Minimal Volume of Semen and Number of Sperm for Fertility in Artificial Insemination of Swine

Abstract

Forty-six gilts were inseminated with quantities of fresh semen ranging from 0.01 to 20 cc. diluted to a total volume of 50 cc. in a modified Krebs' solution and 40 sows were inseminated with quantities of 1 to 50 cc. of fresh semen diluted to either 50 or 250 cc. In gilts some fertility (29%) was obtained with 0.1 cc. semen and an average fertility of 91% was obtained with 20 cc. semen diluted to 50 cc. In sows fertility was almost as high (42%) with 1 cc. of semen diluted to 50 cc. as it was with 20 cc. of semen diluted to either 50 or 250 cc. (43% in each case). The average fertility per sow was 67% when 50 cc. of semen diluted to 250 cc. was used. Maximum-possible average litter sizes were estimated at 5.7 to 11.8 pigs in gilts and from 4.5 to 13.4 pigs in sows inseminated with different quantities of semen. Sows ovulated 4.6 more eggs, had 11.8 inch longer uterine horns and stayed in heat slightly longer than gilts. Copyright © . .