The effect of growth rate and lean meat content in Pietrain×Duroc and Duroc×Pietrain hybrid boars on their semen characteristics

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of growth rate and lean meat content in Pietrain×Duroc and Duroc×Pietrain hybrid boars on their semen characteristics. On the basis of the results of performance testing carried out on the 180 day of life, the boars were divided into four groups according to their daily weight gain (I: 750–800 g; II: 801–850 g; III: 851–900 g; and IV: >900 g), and additionally into three groups according to lean meat content (I: 60–61%; II: 62–63%; and III: >63%). Ejaculates were evaluated for the following characteristics: volume, sperm concentration, percentage of sperm with progressive movement, number of sperm with progressive movement per ejaculate and per insemination dose, primary morphological defects and number of insemination doses obtained per ejaculate. Neither high daily weight gain in the hybrid boars during the rearing period nor their high lean meat content had a negative effect on their semen characteristics.