Impact of genetic selection on management
By J.A.B. Robinson and M.M. Buhr, University of Guelph - Boars in an artificial insemination centre have been selected for their superior genetic potential, with ‘superior’ being defined as having traits the customer wants transmitted to his herd....

The Effect of Light Type on Gilt Performance
By Jennifer Hannesson, Pork Technology Transfer Specialist, Alberta Government. In Canada, swine barns are mostly intensive confinement facilities, which rely on artificial lighting. The majority of energy for lighting is consumed by breeding/farrowing...

Semen Extension: A comparison of Methods
By W.E. Morgan Morrow, North Carolina State University - Optimizing procedures for handling semen is an important component of any boar-stud-management program. One procedure that has gained attention is the concept of “pre-extension�, whereby a small...

Impact of genetic selection on management of boar replacement
By J.A.B. Robinson, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph and M. Buhr, Corresponding author. This paper briefly reviews current optimum genetic selection procedures and how an AI stud can best manage their selection program; looks...

Detection of economically important viruses in boar semen by quantitative RealTime PCR technology
By van Rijn PA, Wellenberg GJ, Hakze-van der Honing R, Jacobs L, Moonen PL, Feitsma H, Central Institute for Animal Disease Control - The objective of this study was to develop quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (ReTi-PCR) tests for the...

Practical Aspects of Artificial Insemination
By Murray Pettitt, Research Scientist-Contract Research Services, Praire Swine Centre - During the last decade, the use of Artificial Insemination (AI) has become common as producers wish to realize the benefits of AI within their herds.

Boosting Boar Power in the Breeding Barn
By Banff Pork - This report provides the introductions and links to 4 articles presented at the Banff Pork Seminar 2004 Proceedings concerning the health and productivity of Boars. The articles include; - Boar Nutrition for Optimum Sperm Production...

Cost Effective Boar Usage
By Mark White, BVSc DPM MRCVS, England - Back in the 1980’s when artificial insemination usage was more the exception than the norm for mating sows, the major issues for boar usage were avoiding overuse and maintaining consistent usage with particular...

Will A.I. be Going Deep?
By Tyler Kelley, Pork Magazine - Intra-uterine insemination, or deep insemination, could let you reduce the amount of boar sperm per dose, but it’s uncertain how beneficial it can be in the long run.

Techniques for Training Boars for Semen Collection
By Mark Estienne, Swine Research Physiologist, and Allen Harper, Extension Animal Scientist-Swine, Tidewater AREC - This article focuses training boars for collection of semen off of a "dummy sow".

Artificial Insemination in Swine: Breeding the Female
By Jodi Sterle and Tim Safranski,Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia Artificial insemination (AI) in swine is not a new technique. There are reports as early as the 1930s of collecting semen for insemination. However, use...

An investigation of intrauterine insemination with reduced sperm number in gilts and sows
Dissertation by Claudia Krüger, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover (English Abstract); The goal of this study was to determine the minimal number of sperm which can be used without reduction in either the pregnancy rate or the mean litter size,...

Dealing with Litter Size Problems
by John Gadd, Dorset, England. Litter size – particularly piglets born alive/litter – does not seem to be much of a headache for European pork producers. But farther afield from Europe...