| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2097510 | Theriogenology | 2006 | 14 Pages |
There is an extensive use of artificial insemination (AI) in the pig industry. Extended liquid boar semen may be used for insemination for up to 5 days after collection. The objective of this study was to determine the changes in sperm quality, when boar semen was extended and stored at 18 °C for up to 72 h post-collection. The study included three ejaculates from five boars, for each of the four breeds: Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Danish Large White (n = 60 ejaculates). The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) showed an increase in DNA fragmentation index (DFI) after 72 h of incubation (P < 0.001), with no differences between breeds (P = 0.07). For two Hampshire boars, all ejaculates had a large increase in DFI after 24 h of incubation. The standard deviation of DFI (SD-DFI) differed between breeds, with the SD-DFI for Hampshire being significantly greater than for the other breeds. The SD-DFI did not change during the 72 h of storage. Sperm viability was determined using SYBR-14 and propidium iodide in combination with flow cytometry. The sperm viability did not differ between breeds (P = 0.21), but a difference in viability during storage (P < 0.001) was detected. In conclusion, the SCSA cytogram patterns were consistent for different ejaculates within boars and storage of extended boar semen at 18 °C for 72 h significantly decreased the integrity of sperm DNA.
