Abstract: An artificial vagina for collecting semen used in animal breeding includes a heatable tubular jacket with a tubular interior component made of resilient material, surrounded by the jacket and fastened to it in a fluid-tight manner to define an annular chamber between the jacket and interior component. Heat is applied to the jacket, some of which is transferred to the interior component. Air is introduced into the annular chamber to establish an air layer, and the radial thickness of the air layer is steplessly adjusted (e.g. in a stimulation ring using different air connections) so that the rate of heat transfer between the jacket and interior component is controlled, and to facilitate use as an artificial vagina.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting semen to be used in animal breeding by means of a collecting apparatus connected to an artificial vagina. In the collecting apparatus, a collector funnel is fitted between the artificial vagina and a receiver, where the funnel has an upper semen-receiving opening and a lower discharge opening. A holder outside the discharge opening of the funnel of the collecting apparatus positions at least one semen receiver below the discharge opening. To the holder of the collecting apparatus are fitted weighing elements for weighing the contents of the receiver outside the discharge opening of the collector funnel.