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A Comparison of Two Methods for Boar Semen Collection¹

University of Guelph,² Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

TWELVE Yorkshire boars (average age 12.2 months) were collected twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. One-half of the collections were made with an artificial vagina and the other half by the "gloved-hand" method. Ejaculation time, total semen volume, gel volume, gel free semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm per ejaculate and percent motility were measured. Analysis of the data indicated that more sperm per ejaculate were obtained with the "gloved-hand" method (P<0.05). Since there was no significant difference in semen volume, sperm concentration or any of the other characteristics between the two collection methods, the biological significance of this difference in total sperm is questioned. Results indicated that the "gloved-hand" method is satisfactory for routine collection of boar semen.

Boar semen may be collected using an articial vagina (Rudolfo, 1934; Aamdal and Hogset, 1956; Melrose and O'Hagan, 1959), or by the "gloved-hand" technique (Hancock and Hovell, 1959). The advantages of the latter method are simplicity, low cost and elimination of the need for cleaning and sterilization of equipment. However, the "gloved-hand" may not provide adequate stimulus for optimum sperm output. This project was undertaken to compare ejaculation time, semen volume, concentration and motility of boar semen obtained by these two methods and to determine whether the "gloved-hand" method is satisfactory for routine collection of boar semen.

¹ This study was supported by grants from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ontario Association of Animal Breeders.

² Department of Animal and Poultry Science.

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