SOWS FERTILITY AFTER INTRACERVICAL OR POSTCERVICAL ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (AI) IN WORM AND COLD SEASON

Abstract

Reduced fertility of boars and sows during the warmer period of the year significantly reduces the reproductive efficiency of pigs in intensive production. The aim of this study was to determine whether the application of intrauterine (postcervical) artificial insemination (AI), with twice reduced dose volume (50 mL) and the number of spermatozoa per dose (2x109), compared to the classical intracervical insemination (dose volume 50 mL with 4x109 spermatozoa), can increase the fertility of sows inseminated in the warm season of the year. After classical intracervical insemination, farrowing rate was significantly (P<0.01) lower in the warmer (80% and 76.7%), compared to the cold period (66.7% and 53.3%), using both spermatozoa number per dose (4x109 or 2x109). Using new intrauterine (postcervical) AI technology, the farrowing rate was not significantly different (P>0.05), neither depending on the season, or depending on the number of spermatozoa per dose (78% and 75% in warm, or 86% and 83% in cold season of the year). The results show that the use of intrauterine insemination, with doses twice reduced in volume and sperm number, can significantly reduce the negative impact of the warm season on sows fertility.