the closure is complete, or opened more widely when the closure is partial. This lubricant also facilitates the movement of the insemination probe 1' relative to the protective sleeve 2.

[0101] This lubricating material can be in the form of a lubricating solution or any other type of product, whether liquid, solid, powder or gel, for example.

[0102] It should be noted that once the breakable part 121 is removed, the insemination probe 1' is used in the same way as the insemination probe 1. Thus, the description of the figures 2 and 3 can be applied to this variant of the insemination probe.

[0103] It is clearly understood that the protective sleeve 2 is manufactured / selected to fit any conceivable type of insemination probe without deviating from the general principle of the invention.

[0104] The use of the insemination probe 1, 1' can be summarized as a method 8 of artificial insemination of a farm animal using an insemination probe (illustrated on the figure 5 ), the process comprising the steps of: provision 81 of an insemination probe 1, 1' as described above; optionally, in the case of an insemination probe 1' comprising a breakable part 121, breaking and removing 81' of the breakable part 121; positioning 82 of the insemination probe 1, 1' at the level of the vulva 9 of an animal to be inseminated; introduction 83 of the insemination probe 1, 1' at least partially covered by the protective sleeve 2 into the vulva of the animal; movement 84 of the body of the insemination probe 11 in the protective sleeve 2 until the closure means 23 breaks, which is total or partial; movement 85 of the body of the insemination probe 11 through the protective sleeve 2 to the cervix of the animal to be inseminated; and deposition / injection 86 of the semen into the cervix of the animal.

[0105] The protective sleeve 2 according to the invention thus provides total, or at least almost total, protection of the insemination head 12 during its insertion into the vulva, until the closure means 23 gives way / breaks or opens further under the force exerted by the movement of the body of the insemination probe 1, 1' within the protective sleeve 2. Consequently, it is no longer necessary to clean the animal's vulva 9 before performing the artificial insemination. Therefore, insemination is performed more quickly and easily than with prior art, since the insemination probe 1, 1' according to the invention can be directly inserted into the animal's vulva 9, i.e., without prior cleaning. The invention thus allows the practitioner to save considerable time by almost halving the time spent artificially inseminating each animal. Other aspects and variations

[0106] It is obviously understood that the length and diameter of the protective sleeve 2 are selected according to the dimensions of the insemination probe that it must cover.

[0107] We could consider manufacturing the protective sleeve 2 in a relatively stretchable / elastic material so that the protective sleeve can fit different insemination probes.

[0108] In one version, the protective sleeve 2 is made of a single material that meets the aforementioned requirements. In another version, the protective sleeve 2 is made of a combination of several materials that meet the aforementioned requirements.

[0109] According to one variant, the protective sleeve 2 could cover substantially the entire insemination probe 1, 1' or only the head of the insemination probe 1, 1'.

[0110] The protective sleeve 2 can be made of a flexible or rigid material, such as transparent plastic, and it can be waterproof or not.

Claims

1. An insemination probe (1, 1') intended to be used for artificially inseminating a livestock animal without cleaning the vulva of said animal, comprising an insemination probe body (11) bearing an insemination head (12), said insemination probe (1, 1') comprising a protective sleeve (2) covering at least partially said insemination head (12) and at least part of said insemination probe body (11), said protective sleeve being intended to be inserted into the animal's vulva (9) up to a visual insertion limit marker, said protective sleeve (2) comprising, at one end (22) located on the side of said insemination head (12), a total or partial closing means (23) configured to open under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head (12) against said closing means (23) during a movement of the insemination probe body (11) in said protective sleeve (2) after insertion of the insemination probe (1, 1') into the animal's vulva, the insemination probe (1, 1') being characterized in that the visual marker (24) is a marking on said protective sleeve (2) delimiting a penetration limit (26) of said protective sleeve (2) into an animal's vulva (9), and a gripping portion (25) for the practitioner when carrying out, once the protective sleeve (2) has been inserted into the vulva substantially up to the marking, the operation of moving the insemination head (12) through the protective sleeve (2) to reach the animal's reproductive organs while holding the gripping portion (25) of the protective sleeve (2).

2. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) covers between one quarter and two thirds of the insemination probe body (11).

3. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) is made of a non-spermicidal material that is resistant to acidities from animal secretions and to animals' heat.

4. The insemination probe (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) is made of an impervious material selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, paper, cardboard, or a mixture of these materials.

5. The insemination probe (1') according to claim 1, characterized in that said insemination head (12) has, at its free end, a breakable part (121) extending at least partially outside said protective sleeve (2) having a partial closing means (23).

6. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 5, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) is made of a woven material.

7. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to claim 6, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) is made of microfiber fabric.

8. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a lubricant material disposed between said protective sleeve (2) and said insemination probe body (11) and / or said insemination head (12).

9. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the total or partial closing means (23) is in the form of a precut.

10. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the total or partial closing means (23) is in the form of a fold of walls forming said protective sleeve (2).

11. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the total or partial closing means (23) is in the form of a bond of walls forming said protective sleeve (2).

12. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the total or partial closing means (23) is in the form of a weld or a fusing of walls forming said protective sleeve (2).

13. The insemination probe (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closing means (23) is in the form of a seam or a weave of walls forming said protective sleeve (2).

14. A protective sleeve (2) intended to cover at least partially the insemination head (12) and at least part of the body (11) of an insemination probe (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 13 for artificially inseminating a livestock animal without cleaning the vulva of said animal, the protective sleeve (2) having a visual insertion limit marker of the insemination probe (1, 1') into the animal's vulva (9), said protective sleeve (2) further comprising, at one end (22), a total or partial closing means (23) configured to open under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head (12) against said closing means (23) during a movement of the insemination probe body (11) in said protective sleeve (2) after insertion of the insemination probe (1, 1') into the animal's vulva, characterized in that said visual marker (24) is a marking on said protective sleeve (2) delimiting a penetration limit (26) of said protective sleeve (2) into an animal's vulva (9) and a gripping portion (25) for the practitioner when carrying out, once the protective sleeve (2) has been inserted into the vulva substantially up to the marking, the operation of moving the insemination head (12) through the protective sleeve (2) to reach the animal's reproductive organs while holding the gripping portion (25) of the protective sleeve (2).

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