Abstract
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age (A) and the intensity of the boars' utilization (s) on the phenotypic variability of ejaculate volume (VOL) and sperm motility (MO). The study included 274 ejaculates of Large White boars (LW). Boars were divided into six classes according the age when the ejaculate was taken (10-13, 14-17, 18-21, 22-25, 26-29 and ?30 months). Semen samples were analyzed during four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). The intensity of the use of boars was seen as the impact of the group (class) of intervals between two successful collections (I; ? 5 , 6, 7 , 8, 9-10, 11-13, 14-21 days). Data processing was performed using the GLM procedure using the statistical package SAS 9.1.3 (SAS Inst. Inc., 2002-2003). Average values of VOL, MO, I, A, were: 178.94 ml, 90.35%, 9.37 days and 655.93 days. The effect of boars on both studied sperm traits was highly significant (p<0.001). The volume of ejaculate varied under the influence of boar age (p<0.001) and season (p<0.01). The effect of I on VOL and MO was not significant (p>0.05). Traits VOL and MO varied (p<0.001) between boars which indicated the need for individual control of each of boars used for artificial insemination. The highest VOL was determined in boars at the age of 26 to 29 months, and the difference to the boars aged 10-13 months was 62.70 ml (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences in regard to VOL between boars older than 17 months (from class 3 to 6) were recorded. The highest differences between winter and spring period were determined in mean values of VOL (32.15 ml; p<0.01). In the winter period, boar ejaculate volume was lower than in the autumn (-26.57 ml) and the difference determined was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Highlights
In modern pig production, artificial insemination has completely suppressed the natural mating, so that the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of ejaculate is a standard procedure in breeding technology
The high average value of MO in this study was the result of exclusion of ejaculates with value below 70%, and subjectivity in the visual assessment of sperm motility in the ejaculate
Calculated coefficients of determination indicated that the variability of the VOL compared to the MO, can be explained to a greater extent as influenced by factors observed. Both properties of sperm varied under the influence of boars (B, p
Summary
Artificial insemination has completely suppressed the natural mating, so that the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of ejaculate is a standard procedure in breeding technology. Rating quantitative and qualitative characteristics of semen has high economic importance to the pig breeders (Smital, 2010). In populations of pigs which are under continuous selection program there is a tendency for the better utilization of boars, good production performance, which is reflected in the preparation of a large number of doses per ejaculate of optimal fertile ability. In addition to sperm concentration, semen volume and sperm motility determine fertility of doses produced per ejaculate. Motility is the most important trait that affects fertilization capacity of sperm (Feitsma, 2009). Rating motility of spermatozoa is the most important parameter of sperm (KunowskaSlósarz and Makowska, 2011)
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