Effects of various antibiotics on the control of bacteria in boar semen

Nine antibiotics were tested for the control of 11 bacterial genera isolated from boar semen. Of the antibiotics tested, the aminoglycosides dibekacin, amikacin and gentamicin proved fairly effective. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of those antibiotics were low (less than 6.25 micrograms/ml) compared to those of antibiotics commonly used for semen diluents. Seventy-four semen samples were stored at 15 degrees C by means of dialysis in the presence of dibekacin (100 micrograms/ml). After seven days' storage, about 80 per cent of the samples showed no bacterial growth and the mean values for sperm motility an normal acrosomes were 75.4 per cent and 82.7 per cent respectively. Twenty sows which were inseminated with semen stored for up to 14 days produced 16 litters and the average litter size was 9.9.