Do you know about artificial insemination in pigs?

Introduction: Artificial insemination is a trend in modern large-scale pig farming. This breeding method offers advantages in reproduction efficiency, breed control, and breeding costs. The semen from a single high-quality boar can impregnate up to 100 sows, significantly reducing reproduction costs.

In recent years, an increasing number of pig farms have adopted intensive farming models, becoming a prevailing trend in modern pig farming. This model features large-scale operations and high profitability, making artificial insemination particularly advantageous in terms of breeding efficiency, breed control, and reproduction costs. Typically, the semen from a robust, high-quality boar can impregnate up to 100 sows when properly administered. This significantly reduces mating costs, making it the primary breeding method for large-scale operations. Today, we'll explore the process, advantages, and limitations of pig artificial insemination.

I. Basic Process of Artificial Insemination in Pigs    Technicians collect semen from boars. After obtaining fresh semen, a portion is sent for quality inspection while another is mixed with semen diluent for dilution and portioning. The diluted semen is stored at 15°C to 18°C before technicians proceed with inseminating the sows.

II. Advantages of Artificial Insemination in Swine

1. Effectively reduces infectious diseases: Eliminating direct contact between boars and sows prevents disease transmission through mating.    2. Enhances herd quality: Maximizes utilization of elite boars, making their use more economical and significantly improving overall breeding stock quality.   3. Reliable Breeding Success Rates: All semen used for insemination undergoes quality inspection; the breeding capability of replacement boars is evaluated at the fastest possible pace.   4. Overcomes Breeding Difficulties Due to Significant Weight Differences Between Boars and Sows; Facilitates Sow Self-Breeding. Purchasing semen for insemination enables economical implementation of sow self-breeding.

III. Analysis of Artificial Insemination Failures in Pig Farms

1. Inadequate artificial insemination equipment and supplies, or improper equipment selection.

2. Insufficient or perfunctory disinfection and hygiene practices.

3. Insufficient viable sperm count or inaccurate timing of insemination.

4. Improper preparation of diluents or inadequate storage.

5. Non-standardized procedures.   6. Reusing gloves, filters, and semen collection cups can easily contaminate semen due to incomplete sterilization.   7. Manually inserting flexible insemination catheters into the sow's reproductive tract may cause contamination.   8. Using syringes for insemination may create “vortexing” that damages sperm.

IV. How to Implement Artificial Insemination in Pig Farms?

1. Artificial insemination technicians must undergo necessary training before commencing work.   2. Natural mating + AI: Employ natural mating for the first insemination within a breeding cycle, followed by artificial insemination for the second insemination.   3. Partial artificial insemination: Initially implement AI for a portion of sows—focusing on parent-generation sows that are in good estrus, healthy, and multiparous.   4. Increase semen dose: Beginners should double the recommended semen volume per insemination to ensure reliability.   5.  Assess conception and litter size: Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of AI performance when fully implementing the technique. Regular assessments should continue thereafter.   6.  Full implementation after 6 months: Gradually transition to full-scale AI over 5-6 months.

V. Limitations of Artificial Insemination in Swine

1. Do not expect significant increases in conception rates or litter sizes: When using healthy boars, artificial insemination does not improve conception rates or litter sizes compared to natural mating.   2. Semen cannot be stored long-term: Pig sperm exhibits poor tolerance to low temperatures, resulting in ineffective and costly frozen storage. Typically, only ambient temperature storage is used, with a retention period of 3-7 days.    3. Artificial insemination personnel must undergo proper training.    4. Appropriate equipment, laboratory facilities, and consumables must be available.    5. Operations require meticulous care: Improper procedures may impair conception rates, litter sizes, or even cause sow infertility.   6. The significance of AI increases with farm scale.

Artificial insemination is only suitable for modern, large-scale pig farms operating under intensive farming models. Only such operations possess the financial resources, technical expertise, and equipment to execute the entire process. For small-scale pig farms, adopting AI would merely increase breeding costs.