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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. FREEZING CHAMBER

6. 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

7. TYPE OF INSEMINATION CATHETERS

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. OPTIMUN TIME TO INSEMINATE WITH FROZEN SEMEN
Single Insemination Double Insemination
Gilts hours st hours
2nd hours
Sows hours st hours nd 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.

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

14. 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)

15. 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)

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

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

18. DRY STRAW WITH PAPER TOWEL

19. CUT OFF ONE END OF STRAW

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

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

22. 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%
* billion sperm
* Liquid semen motility 80%
* 2.5 – 4.0 billion sperm

23. 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