Comparison of Semen Delivery Systems for Commercial Swine Production in Iowa

Abstract

<p>Semen was collected over a five-week period in the summer of 2001 and over a six-week period in the winter of 2002. A total of 50 collections of semen were used in this study. From these semen collections 498 doses of semen were shipped via courier to the five farms and 458 doses of semen was shipped via overnight delivery. Fifty-two doses of semen could not be accounted for in the breeding records, giving a total of 452 sows inseminated for this project.</p> <p>The semen used in the overnight delivery system was on average 28 hours older when used for insemination compared to the semen used in the courier delivery system. In this study no significant difference was found between semen delivery systems for farrowing rate. Both semen delivery systems produced farrowing rates in excess of 85%, a very competitive level in the swine industry today. The difference in total pigs born per litter was also nonsignificant in this study. However, the semen delivered via courier did produce a small but statistically significantly larger litter size born alive (10.48 vs 10.28).</p>