Almost every pig farm works with boar sperm. However, do we know all the information needed?

• Can you pool semen?

• Yes, you can, but PIC’s decision not to pool semen is based on minimising any associated health risks. Therefore one batch number on your flatpack equals one boar.

• How many sperm reach the fertilisation site?

• Only a very, very, small proportion of sperm reach the fertilisation site (far less than 1%). After the insemination, there is a rapid transport through the uterus and only about 10,000 sperm reach the sperm reservoir in the oviduc.

• Is there a single test that can accurately predict fertility of the individual ejaculates?

• Unfortunately, no. At the moment, we can evaluate several components of sperm quality but not all of them.

1. Is the semen bacteria-free?
2. How many sperm are in a flatpack?
3. Why is PIC GP semen coloured?
4. What is the optimal sperm storage temperature?
5. What is the shelf life of ready flatpack?
6. How to make sure whether sperm is of a high quality?
   Look for the answers to these and other questions at the full version of the article in the magazine «Profitable pig production» № 36 (№ 6, December 2016)