Abstract: A collector funnel connected between an artificial vagina and a semen receiving unit, for animal breeding, has inner and outer jackets with an annular substantially gas-tight volume between the jackets. The inner jacket is made of resilient material and a partial vacuum is created in the annular volume to stretch the inner jacket so that it becomes smooth. The temperature within the annular volume may be regulated by intermittently or continuously passing a heating fluid at a temperature of greater than 30.degree. C. through the annular volume, or by selectively operating electric heating elements disposed in the annular volume. The inner jacket may be disposable, i.e. replaced with a new inner jacket after one use. The annular volume between the jackets typically has a width of between about 5-10 mm.