Effect of number of motile, frozen-thawed boar sperm and number of fixed-time inseminations on fertility in estrous-synchronized gilts

Karl W. Spencer; Phil H. Purdy; Harvey D. Blackburn; Scott F. Spiller; Terry S. Stewart; Robert V. Knox

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.07.002

Effect of number of motile, frozen-thawed boar sperm and number of fixed-time inseminations on fertility in estrous-synchronized gilts

Karl W. Spencer, Phil H. Purdy, Harvey D. Blackburn, Scott F. Spiller, Terry S. Stewart, Robert V. Knox

Animal Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

There are advantages for use of frozen-thawed boar sperm (FTS) as a tool for preservation and transfer of valuable genetic material, despite its practical limitations. It was hypothesized that increasing the number of motile FTS and number of fixed-time artificial inseminations (AI) would improve pregnancy rate and litter size. Semen from six boars was frozen in 0.5mL straws at 500×10⁶cells/mL. Gilts ∼170 days of age, were induced into estrus with PG600^® and synchronized using MATRIX™ (synthetic progestagen). Following last feeding of MATRIX (LFM), gilts were checked twice daily for estrus. At onset of estrus, gilts were randomly assigned in a 3×2 factorial treatment design to receive 1×10⁹ motile FTS (n=19), 2×10⁹ motile FTS (n=19), 4×10⁹ motile FTS (n=19) in a single AI at 32h after onset of estrus, or 1×10⁹ motile FTS (n=18), 2×10⁹ motile FTS (n=17), or 4×10⁹ motile FTS (n=19) in each of the two AI at 24 and 32h following onset of estrus. Ultrasonography was performed at 12h intervals after estrus to estimate time of ovulation. Reproductive tracts were collected 28-34 days following AI. Estrus occurred at 139±2h (mean±SE) after LFM and ovulation at 33±1h following onset of estrus. Dose and number of inseminations did not interact or individually influence pregnancy rate at slaughter (73±4.2%) or numbers of normal fetuses (10.8±0.5). However, number of fetuses tended (P=0.14) to increase with double AI but not with dose. Boar did not affect pregnancy rate but did affect number of normal fetuses and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Longer intervals from insemination to ovulation reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.05), number of normal fetuses (P<0.001), and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Ovarian abnormalities at slaughter were associated with reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.001). The results of this experiment indicate that a double insemination using 2×10⁹ motile sperm would produce the greatest number of piglets with fewest numbers of frozen sperm used, while double AI with 1×10⁹ motile sperm would be most practical for pig production with limited genetic resources. Fertility was also influenced by boar, interval from insemination to ovulation, and gilt ovarian abnormalities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	259-266
Number of pages	8
Journal	Animal reproduction science
Volume	121
Issue number	3-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.07.002
State	Published - Sep 2010

Keywords

AI
Boar
Frozen sperm
Litter size
Ovulation
Pregnancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Food Animals
Animal Science and Zoology
Endocrinology

Online availability

10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.07.002

Library availability

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@article{05ba409354df46cf9f8d370083da95b3,

title = "Effect of number of motile, frozen-thawed boar sperm and number of fixed-time inseminations on fertility in estrous-synchronized gilts",

abstract = "There are advantages for use of frozen-thawed boar sperm (FTS) as a tool for preservation and transfer of valuable genetic material, despite its practical limitations. It was hypothesized that increasing the number of motile FTS and number of fixed-time artificial inseminations (AI) would improve pregnancy rate and litter size. Semen from six boars was frozen in 0.5mL straws at 500×106cells/mL. Gilts ∼170 days of age, were induced into estrus with PG600{\textregistered} and synchronized using MATRIX{\texttrademark} (synthetic progestagen). Following last feeding of MATRIX (LFM), gilts were checked twice daily for estrus. At onset of estrus, gilts were randomly assigned in a 3×2 factorial treatment design to receive 1×109 motile FTS (n=19), 2×109 motile FTS (n=19), 4×109 motile FTS (n=19) in a single AI at 32h after onset of estrus, or 1×109 motile FTS (n=18), 2×109 motile FTS (n=17), or 4×109 motile FTS (n=19) in each of the two AI at 24 and 32h following onset of estrus. Ultrasonography was performed at 12h intervals after estrus to estimate time of ovulation. Reproductive tracts were collected 28-34 days following AI. Estrus occurred at 139±2h (mean±SE) after LFM and ovulation at 33±1h following onset of estrus. Dose and number of inseminations did not interact or individually influence pregnancy rate at slaughter (73±4.2%) or numbers of normal fetuses (10.8±0.5). However, number of fetuses tended (P=0.14) to increase with double AI but not with dose. Boar did not affect pregnancy rate but did affect number of normal fetuses and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Longer intervals from insemination to ovulation reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.05), number of normal fetuses (P<0.001), and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Ovarian abnormalities at slaughter were associated with reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.001). The results of this experiment indicate that a double insemination using 2×109 motile sperm would produce the greatest number of piglets with fewest numbers of frozen sperm used, while double AI with 1×109 motile sperm would be most practical for pig production with limited genetic resources. Fertility was also influenced by boar, interval from insemination to ovulation, and gilt ovarian abnormalities.",

keywords = "AI, Boar, Frozen sperm, Litter size, Ovulation, Pregnancy",

author = "Spencer, {Karl W.} and Purdy, {Phil H.} and Blackburn, {Harvey D.} and Spiller, {Scott F.} and Stewart, {Terry S.} and Knox, {Robert V.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank the USDA for funding support, and PIC North America for providing boar semen and Intervet/Schering-Plough for providing PG600 and MATRIX for use in this study. We are also grateful to Dr. S. Breen, J. Taibl, B. Yantis, and D. Canaday for their excellent technical assistance. We also extend our appreciation to the University of Illinois farm staff; R. Wischover, R. Alan, S. Hughes, and D. Bidner for management of the animals used in this study.",

year = "2010",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.07.002",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "121",

pages = "259--266",

journal = "Animal reproduction science",

issn = "0378-4320",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

number = "3-4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of number of motile, frozen-thawed boar sperm and number of fixed-time inseminations on fertility in estrous-synchronized gilts

AU - Spencer, Karl W.

AU - Purdy, Phil H.

AU - Blackburn, Harvey D.

AU - Spiller, Scott F.

AU - Stewart, Terry S.

AU - Knox, Robert V.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank the USDA for funding support, and PIC North America for providing boar semen and Intervet/Schering-Plough for providing PG600 and MATRIX for use in this study. We are also grateful to Dr. S. Breen, J. Taibl, B. Yantis, and D. Canaday for their excellent technical assistance. We also extend our appreciation to the University of Illinois farm staff; R. Wischover, R. Alan, S. Hughes, and D. Bidner for management of the animals used in this study.

PY - 2010/9

Y1 - 2010/9

N2 - There are advantages for use of frozen-thawed boar sperm (FTS) as a tool for preservation and transfer of valuable genetic material, despite its practical limitations. It was hypothesized that increasing the number of motile FTS and number of fixed-time artificial inseminations (AI) would improve pregnancy rate and litter size. Semen from six boars was frozen in 0.5mL straws at 500×106cells/mL. Gilts ∼170 days of age, were induced into estrus with PG600® and synchronized using MATRIX™ (synthetic progestagen). Following last feeding of MATRIX (LFM), gilts were checked twice daily for estrus. At onset of estrus, gilts were randomly assigned in a 3×2 factorial treatment design to receive 1×109 motile FTS (n=19), 2×109 motile FTS (n=19), 4×109 motile FTS (n=19) in a single AI at 32h after onset of estrus, or 1×109 motile FTS (n=18), 2×109 motile FTS (n=17), or 4×109 motile FTS (n=19) in each of the two AI at 24 and 32h following onset of estrus. Ultrasonography was performed at 12h intervals after estrus to estimate time of ovulation. Reproductive tracts were collected 28-34 days following AI. Estrus occurred at 139±2h (mean±SE) after LFM and ovulation at 33±1h following onset of estrus. Dose and number of inseminations did not interact or individually influence pregnancy rate at slaughter (73±4.2%) or numbers of normal fetuses (10.8±0.5). However, number of fetuses tended (P=0.14) to increase with double AI but not with dose. Boar did not affect pregnancy rate but did affect number of normal fetuses and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Longer intervals from insemination to ovulation reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.05), number of normal fetuses (P<0.001), and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Ovarian abnormalities at slaughter were associated with reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.001). The results of this experiment indicate that a double insemination using 2×109 motile sperm would produce the greatest number of piglets with fewest numbers of frozen sperm used, while double AI with 1×109 motile sperm would be most practical for pig production with limited genetic resources. Fertility was also influenced by boar, interval from insemination to ovulation, and gilt ovarian abnormalities.

AB - There are advantages for use of frozen-thawed boar sperm (FTS) as a tool for preservation and transfer of valuable genetic material, despite its practical limitations. It was hypothesized that increasing the number of motile FTS and number of fixed-time artificial inseminations (AI) would improve pregnancy rate and litter size. Semen from six boars was frozen in 0.5mL straws at 500×106cells/mL. Gilts ∼170 days of age, were induced into estrus with PG600® and synchronized using MATRIX™ (synthetic progestagen). Following last feeding of MATRIX (LFM), gilts were checked twice daily for estrus. At onset of estrus, gilts were randomly assigned in a 3×2 factorial treatment design to receive 1×109 motile FTS (n=19), 2×109 motile FTS (n=19), 4×109 motile FTS (n=19) in a single AI at 32h after onset of estrus, or 1×109 motile FTS (n=18), 2×109 motile FTS (n=17), or 4×109 motile FTS (n=19) in each of the two AI at 24 and 32h following onset of estrus. Ultrasonography was performed at 12h intervals after estrus to estimate time of ovulation. Reproductive tracts were collected 28-34 days following AI. Estrus occurred at 139±2h (mean±SE) after LFM and ovulation at 33±1h following onset of estrus. Dose and number of inseminations did not interact or individually influence pregnancy rate at slaughter (73±4.2%) or numbers of normal fetuses (10.8±0.5). However, number of fetuses tended (P=0.14) to increase with double AI but not with dose. Boar did not affect pregnancy rate but did affect number of normal fetuses and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Longer intervals from insemination to ovulation reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.05), number of normal fetuses (P<0.001), and embryonic survival (P<0.01). Ovarian abnormalities at slaughter were associated with reduced pregnancy rate (P<0.001). The results of this experiment indicate that a double insemination using 2×109 motile sperm would produce the greatest number of piglets with fewest numbers of frozen sperm used, while double AI with 1×109 motile sperm would be most practical for pig production with limited genetic resources. Fertility was also influenced by boar, interval from insemination to ovulation, and gilt ovarian abnormalities.

KW - AI

KW - Boar

KW - Frozen sperm

KW - Litter size

KW - Ovulation

KW - Pregnancy

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Effect of number of motile, frozen-thawed boar sperm and number of fixed-time inseminations on fertility in estrous-synchronized gilts

Abstract

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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