Fertility Results of Artificial Inseminations Performed with Liquid Boar Semen Stored in X-CellTM vs BTS Extender

• Published in: Reproduction in domestic animals Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 94 - 99
• Main Authors: Haugan, T, Gaustad, AH, Reksen, O, Gröhn, YT, Hofmo, PO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Artificial insemination; Body fluids; Comparative studies; Fertility; Hogs
• ISSN: 0936-6768; 1439-0531
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2006.00738.x

The objective of the present field study was to compare the fertility results for boar semen diluted in X-cellTM stored up to 4-5 days before artificial insemination (AI) with semen diluted in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) used for AI following 2-3 days of storage (where the first day being the collection day). A total number of 2601 double inseminations in Norwegian herds were included in this two-trial study. All the boars used in the study were mature cross-bred Norwegian Landrace x Duroc (LD), which were routinely used for AI in Norway. The inseminated gilts and sows were Norwegian Landrace x Yorkshire (LY). The AI doses contained 2.5 billion spermatozoa, and consisted of a mixture of semen from three, occasionally four, boars (i.e. heterospermic semen). Fertility was measured in terms of the likelihood of farrowing and subsequent litter size. The fertility of the semen in both of the extenders was satisfactory and no significant differences were found either in semen stored 4-5 days in X-cellTM compared with 2-3 days in BTS or in semen stored 2-3 days in X-cellTM compared with 2-3 days in BTS. The storage capability findings for the long-term extender X-cellTM could significantly simplify the practical issues of semen production and the distribution of AI doses containing 2.5 billion spermatozoa. However, in pig production systems where all semen is used within 2-3 days, the short-term extender BTS is as good as the more expensive extender X-cellTM.