LONG TERM STORAGE AND REPRODUCTIVE EVALUATION OF AN INNOVATIVE BOAR SEMEN EXTENDER CONTAINING SUCROSE AND AN ENZYMATIC AGENT

No disclosure exists wherein the saccharolytic enzymes are associated to the preparation of formulations for animal semen extenders (International Publication Number WO 2015/193265 A1). In the present study, the Authors developed an innovative boar semen extender (Formula®) for long–term storage at 15°C. The extender formulation is based on the use of a saccharolytic agent (invertase enzyme between 1000 and 30000 U/L) associated to a polysaccharide as energy source precursor, added with two antibiotics (gentamicin sulfate and marbofloxacin). The innovative extender was evaluated in vitro for sperm morphology, spermatozoa genomic (AOT) and acrosome integrity, during the extended doses storage, while the total and progressive sperm motility was assessed and evaluated by a computer assessed sperm analysis system (CASA). The semen was collected and processed from 10 boars of different breeds (Landrace x Large White, hybrids C21 and Goland). The boar sperms, diluted in Formula® maintained a mean high progressive motility (>70%) for 12 days at 15°C of storage. Following the in vitro results, an artificial insemination field trial was performed. A total of 125 sows, belonged to a farm practicing integral swine production were artificially bred, using a post-cervical insemination with 1.5 x 109 sperms in 100 ml volume till three times/oestrus. Pregnancy was detected by ultrasound examination at 21-23 days after the last insemination. The fertility rate was 98.4% (n=123), the farrowing rate was 96.7% (n=119), the mean number of piglets born/sow were 15.28 and the mean of piglets born alive/sow were 14.87. Considering the field trial results, the use of this semen extender is highly advisable and it clearly showed that it is possible to obtain a higher number of piglets in Italy as Denmark, one of the most advanced country in swine industry