Comparative study on five different commercial extenders for boar semen

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Extended boar semen preservation is vital for efficient artificial insemination.
• Selecting appropriate semen extenders impacts sperm longevity and quality.
• Current commercial extenders vary in their effectiveness for long-term boar sperm storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the longevity of boar sperm in different commercial semen extenders.
• To compare the efficacy of three long-term and two short-term extenders.
• To identify extenders that maintain optimal boar sperm quality over a 7-day period.

Main Methods:

• Semen quality parameters including sperm morphology, motility, and pH were assessed over 7 days.
• Bacteriological contamination was monitored in extended boar semen.
• Comparison of sperm quality across five different commercial extenders (3 long-term, 2 short-term).

Main Results:

• Sperm motility was significantly influenced by pH, particularly in long-term extenders.
• One specific long-term extender maintained good sperm motility throughout the entire 7-day preservation period.
• Extended boar semen pH increased during storage, correlating with decreased motility; bacterial contamination had no significant impact.

Conclusions:

• The choice of long-term extender is critical for preserving diluted boar semen quality.
• Effective boar sperm preservation requires extenders with adequate buffering capacity, as indicated by pH monitoring.
• Both short-term extenders and one specific long-term extender provided sufficient sperm longevity under the study's parameters.