Boar semen extenders: What they are and how to use them

摘要

Success in preservation is still quite influenced by the individual boar's semen quality. The semen of some boars also has been observed to survive better in certain extenders. Although this is a fairly recent observation, it is becoming apparent thatchanging the extender may make a significant difference to" problem AI boars. This practice is not ideal, however. Whenever possible, these problem boars should not be used for artificial insemination purposes. Sourcing and storage. A small number of AIoperations still choose to make their own semen extender from the raw ingredients, but I do not recommend this as it requires a high level of staff training and quality control, plus a major investment in time and equipment. Semen extender purchase, onthe other hand, is a matter of confidence. The extender must be produced under highest quality-assurance practices like the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standard, using only analytical grade ingredients. The final quality control procedures of the semen extender should include osmolarity and pH checks as well as in-vitro tests of its effect on sperm viability.