Fertility of semen used in commercial production and the impact of sperm numbers and bacterial counts.
The objective was to monitor sperm counts and bacterial presence on randomly pooled semen doses over 3y and to determine effects on the farrowing rate and total born in two large farm systems, each serviced by their own boar stud. Sperm counts were divided into increments of 0.5x10(9) for data analysis. There was no effect of sperm count or the presence of bacteria on farrowing rate (n=9502 observations). Furthermore, based on 7311 observations, there was no effect of the mere presence of bacteria on total born, but sperm count had a significant effect on total born; in particular, total born decreased with pooled semen doses <2.5x10(9) sperm.
Reicks
D L
DL
Swine Veterinary Center, P.A., St. Peter, MN 56082, USA. dreicks@swinevetcenter.com
Levis
D G
DG