Characterization of Boar Studs in Brazil

Abstract

Understanding the flow of processes in swine production systems and how they work is fundamental to improving reproductive performance. We surveyed 32 boar studs in Brazil, representing 61.53% of the total in the country. Commercial lines were the most common breed (59.38%) used in the studs. Individual pens and stalls were the most commonly used as housing system (71.9%), and 81.25% of the studs reported having some form of thermal control system. For most of the studs (62.51%), average weekly sperm concentration was higher than 200 million cells per mL. Also, for most studs (71.88%) average weekly ejaculate volume was more than 250 mL. In 46.88% of the studs each ejaculate yielded 26 to 40 semen doses. In 6.25% of the studs, 3.5 billion sperm cells per dose were used for artificial, intracervical insemination. Sperm concentration in 46.88% of the studs was determined using a computer-assisted system analysis. The assessment of sperm quality was conducted using morphology, concentration, and microbiological testing. Employees working on semen collection had formal education of elementary/middle school (34.38%) and high school (37.5%). Most of the laboratory technicians had frequented high school (75%). The most time-consuming task was semen processing, taking 16 to 25 h a week (46.8%) and 6 to 10 h was allotted for the cleaning of stud facilities (46.8%). The data collected in the present study allow greater knowledge of this important part in the pig production chain in Brazil.

Update on artificial insemination: Semen, techniques, and sow fertility

“…With the centralization of boar studs, transport is a critical processing parameter, especially when long distances are becoming more common. In large countries, such as Brazil, distances longer than 600 km between the stud and sow farms are often registered (Bennemann et al, 2020). The temperature throughout shipping is crucial to maintain the semen quality.…”

“…Thus, to facilitate logistics by working with only one temperature range, semen doses are recommended to be shipped after the holding time. A Brazilian survey of 36 boar studs reported that in 48.4% of them, semen doses were shipped immediately after packing (with no holding time), but 58.1% delivered semen doses at 15–18°C (Bennemann et al, 2020). In this sense, some boar studs produce the semen doses 1 day in advance, allowing the correct cooling rate and management of the transport temperature.…”