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Effect of artificial insemination method and semen dose volume on reproductive performance of multiparous sows
The effects of artificial insemination method and semen dose volume on farrowing rate and litter size was evaluated in a study involving 2,000 multiparous sows (parities 1 – 7). The study was carried out in a commercial facility using a CRD with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) Insemination Method (intra-cervical or post-cervical) and 2) Semen Dose Volume (75 ml semen [3.0 billion total sperm cells] or 40 ml semen [1.6 billion total sperm cells]). Ejaculates from 3 to 5 boars were pooled, extender was added, and an equal number of doses were made for each Semen Dose Volume. All ejaculates were evaluated for motility and morphology and random samples from each pooled batch were selected for further evaluation of sperm cell concentration. Only sows that exhibited estrus within 10 days of weaning were used and upon detection of estrus these sows were randomly allotted to treatment within parity. Each sow was inseminated once/day until the sow was no longer in behavioral estrus using the same insemination method and semen dose volume. Overall, the sperm cell concentration for all pooled batches was within 3.3 and 6.3% of the target (3.1 and 1.7 billion sperm cells, respectively) for each of the Semen Dose Volume treatments. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of Artificial Insemination Method on farrowing rate (90.9 vs. 89.9% for intra- and post-cervical insemination, respectively; SEM 0.17), total number of pigs born (13.4 vs. 13.4, respectively; SEM 0.17), number born alive (12.6 vs. 12.6, respectively; SEM 0.21), number born dead (0.4 vs. 0.4, respectively; SEM 0.04), or number mummified (0.3 vs. 0.3, respectively; SEM 0.02). There was also no effect (P > 0.05) of Semen Dose Volume on farrowing rate (90.0 vs. 90.8%, for 75 ml and 40 ml semen treatments, respectively; SEM 0.17), total number of pigs born (13.5 vs. 13.3, respectively; SEM 0.17), number born alive (12.7 vs. 12.5, respectively; SEM 0.21), number born dead (0.4 vs. 0.4, respectively; SEM 0.04), or number mummified (0.3 vs. 0.3, respectively; SEM 0.02). In conclusion, even at relatively low semen dose volumes, intra-cervical and post-cervical insemination gave similar results in terms of farrowing rate and litter size.
Keywords:
Artificial Insemination, Pig, Semen Dose Volume