Intrauterine insemination in sows

Abstract

For obtaining high and constant fecundity and natality in sows, doses containing between 3 and 5 spermatozoa were used in Romania. Our investigation was oriented to a new insemination method, called intrauterine, which consists in depositing the seminal material in uterus, thus reducing the number of inseminated spermatozoa. The DeepgoldenpigTM device was used. This method was compared with the classical artificial insemination, which involves the use of the Goldenpig® device and depositing the seminal material at cervical level. Doses containing 3, 2, and 1 billion spermatozoa, diluted with X – Cell gel were packaged in 80 ml Cochette bags. The females with a weaning to estrus interval of 2 – 11 days were inseminated twice at an interval of 12 hours. Pregnancy was determined at 28 – 30 days since insemination, using an ultrasound scan. The standard inseminating method produced fecundity rates of 90.6%, 87.9%, and 60.5% per doses with 3, 2, and 1 billion spermatozoa, while the intrauterine method obtained rates of 91.6%, 90.8%, and 59.5%. The farrowing rates were of 90.2%, 87.4%, and 59.5% in case of classical method, and 90.9%, 90.3%, and 81.1% for intrauterine method. Significant differences were obtained by using doses of 1 billion spermatozoa. As a conclusion, intrauterine insemination was simple, safe, and effective, and allowed the sperm dose to be reduced to 1 billion spermatozoa.