Effects of vibrations during boar semen transport: Low-temperature transport as a new management tool.

Transport-related vibrations (TV) compromise the quality of conventionally stored (17 °C) boar semen, but knowledge about TV effects after 5 °C transport is insufficient. This study evaluates the effects of TV after novel 5 °C transport compared to a 17 °C control. Ejaculates of 18 fertile Piétrain boars, diluted in a split sample procedure using Androstar Premium® (AP, 5 °C storage) or Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS, 17 °C storage), were subjected to transport simulation using a laboratory shaker IKA MTS 4. The timing was set according to the respective processing protocols: for 17 °C BTS samples, TV simulation was performed the day of collection, 5 °C AP samples were subjected to TV the day after collection following completion of the established cooling curve to 5 °C. Six samples per ejaculate were exposed to different TV durations (0 h, 3 h, or 6 h) to evaluate the effect on sperm quality (progressive motility (PM), thermo-resistance test (30 and 300 min incubation at 38 °C (TRT30/TRT300)), mitochondrial activity (MITO), plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (PMAI)). Generalized linear mixed models revealed TV (P = 0.021) and storage time (P < 0.001) dependent declines in PM. Direct, pairwise comparisons revealed that 5 °C samples are not affected by TV (P(3 h vs. 6 h transport) = 1.0; P(0 h vs. 6 h transport) = 1.0). They therefore showed superior quality maintenance after TV compared to 17 °C samples (P(3 h vs. 6 h transport) = 0.025; P(0 h vs. 6 h transport) < 0.001). Concluding, low-temperature transport is possible without significant semen quality loss and with better quality maintenance than standard transport.

Application of preserved boar semen for artificial insemination: Past, present and future challenges.

Artificial insemination (AI) is now used for breeding more than 90% of the sows in most of the world's primary pork producing countries. Despite the advancement of methods to cryopreserve boar semen, frozen semen has not been routinely used on farms because of limited efficiency. Liquid semen on the other hand, with 1.5-3 billion sperm per dose preserved up to seven days in long-term extenders, is in common use and is largely responsible for the widespread use of AI. Breeding organizations have defined individual thresholds for useable semen at 60-80% for motility and bacterial load of 0-1000 CFU/mL. Improvement in preservation techniques for liquid semen and better education of producers has been responsible for the higher efficiency of pig breeding, as measured by conception rate and increased litter size, with a minimum number of sperm. The introduction of deep intrauterine AI and advances in breeding management have also been contributing factors. The present article reviews the worldwide application of preserved boar semen from past to present and delineates future challenges. Pathways to increase breeding efficiency are outlined. The reconciliation of AI with sustainable breeding strategies is increasingly important. In this sense, guidelines for the prudent use of antibiotics in semen extenders are proposed. More efficient and sustainable pig AI awaits the introduction of sex-sorted sperm into AI practice. Another critical milestone that needs to be achieved is the replacement of conventional antibiotics in extenders.

[Downregulation of LH in the bitch after application of the GnRH-agonist buserelin as a slow-release implant]. / Downregulation von LH bei der Hündin nach Anwendung des GnRH-Agonisten Buserelin in Implantatform.

OBJECTIVES: Demonstration of downregulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) using the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-agonist buserelin as the active ingredient in the form of a slow-release implant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To eliminate any negative feedback mechanisms of endogenous sex steroids, nine bitches were ovariohysterectomized prior to treatment. The applied drug was the slow-release implant Profact Depot® with the active ingredient buserelin; dosages were 3.3, 6.6 or 13.2 mg per dog (n = 3 per group). LH bioavailability was assessed in single blood samples and in sequential blood samples collected over a 6-hour time windows, which allowed determination of the AUC (area under the curve), basal concentration, number of pulses and maximal pulse-amplitude. RESULTS: No dose dependency was observed, leading to the conclusion that maximum efficiency could already be achieved using the lowest dose of 3.3 mg. Therefore, for further evaluation, the dogs were combined as a single group. An increasing downregulatory effect was observed from weeks 2 to 26, with the pharmacodynamic activity lasting approximately 34 weeks. There was a significant increase 1 hour after implantation to almost twice the pre-treatment value; elevated but continuously declining LH concentrations lasted a further 8 hours. CONCLUSION: Similar as in male dogs, in the bitch buserelin in the form of a slow-release implant also led to downregulation of LH secretion with a preceding initial increase lasting for several hours. This increase must be seen in relation to the unwanted side effects when using this type of drug for downregulation of ovarian function in the bitch. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Inhibition of the initial LH increase appears to be an important factor to allow for routine clinical use of slow-release GnRH-agonist implants in the bitch.