No abstract

A total of 35 ejaculates were studied in order to assess the suitability of porcine semen for freezing according to the ejaculate characteristics. The effects of the freezing procedure were identified; a decrease in motility and acrosome quality was found after thawing. The best results on motility were linked to the ejaculates with a volume of less than 100 ml of the sperm-rich fraction, a concentration lower than 450 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml and an agglutination score below 2. However, the best normal apical ridge (NAR) was found when the volume of the sperm-rich fraction was greater than 150 ml. For this reason, an intermediate volume of the sperm-rich fraction of the ejaculate for the best motility and the best NAR, a concentration lower than 450 x 106 spermatozoa/ml and a rate of agglutination below 2 should provide the best quality after freezing. This study also attempted to determine whether a positive effect of ejaculate selection on the overall freezing performance might be expected.