To determine the effect of low protein intake on boar libido, semen characteristics, and plasma hormone concentrations, 20 crossbred boars (1 yr of age) were divided into 10 littermate pairs, and boars from within pairs were fed 44 g/kg of BW.75 per day of either a low-protein diet (7% CP) or a control diet (16% CP) with the same energy content (3.41 Mcal of ME/kg). During the first 16 wk and f...

Practical techniques for assessing semen quality in order to predict male fertility are still needed. The principal objective of this experiment was to evaluate routine laboratory evaluation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques as predictors of relative boar fertility using a low-dose AI protocol. Nine boars were evaluated during a 6.5+/-1 mo period, beginning at 29-32 wk of age. Ejacula...

This study aimed to identify motile sperm subpopulations in extended boar semen and to observe the presumptive seasonal variation in their distribution. Data from 4837 boar ejaculates collected over a two-year period were analyzed in terms of kinematic parameters by Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Individual sperm data were used to determine subgroups of motile sperm within the ejacula...

Flow cytometry was utilised to determine whether short-term (Day 1) or long-term hypothermic liquid storage (Day 5), or cryopreservation of boar spermatozoa (1) caused changes in plasma membrane phospholipid disorder (MPLD) and acrosome exocytosis (AE), indicative of an advanced stage of capacitation or acrosome status, and (2) facilitated or inhibited the induction of capacitation and the acro...

Supplementation of semen extender with caffeine and CaCl(2) for artificial insemination (AI) of fresh spermatozoa has been demonstrated to reduce recruitment of uterine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and the activity of phagocytosis. Here, we determined if addition of caffeine and CaCl(2) to semen extender improves the fertility of frozen-thawed boar semen. In experiment 1, gilts were cerv...

A field trial was conducted on 36 farms in the Netherlands to compare the fertilizing capacity of fresh and frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa. Four-hundred and fifty-one sows were artificially inseminated with semen that had been frozen and thawed according to the Beltsville Method or diluted in Kiev extender and inseminated on the day of collection. Twelve boars of the Dutch Landrace and Dutch La...

This study investigated two hypotheses: 1) that consistent between-boar variation in frozen semen quality exists and is genetically determined, and 2) molecular markers linked to genes controlling semen freezability can be identified using amplified restriction fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technology. Five ejaculates were collected from each of 129 boars. Semen was diluted into a commerc...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of providing a supplement containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants (PROSPERM) on the biochemical characteristics of boar semen. Two sexually mature boars were fed a standard diet with PROSPERM (250 g daily) for a 24-week period. Ejaculates collected prior to supplementation were used as the control. Semen quality and biochemical...

The effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on semen quality was examined in a group of 11 spontaneously infected boars in a commercial boar stud. Semen samples were collected 4 weeks prior to 4 weeks post-infection (wpi). Infection with PRRSV of the European genotype subtype 1 (EU-1) was verified by specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR...

__________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract In this study the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin E on libido, servicing capacity (SC), sperm quality and serum α-tocopherol of Large White boars was evaluated. Twenty four boars were divided into three groups of eight boars each. Groups were randomly allocated to treatment groups, i.e. 0, 4...