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Red‐light stimulation of boar semen prior to artificial insemination improves field fertility in farms: A worldwide survey
Author(s) -
Blanco Prieto Olga,
Catalán Jaime,
Lleonart Marcel,
Bonet Sergi,
Yeste Marc,
RodríguezGil Joan E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.13470
Subject(s) - fertility , insemination , artificial insemination , semen , andrology , gynecology , biology , medicine , sperm , pregnancy , population , environmental health , genetics
A survey of in vivo fertility data from 31 pig farms distributed worldwide was conducted to determine whether stimulating boar semen with LED‐based red light increases its reproductive performance following artificial insemination (AI). Red‐light stimulation with MaXipig ® was found to increase farrowing rates (mean ± SEM , control: 87.2% ± 0.4% vs. light stimulation 90.3% ± 0.5%) and the number of both total and live newborn piglets. Red‐light stimulation increased farrowing rates in 27 farms, with an increase ranging from 0.2% to 9.1%. Similar results were observed in litter sizes. Suboptimal management after AI was suggested in those farms with no response to red‐light stimulation. Our results indicate that a routine use of red‐light stimulation of boar semen can have a positive effect on the reproductive performance. However, the effectiveness of this system appears to highly rely upon proper management of pig farms.