Anatomy and Physiology of the Boar

The boar has a tremendous impact on the reproductive efficiency of the swine breeding herd. Depending on the collection frequency and insemination dose, semen from a single boar can be used to breed between 750 and 1000 sows per year. As a result, reproductive failure of a single male influences a large number of sows. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the basic aspects of male reproductive physiology is important in managing boars for optimal fertility. This paper will review the anatomy, physiology and sexual development of boars placing particular emphasis on spermatogenesis and the ejaculatory process.