Reproductive performance of sows submitted to intrauterine insemination at different pre-ovulatory intervals
P.E. Bennemann, E. Milbradt, G.N. Diehl, D. Weber, A.C.T. Schimidt, M.L. Bernardi, I. Wentz, F.P. Bortolozzo
Anim Reprod, vol.1, n1, p.106-110, 2004
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of the insemination-ovulation (AIOV) interval and sperm cell dose (SD) on the reproductive performance of sows submitted to intrauterine artificial insemination (IUI). The experimental design involved a factorial 2x2 (1x109 spermatozoa (1 bi) and 2x109 spermatozoa (2 bi) at 0-24 and 25-36h insemination-ovulation intervals). Estrus detection and time of ovulation (assessed by transcutaneous ultrasonography) were performed twice a day at 12 h intervals. After the onset of estrus sows were distributed into the four treatments receiving a single IUI. A total of 66 PIC Camborough 22 sows were inseminated with a flexible catheter and a 60 ml SD stored at 17°C up to 36 hours. Pregnancy was determined by transcutaneous ultrasonography 20-23 days after IUI. Pregnant sows (51/57) were slaughtered at 31.7±4.3 days of pregnancy and total embryos (TE) and corpora lutea were counted. Pregnancy rate was analyzed by chi-square test. TE and embryonic survival (ES) were analyzed by GLM procedure and means were compared by Tukey’s test. No interaction was observed (P>0.05) between SD and AIOV interval. PR and ES did not differ between SD or AIOV intervals (P>0.05). TE was not affected by SD but it was lower (P<0.05) for the interval insemination-ovulation of 25-36h compared to 0-24h.
Keywords
intrauterine insemination, reduced sperm number, sows, insemination-ovulation interval