DETAILED MOTILITY EVALUATION OF BOAR SEMEN AND ITS PREDICTIVE VALUE FOR REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN SOWS

摘要

Relating sperm characteristics to field fertility would be a valuable tool in the selection of ejaculates or in the selection of boars. Semen quality only partly reflects fertility outcome1. Interactions between semen and the oocyte or between semen and the female reproductive tract, as well as sow factors and operator expertise may all influence conception and litter size. Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) offers objective and detailed information on the spermatozoa movement characteristics2.In the present study, motility parameters determined by CASA were investigated for their association with fertility data of sows in 6 different farms.