Combining Fixed-Time Insemination and Improved Catheter Design in an Effort to Improve Swine Reproduction Efficiency.
Authors: McBride Matthew, Amezcua Rocio, Cassar Glen, O'Sullivan Terri, Friendship Robert
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Fixed-Time Insemination and Novel Catheter Technology in Pig Breeding Reproductive efficiency in commercial swine production traditionally relies on multiple inseminations with high sperm doses, prompting investigation into whether fixed-time insemination (FTAI) protocols combined with alternative catheter designs could reduce inputs without compromising outcomes. Researchers compared four treatment groups across 511 sows: conventional twice-breeding with standard semen dose (three billion sperm), FTAI with conventional catheter at standard dose, FTAI with a novel Gedis catheter (designed to minimise semen backflow with internal semen storage) at standard dose, and FTAI with the Gedis catheter at a reduced dose of one billion sperm. Farrowing rates declined progressively across the groups from 81.6% down to 62.7%, with both Gedis catheter treatments showing significantly poorer outcomes than conventional breeding; notably, the reduced-dose Gedis protocol achieved only 62.7% farrowing success and smaller litter sizes compared to the control group. Although FTAI and novel catheter designs theoretically offer cost savings through reduced sperm requirements and insemination frequency, this study demonstrates that the reproductive costs were substantial and economically unjustifiable under these conditions. The findings suggest that whilst technological innovation in reproductive techniques is valuable, practitioners should be cautious about adopting combined interventions without robust on-farm validation, particularly where reduced semen doses are involved.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Do not adopt the Gedis catheter with FTAI protocol for swine breeding operations as it significantly reduces farrowing rates and litter sizes compared to conventional twice-daily AI practices
- •While single-dose FTAI breeding appears appealing for reducing labor and semen costs, this study demonstrates it compromises reproductive outcomes in practical commercial settings
- •Conventional foam-tipped catheter with standard semen dosage (3 billion sperm) and twice-daily insemination remains the most reliable approach for maintaining swine reproductive performance
Key Findings
- •Conventional twice-daily AI with foam-tipped catheter achieved 81.6% farrowing rate compared to 74.0% and 62.7% for FTAI with Gedis catheter at standard and reduced semen doses respectively
- •FTAI with Gedis catheter and reduced semen dose (1 billion sperm) resulted in significantly lower likelihood of farrowing (OR=0.35, p=0.001) compared to conventional breeding
- •Litter size was significantly smaller in groups using Gedis catheter with FTAI (Groups 3 and 4) compared to conventional breeding (p=0.006 and p=0.04)
- •Combined use of Gedis catheter and FTAI technology failed to maintain reproductive efficiency despite reducing semen usage from 3 billion to 1 billion sperm per insemination