UTILIZATION OF FROZEN SEMEN By: Dr. Harold Hodson, JR. Swine Genetics Int’l., Ltd. Cambridge, Iowa 50046

COMPARSION LIQUID & FROZEN LIQUID ADVANTAGES Traditionally Better Fertility Today Not Always The Case More Doses Per Collection Less Labor & Cost to Produce Do Not Have To Have Liquid Nitrogen Tank To Store Do Not Have To Thaw & Dilute To Use

COMPARSION LIQUID & FROZEN -CONTINUE- FROZEN ADVANTAGES Do Not Have to Use Immediately Can Store & Use for Particular Mating Can get Bigger Shipments Resulting in Lower Shipping Cost Can Have Test for Disease Prior to And After Freezing Offering Greater Assurance No Worry About Delayed Shipment or Sows Not Cycling Can go Back & Use Genetics From Previous Times Have Frozen Semen From Early 1980’s Still Good Quality

IMPROVED FROZEN SEMEN RESULTS Improved Freezing Techniques Computerize Freezing Curves Facilitation Before Freezing Overnight Storage Adding Cold Shock Reducing Components More Precise Thawing techniques Better Thaw Solutions

FREEZING CHAMBER

IMPROVED FROZEN SEMEN RESULTS -continued- Improved Breeding Techniques Intrauterine Insemination Regular or Deep Ultra Sonic Use for Breeding During 4 Hours Window of Ovulation Intra-Oviduct Laparoscopic Insemination Expensive Time Consuming

TYPE OF INSEMINATION CATHETERS

USE OF INTRATERINE CATHETERS * Need practice and experience * Work better with sows than gilts * Regular catheters – Boar present * Want cervix to lock-up on tip * Intrauterine – No boar present * Easier to penetrate cervix

IMPROVED FROZEN SEMEN RESULTS * Sow Selection 3 to 5th Parity Rather Than Gilts or 2nd Parity Reduced Stress At Weaning Single vs Group Of Sows Temperature Control Season – Cool vs Hot

HEAT DETECTION Number one key for optimal conception with frozen semen Check heat 2 or 3 times per day Remove boar from area in between checks Determine time when exhibit first standing estrus Vulva usually swell prior to standing estrus Boar present Back pressure

Effect of a Single Insemination of Fresh (2 billion) or Frozen Sperm (5 billion) Semen Relative to Time of Ovulation on the Fertilization Rate of Gilts Insemination to ovulation interval (h) Waberski et al., Theriogenology 1994; 42:831

OPTIMUN TIME TO INSEMINATE WITH FROZEN SEMEN Single Insemination Double Insemination Gilts 29-32 hours 1st 24-29 hours 2nd 30-34 hours Sows 33-36 hours 1st 29-32 hours 2nd 34-38 hours * The above times are hours after the sow or gilt first exhibits standing estrus (wait the above number of hours after the sow or gilt will first stand for a boar to mount before insemination). Double insemination is highly recommended.

HANDLING AND THAWING FROZEN SEMEN Limited equipment & supplies needed Water Bath or sink Scissors Tongs 1000 ml flash 100 cc plastic bottles

PREPARATION EXTENDER * Dissolve 1 pkg Modena in 1000 ml distilled H20 * Divide into 12 bottles (80 ml each) * Warm bottle of Extender to 200C (680F) before adding thawed semen * Can store extra bottles Extender * 50C refrigerator (2-3 days) * -200C freezer (6 months)

Must be at least 12 inches (30.5cm wide) WATER BATH OR SINK Must be at least 12 inches (30.5cm wide) Heat water to 500 C (1220)F)

REMOVE STRAW FROM SEMEN TANK Bring canister to middle of tank Use tongs to remove Do not take canister out of tank

IMMEDIATELY DROP STRAW IN WATER BATH OR SINK * Leave in water bath exactly 45 seconds

DRY STRAW WITH PAPER TOWEL

CUT OFF ONE END OF STRAW

Place cut end in extender bottle * Cut off other end * Rinse out straw

NOW READY TO BREED SOW * Should breed as soon as possible after thawing * Up to 1 hour okay

IF ANALYZE FROZEN SEMEN * Warm semen to 360C for 30 minutes * Use regular and caffeine coated slides * Caffeine coating stimulates semen activity * Mobility should be in range of 40 to 60% * 5.5-6.0 billion sperm * Liquid semen motility 80% * 2.5 – 4.0 billion sperm

REALALISTIC EXPECTATON * Commercial Farm AI Liquid Semen 85-90% Conception 12-14 Pig Born 26-28 Pigs Per Sow Per Year * Exported Liquid Semen 65-85% Conception 8-12 Pigs Born * Frozen Semen 60-80% Conception 7-11 Pigs Born