2017 Volume 54 Issue 4 Pages 155-160
We have reported that artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed boar semen supplemented with caffeine increased the number of uterine sperm by inhibiting the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the uterine lumen, resulting in improvement of the fertility of gilts and sows. Our aim of the present study was to examine the effects of the addition of caffeine to the Modena solution on fertility of sows in the commercial pig farm after AI with liquid-stored semen during hot season. Semen was collected from boars in the commercial pig farm once a month. Percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm in cool season (November-May) and hot season (June-October) were 20.4% and 38.4%, respectively. Sows were cervically inseminated with 100ml liquid-preserved boar semen (Control group, n＝23 in cool season, n＝23 in hot season), with 50ml Modena solution (Modena group, n＝32 in cool season, n＝25 in hot season), or with 50ml Modena solution supplemented with 30mM caffeine (Caffeine group, n＝28 in cool season, n＝27 in hot season). Farrowing rates of sows inseminated during hot season in Control and Modena groups were lower than those inseminated during cool season (P<0.05). There was no difference in the farrowing rate between seasons in Caffeine group. The results demonstrated that the addition of caffeine to the semen extender could suppress lowering of farrowing rate after AI with liquid-stored semen during hot season in commercial pig farm.
