Medycyna Wet. 66 (11), 765-769, 2010
| Wierzbicki H., Górska I., Macierzyńska A., Kmieć M. |
| Variability of semen traits of boars used in artificial insemination |
| 6689 ejaculates collected from 89 boars (Polish Large White, Polish Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire, Pietrain, Duroc × Hampshire, Hampshire × Pietrain, Polish Synthetic Line 880 and Line 990, PIC) were used to study the influence of age, genotype (breed) and selected environmental factors on the variability of semen characteristics (semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of live sperms, total number of sperms, number of insemination doses). Heritability and repeatability of these traits, estimated using DFREML and a single-trait repeatability model, were computed as well. The examined boars were at the age of 221-585 days. The data were collected in two Polish AI stations over the period of 1997-2002. The year of semen collection, AI station, age and genotype of boars were the factors which caused significant differences in the studied semen traits. Dynamic changes of semen traits were observed at the beginning of the reproductive performance of boars, and an increase in mean values of semen traits was noted as the boars were getting older. The best ejaculates for AI purposes were obtained from the Polish Synthetic Line 880 and Line 990 boars, and the worst were obtained from PIC. The estimated heritabilities (ranging from 0.12 to 0.60) and repeatabilities (ranging from 0.40 to 0.76) indicate that effective selection improving the studied semen traits is possible. |
| Keywords: boar, heritability, repeatability, semen traits |