Onelio Casas Marín. Medicus veterinarius and Insart specialist. (Photos: Monica Vilariño)

To produce dose of semen of high genetic and biological value of the species bovine, caprine, equine, including the pig and buffalo group. It is the main function of the Artificial Insemination Enterprise (Insart), located in the Havana Municipality of Cotorro.

M.V.Onelio Casas Marin, specialist of the center, explained that since the first years of the Revolution, Fidel Castro perceived that the way to improve the breeds in the field of livestock was through artificial insemination.

Why is it cataloged as the most valuable genetic enterprise?

“For having the best stud animals of the country. This – besides – commercializes the means for the artificial insemination, and the necessary accessories to apply the technique.”

How is the selection by species done?

“IT is done, taking into account the geno- and phenotypic characteristics. The best offspring of each specie, which are stabled, and under a rigorous sanitary control, which is confirmed in two annual cycles with health test in the laboratories of the diagnostic network of the Veterinary Medicine Institute. It is added the careful handling and feeding, turning in this way in excellent donors of doses of semen.”

Who bails those dose of semen?

“Specialists and technicians, who during than more than 40 years have worked in the selection, evaluation, control and conservation of the genofund, by means of which the genetic progress is taken to the animal population.”

Quarte Horse.

They have a specialized center in the production of frozen horse semen. Which are the advantages?

They are many, among them, we may mention that it avoids the transmission of infecto-contagious diseases by the addition of antibiotics; as well as the physical injury which sometimes provokes the natural mating, allows to cover a higher number of mares with only one ejaculation and the conservation of the semen with a high genetic value of horses that do not exist physically.

Insart has eight enterprising units of operation which cover the country, with a high-level technology, personnel highly qualified, and offers services of repair cryogenic vacuum bottles. The artificial insemination is no doubt a key tool for the livestock development in Cuba.

River Buffalo.

(Translated by Reinaldo Fernández)