Objective

The Absolute AMG™ Pipette trial was designed to test the effectiveness of Absolute Swine Insemination Co.’s (ASIC) AMG insemination pipette against the use of the current USA standard - Primatech’s traditional inseminating rod manufactured by Ray Chen of Ennchih (Taiwan). Unlike conventional rods that deposit semen into the cervix, the AMG pipette extends through the cervix and deposits semen directly into the uterus.

Materials and Methods

The trial was conducted at a 5,650-sow farrow-to-wean unit. The farm staff used Absolute’s AMG rod to breed animals on Monday to Wednesday of each week for four consecutive weeks. The Primatech rod was used to breed animals on Thursday to Sunday of each week. Each animal was inseminated by the same rod design throughout their breeding period. In total, 735 sows were bred with the AMG rod and 612 sows with Primatech’s product. Between the AMG and Primatech rod, 1,347 animals were bred for this trial; the animals bred were all the animals in oestrus on a given day.

To determine conception rates, the animals were recorded if they returned to oestrus after the initial trial breeding and each animal was also pregnancy-checked with an ultrasound machine 28 to 32 days after initial breeding to determine pregnancy status. Conception rates were calculated by comparing the number of animals initially bred to the number of animals determined pregnant.

At farrowing, the farrowing percentage, number of piglets born live, and total born number of piglets born for the animals bred with the two different rods were calculated. Farrowing percentages were calculated by comparing number of animals initially bred to the number of animals that farrowed. Records were obtained by analysing the farms daily farrowing records and the use of the Agrosoft Winpig™ record system. All records were entered into an Excel spreadsheet.

Results

Conception rates were higher in the sows bred with the AMG pipette compared to the Primatech rod by 10.12 per cent (83.3 versus 73.1, respectively).

Farrowing rates were higher in sows bred with the AMG pipette compared to the Primatech rod by 6.9 per cent (75.4 versus 68.4, respectively).

Total born was higher in sows bred with the AMG pipette compared to the Primatech rod by .91 pigs per litter (12.9 versus 11.9, respectively).

Born alive was higher in sows bred with the AMG pipette compared to the Primatech rod by 0.8 pigs per litter (12.4 versus 11.6, respectively).

Extreme labour savings and farm efficiencies were found when using the AMG pipette.Three AI technicians could service an entire day’s group (approximately 60 animals) in 1.5 hours, as compared to six personnel taking seven to eight hours to service the same quantity of animals using the traditional product.

Discussion

The improvement in total born and live born can be explained by the design of Absolute’s AMG pipette. As stated earlier, the AMG pipette deposits the semen directly into the uterus which can lead to a better fertilisation when compared to the traditional Primatech rod. Higher total born numbers also lead to higher born live numbers per litter.

In conclusion, it appears that Absolute’s AMG rod provides extremely positive results when used on a commercial farm when following ASIC’s wean to oestrus (WOI) breeding protocols. The rod significantly increases total and live born piglets and also increases conception and farrowing rates; and saves a significant amount of time in the breeding area. Said time savings helps further improve farm results by providing extra time for heat detection and other daily chores.