Artificial Insemination of Sows with Frozen-Thawed Boar Semen in Two Different Periods of the Year.

Artificial insemination (AI) of sows in World as well as Serbia is a biotechnology measure, which is used in for nearly 40 years; this is the case especially in large swine farms. Use of frozen-thawed semen was accompanied with various conception rates and often number of piglets, which is still small for massive use of this technology on large pig farms. Since deep freezing has a great potential for preservation of genetically superior boar semen and is a very good bio security measure in prevention of disease transition there is necessity to consider wider use of deep frozen boar semen. We have inseminated 65 sows with frozen-thawed semen in order to do comparison of fertility of sows inseminated in two different periods. Based on the obtained results we have found better fertility during winter that during summer period. Insemination was conducted with total number of 800×10⁶ spermatozoa per sow in heat. Insemination was done twice in heat after clinically notable oestrus. Fertility rates as well as number of piglets per sow were lower than when short preserved semen was used. We have discussed in more detail what could have contributed to such results. Deep frozen boar semen has great potential but still need investigation in order to reach desirable fertility and number of piglets per litter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]