Comparative Study of Sperm Motility Characters in Boar Semen from Two Different Breeds during Liquid Storage and Relation to Field Fertility (#512)
Boar fertility has a major impact on overall pig reproductive efficiency. However, the main R&D challenge is to identify parameters which by in vitro assessment can give accurate and objective estimation of fertility. Motility is the most widely used indicator of sperm quality. Traditionally, motility has been manually and subjectively assessed using phase contrast microscopy. However, currently an objective computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system is available for evaluation of sperm motility characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze sperm motility parameters by CASA in boar semen from two different breeds, Duroc and Norwegian Landrace, at the day of collection and after 96 hours liquid preservation at 18 °C. The motility parameters analyzed include total motility, progressive motility, hyperactivity, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross frequency (BCF). In addition, the relation between the analyzed sperm motility parameters and field fertility (piglets per litter/litter size) were investigated. Litter records were collected from inseminated sows on commercial pig farms. The CASA results show a significant difference between Duroc and Landrace sperm motility characters during liquid preservation. The percentage of motile sperm cells remained constant during storage in Landrace semen and decreased in Duroc semen. Furthermore, a high degree of sperm cells with a hyperactive motility pattern were detected in Duroc semen on the day of collection however the size of this population decreased after 96 hours semen preservation. This is contrary to observations for Landrace where sperm motility pattern developed towards hyperactivation during semen storage. In addition, in Duroc a negative correlation between sperm cell hyperactivity at the day of collection and litter size was indicated. For Landrace, a significant positive correlation between field fertility and progressivity in semen at the day of collection was found.