Short-Term Storage of Collared Peccary Semen in a Transport Container at 5°C Using Different Extenders

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Animal science
• Semen preservation

Background:

• Short-term semen storage is crucial for artificial insemination programs in livestock.
• Effective preservation methods for collared peccary semen are needed to support conservation and breeding efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a Botutainer transport container for preserving collared peccary semen at 5°C for 72 hours.
• To compare the performance of different semen extenders (BTS, NUTRIXcell+, PRIMXcell Ultra, and TRIS + egg yolk) for short-term storage.

Main Methods:

• Ten collared peccary ejaculates were collected via electroejaculation.
• Semen was diluted in four different extenders and stored at 5°C for 72 hours.
• Sperm motility, membrane functionality, integrity, mitochondrial activity, morphology, and binding capacity were assessed.

Main Results:

• TRIS, NUTRIXcell, and PRIMXcell extenders maintained approximately 60% sperm motility and 50%-65% membrane integrity after 72 hours.
• BTS extender was less effective, preserving only ~40% motility and ~50% membrane integrity.
• TRIS extender uniquely preserved ~75% membrane functionality over 72 hours.
• All tested extenders, except BTS after 48 hours, maintained sperm binding capacity comparable to fresh semen.

Conclusions:

• The Botutainer is effective for preserving collared peccary semen at 5°C for up to 72 hours.
• TRIS, NUTRIXcell, and PRIMXcell extenders are suitable for short-term collared peccary semen preservation.
• These findings support the application of short-term semen storage in artificial insemination programs for collared peccaries.