Genetic relationships among sperm quality traits of Duroc boars collected during the summer season

Abstract

The goals of the study were to estimate the heritability and repeatability of boar sperm quality traits during the summer season, estimate phenotypic and genetic correlations between sperm quality traits, and assess the effect of these traits on total number born (TNB). Semen samples were collected and individually processed from Duroc boars (n = 363) from May through October 2017. Single sire litter information was available for 121 of the boars. Heritability, repeatability, genetic correlations, and phenotypic correlations were estimated for and among the following traits: total percentage of motile cells (MOT), total percentage of progressively motile cells (PROG), percentage of cells with a distal droplet (DIST), percentage of cells with a proximal droplet (PROX), percentage of cells with a bent tail (BENT), percentage of cells with a distal midpiece reflex (DMR), mean sperm head elongation (ELON), and total sperm cells per ejaculate (TOTSP). Heritability estimates ranged from 0.08 to 0.24 and repeatability estimates ranged from 0.21 to 0.62. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between sperm motility traits and morphological defects indicated a negative relationship. Sperm morphological defects had positive phenotypic and genetic correlations with each other. Total sperm per ejaculate showed positive genetic correlations with the motility traits. Positive phenotypic and genetic correlations existed between ELON and the motility traits. Total sperm motility (P < 0.001) positively affected TNB while DIST (P < 0.001), PROX (P < 0.001), BENT (P = 0.05) and DMR (P = 0.002) negatively affected TNB. Results indicate genetic selection could enhance sperm quality during the summer season in boars.