Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T09:45:56.166Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of semen collection frequency and food intake on semen production in breeding boars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

B. Kemp
Affiliation:
Agricultural University, Department of Animal Nutrition, Haagsteeg 4, 6708 PM Wageningen, The Netherlands
G. C. M. Barker
Affiliation:
Agricultural University, Department of Animal Nutrition, Haagsteeg 4, 6708 PM Wageningen, The Netherlands
L. A. den Hartog
Affiliation:
Agricultural University, Department of Animal Nutrition, Haagsteeg 4, 6708 PM Wageningen, The Netherlands
M. W. A. Verstegen
Affiliation:
Agricultural University, Department of Animal Nutrition, Haagsteeg 4, 6708 PM Wageningen, The Netherlands
Get access

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding level and semen collection frequency on semen quantity and quality of 62 Yorkshire boars at two artificial insemination centres during 10 successive periods of 2 weeks. The experiment had a 2 × 2 factorial design with two feeding levels (2·75 and 3·5 kg/day) and two semen collection frequencies (three and five times in 2 weeks).

In the first 2-week period boars on the high frequency semen collection scheme produced 94 × 109 sperm cells more than boars on the low scheme. In periods 2 to 10 the mean difference was only 18 × 109 sperm cells. Boars on the high feeding level produced 32 × 109 sperm cells more per 2-week period than the boars on the low feeding level (P < 0·05). Boars at the high collection frequency and the high feeding level tended to produce a higher number of sperm cells during periods 2 to 10 than the boars on the high semen collection frequency and the low feeding level (P > 0·05). No effects of food intake or semen collection frequency on semen quality were found.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Cameron, R. D. A. 1985. Measurement of semen production rates of boars. Australian Veterinary Journal. 62: 301304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cameron, R. D. A. 1987. Sexual development and semen production in boars. Pig News and Information 8: 389396.Google Scholar
Centraal Veevoederbureau in Nederland (CVB). 1988. (Dutch Feeding Tables.) Central Veevoederbureau, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Colenbrander, B. And Kemp, B. 1990. Factors influencing semen quality in pigs. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Suppl. 40, pp. 105115.Google Scholar
Conrad, F., Mudra, K. and Willumat, A. 1981. Der Einfluss des Absamrhytmus auf die Spermaqualitat und die Befriichtungsfähigheit beim Eber. Tierzucht 35: 529530.Google Scholar
Kemp, B. 1989. Investigations on breeding boars to contribute to a functional feeding strategy. PhD. Thesis, Department of Animal Nutrition, Agricultural University Wageningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Kemp, B. and Hartog, L. A. Den. 1989. The influence of energy and protein intake on the reproductive performance of the breeding boar: a review. Animal Reproduction Science 20: 103115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemp, B., Hartog, L. A. Den. and Grooten, H. J. G. 1989. The effect of feeding level on semen quantity and quality of breeding boars. Animal Reproduction Science 20: 245254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, B. W. and Wilkins, J. N. 1984. Boar, breed and environmental factors influencing semen characteristics of boars used in artificial insemination. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 64: 833843.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Niwa, T., Hashizume, T. and Shibata, M. 1981. A simplified method for rapid calculation of sperm numbers in boar semen using a spectrophotometer. Bulletin of the Laboratory of AI, Iwate University, Japan 2: 6678.Google Scholar
Nooren, J. A. M. 1988. Rclatie tussen spermakenmerken en bevruchtend vermogen van K. I. beren op basis van historische praktijkgegevens. Internal report. Animal Breeding Department, Agricultural University Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 150.Google Scholar
Singh, G. 1962. The labelling of boars spermatozoa with radioactive phosphorus, P32, in vivo. Annales de Biologie Animale, Biochimic et Biophysique 1: 403406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stabenfeldt, G. H. and Edqvist, L. 1984. Male reproductive processes. In Dukes Physiology of Domestic Animals. 10th ed. (ed. Swenson, M. J.), pp. 833846. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1985. SAS Users Guide. 5th ed. Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Swierstra, E. E. 1968. Cytology and duration of the cycle of the seminferous epithelium of the boar: duration of spermatozoan transit through the epididymis. Anatomical Record 161: 171186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swierstra, E. E. and Dyck, G. W. 1976. Influence of the boar and ejaculation frequency on pregnancy rate and embryonic survival in swine. Journal of Animal Science 42: 455460.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verstegen, M. W. A., Mateman, G., Brandsma, H. A. and Haartsen, P. I. 1979. Rate of gain and carcass quality in fattening pigs at low ambient temperatures. Livestock Production Science 6: 5160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yen, H. T. and Yu, I. T. 1984. The effect of semen collection interval and breed on semen traits in the boar. Journal of Chinese Society of Animal Science 13: 4753.Google Scholar