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Home » Archive » 2015 » Veterinary Session

Veterinary session

Study on the factors influencing the fertility of boars
Füleki Zsolt - year 5
SzIU, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department and Clinic of Production Animals
Supervisor: András Horváth DVM

Abstract:

One key factor in artificial insemination of swine is that boars produce semen in adequate quantity and quality. There are several external and internal factors influencing semen production of boars, by which better results can be reached in reproduction.

In our study the production characteristics of semen obtained from 145 boars of 13 breeds (n=4321) was compared. What was examined is that to what extent the breed, age, time between feeding and semen collection and the technicians performing the collection influence the complete semen quantity, complete cell numbers, the concentration of spermatozoa and the temperature of collected semen. The quantity of the semen differed by breed: (Hungahib 238,1±54,4 ml; Duroc 121,9± 40,6 ml), that was influenced by the breed to the extent of ±21.6 %. The same breed characteristics could influence total cell count by ±17.6%, while cell concentration by ±12.6%. The average value of cell count was highest at Large white boars (99.3±32.0 × 109), while it was lowest at Duroc×Pietrain hybrid boars (57.1±15.4 × 109). Boars over 3.5 years (n=387) provided semen volume 14.2% larger than those under 3.5 years (n=3934) (p<0,0001). The total cell count of the sample was also significantly higher (p=0,0001) by 13.5%. These differences together resulted in the decrease in semen concentration of older boars by 1.55%, compared with younger (<3,5 years) boars. The influence of technicians performing semen collection was detectable at all three characteristics. This means ±14.6% in semen volume, ±8.56% in total cell count, while only ±7.3% in concentration. Every single hour spent between feeding and semen collection resulted in the significant decrease in semen volume by 0.74%, i.e. 1.3 ml (p=0,0135). Semen temperature of boars over 3.5 years of age was higher by 1.2% than of younger boars (p=0,0001). Furthermore, during this study another factor was detected that cannot be identified, having significant effect on semen volume, total cell count and cell concentration (±31.6%, ±34.7%, ±24.4%).

As a summary it can be stated that reproductive abilities of the boars can be influenced in different rates by several factors, depending or not on the animal, that are predictable and measurable. Meanwhile there is an effect that cannot be exactly determined, but which means a significant influence and it needs further examination.



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