january 28, 2004iowa pork congress des moines, iowa 1 new technologies in reproduction donald g....

January 28, 2004 Iowa Pork CongressDes Moines, Iowa

1

New Technologies in Reproduction

Donald G. Levis, PhDOhio Pork Industry CenterThe Ohio State University

122C Animal Sciences BuildingColumbus, OH 43210-1095Telephone: 614 292 1351

Cell: 614 404 7248E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: http://porkinfo.osu.edu


2

Pork producers definitely need to keep an open mind about

research and new technology!"Everything that can be invented has been invented."

Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."Ken Olson, President, Chairman, and

Founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

There are no “silver” bullets to replace excellent management!


3

Most important factor to increase reproductive efficiency is PEOPLE

High quality workers are:• Thinkers• Self-motivated• Team players• Problem solvers• Have good observation skills• Have self-confidence• Pay attention to details• Eager to learn

Workers are not robots!


4

Instead of making decisions about the value of reproductive technologies on farrowing rate or litter size, base your decision on fecundity index (farrowing rate x litter size) or actual number of pigs produced and economics.

Evaluating Reproductive Technologies


5

Try to prevent making erroneous conclusions from:• Testimonials

– How many people broadcast their failures?• Trials with a small number of animals per

treatment• Improperly conducted field trials

– Do you know what an improperly conducted field trial looks like?• Factors known to influence the results are

not controlled (confounded).• Real effects of the treatments are not

known.


6

Factors to help ensure a true difference is detected between two insemination catheters1. Estimate the number of sows to inseminate

per treatment (seek assistance)2. Parity is about the same for both treatments3. Genetics is the same for both treatments4. Inseminate as close as possible an equal

number of sows per day per treatment5. Use the same type of semen for both

treatments (genetics, age, extender, etc.)


7

Factors to help ensure a true difference is detected between two insemination catheters (continued)6. Make sure an equal number of doses of

semen for each type of catheter are stored in the same cooler

7. Make sure the same number of services per sow per type of catheter is used

8. Make sure the same sow is always inseminated with the same type of catheter

9. Make sure the same technician inseminates the same number of sows with each catheter


8

Factors to help ensure a true difference is detected between two insemination catheters (continued)10. Make sure the weaning-to-estrus interval is

the same for each type of catheter11. Make sure the number of recently weaned

sows, late cycling sows, & repeat breeders are the same for each type of catheter

12. Make sure the breeding technician writes the catheter code on the breeding card

13. If possible, collect pertinent data on a weekly basis for individual sows


9

Factors to help ensure a true difference is detected between two insemination catheters (continued)14. Prepare a set of instructions to be strictly

followed by breeding technicians15. Educate the people about the purpose and

value of experiment16. Have someone help statistically analyze the

data.


10

A lot of field trials have too few of animals per treatment to detect a true difference• Want to detect .2 piglets per litter

difference between two treatments• Standard Deviation is 2.97• Want a 95% probability of detecting

a correct answer• Number of animal per treatment is

753 sows


11

http://porkinfo.osu.edu/Excel%20Spreadsheets/Intrauterine-AIform.xls

Items Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3Input Cervical Intrauterine IntrauterineAverage number of inseminations/female/estrus (without gilts) 2 2 2Farrowing interval, days 7 7 7Number of farrowing crates per group 54 54 54Estimated average yearly farrowing rate, % 79.20% 75.00% 87.50%Estimated average litter size born live per litter 11.42 10.76 9.58Preweaning death loss, % 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%Cost of each A.I. Catheter, $ $0.17 $0.79 $0.79Time to perform each insemination, minutes 4.00 4.00 4.00Labor cost per hour for inseminators, $ $10.00 $10.00 $10.00Number of sperm cells per dose, billion 3.00 1.50 1.00Volume of dose, mL 100 50 30Cost of semen per dose, $ $6.00 $6.00 $6.00Gilts inseminated per group, % 15.00% 15.00% 15.00%Average number of inseminations/female/estrus (without gilts) 2.00 2.00 2.00Estimated profit per weaned pig, $/head $8.00 $8.00 $8.00


12

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3Calculations Cervical Intrauterine IntrauterineNumber of farrowings per year 52.1 52.1 52.1Number of sows inseminated per group 68.2 72.0 61.7Total number of females inseminated per year 3555 3754 3218Total number of females inseminated per year (without gilts) 3022 3191 2735Total number of inseminations per year (without gilts) 6044 6382 5471Total cost of catheters per year, $ $1,027 $5,042 $4,322Total cost of labor per year, $ $4,029 $4,255 $3,647Total cost of semen per year, $ $36,263 $38,294 $32,823Total cost of catheters, labor and semen per year, $ $41,320 $47,591 $40,792Total number of pigs weaned per year 28,940 27,267 24,277Total profit from pigs $231,519 $218,139 $194,217Net profit (total profit - catheter, labor and semen), $ $190,200 $170,548 $153,425Difference: Scenario 1 - Scenario 2 $19,651Difference: Scenario 1 - Scenario 3 $36,775Difference: Scenario 2 - Scenario 3 $17,124


13

Problem – Results of research trials can change over time

65

70

75

80

85

90

A B C - A B C - A B C

Extender

Far

row

ing

rate

, %

Jun – Dec 1998 Jan – Jun 1999Jan – Jun 1998

x

yx

xx

y

xx

x

About 1,000 matings for each extender during each time period

xy within time period (P < .05)

W. L. Flowers, 2001


14

Are there “new” technologies in swine reproduction that can now be used economically by commercial pork producers?• Estrous synchronization of cyclic gilts - Yes• Estrous detection procedures - Maybe• Artificial insemination procedures – Maybe• Reducing sperm numbers - Maybe• Sexing of boar semen – No• Embryo transfer - No• Cloning - No


15

Intra-Uterine Insemination

• Intra-uterine “body” insemination (IUBI)

• Deep intra-uterine “horn” insemination (DIUHI)


16

Suggested beneficial aspects of intra-uterine body AI:

• Less back-flow

• Fewer sperm cells per dose

• Smaller volume required

• Less time needed to inseminate

• Less boars will be needed to produce sperm cells

• Genetic cost will be lower?


17

Uterus is hostile to sperm

Traditionalplacement of sperm cells

Intra-uterinebody placement of sperm cells

PhagocytosisMassive influx of polymorphonuclearleucocytes at 30 minutes to 3 hours after spermatozoa enter uterine horn

Site of fertilization


18

8 inches

Uterinebody

Goldenpig

DeepGoldenpig


19

947 999 996

592

1001 993

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

One Two Three

Sperm cells per dose, billion

Fec

undi

ty in

dex

IUBI (80 mL) Cervical (80 mL)

Fecundity index of sows inseminated with a cervical or IUB catheter

2 pigs 3 pigs355 pigs

Watson and Behan, IMV Swine News Bulletin, August 2001

N=19 N=76N=112

FR, 92.5LS, 10.8

FR, 90.5LS, 11.0

FR, 91.8LS, 10.9

FR, 86.9LS, 10.9

FR, 91.1LS, 10.9

FR, 65.8LS, 9.0


20

Influence of semen cost on net profit

Method of AI

Sperm cells per dose, billion

Cost of semen per dose

$6.00 $5.50 $5.00

Estimated yearly net profit

IUBI One $333,155 $338,255 $343,356

Cervical Two $343,202

Cervical Three $342,644Farrowing rate: 1 B = 86.9%; 2 B = 91.8%; 3 B = 91.1%Litter size is 10.9 for all cases.Weekly farrowing, 100 farrowing crates per week, 10% preweaningdeath loss, 4 min per insemination, $10 per hr of labor, 15% of group is gilts, 2 inseminations per estrus, over-breed


21

Farm 1 (Spain)

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

IUB-1.5 B Cerv-3.0 B

Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7

9.8

9.9

Lit

ter

size

FR LS• Farrowings/week: 54• Semen/dose: $6.00• No. matings: 2• Cervical catheter: 17¢ each• IUB catheter: 79¢ each• PW death: 10%• Profit after catheter, labor &

semen cost– CC = $157,629– IUC = $149,136– Diff = $ 8,493

N =130

N =110

Gil et al., 17th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, Page 229, 2002


22

Farm 2 (Spain)

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99


Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

11.2

11.4

11.6

11.8

12

12.2

12.4

Lit

ter

size

FR LS

• Farrowings/week: 54• Semen/dose: $6.00• No. matings: 2• Cervical catheter: 17¢ each• IUB catheter: 79¢ each• PW death: 10%• Profit after catheter, labor

& semen cost– CC = $216,778– IUC = $197,197– Diff = $ 19,581

N =50

N =51

Gil et al., 17th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, 9, 2002


23

Farm 3 (Argentina)

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80


Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

10.4

10.6

10.8

11

11.2

11.4

11.6

Lit

ter

size

FR LS



N =50

N =51

Levis et al., American Association of Swine Veterinarians, 2001


24

Farm 4 (Spain)

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85


Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

9.65

9.7

9.75

9.8

9.85

9.9

9.95

10

10.05

10.1

10.15

Lit

ter

size

FR LS



N =32

N =50

Lapuente et al., American Association of Swine Veterinarians, Page 229, 2002


25

Farm 5 (Spain)

86.15

86.2

86.25

86.3

86.35

86.4

86.45

86.5

86.55

86.6

86.65


Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

10.95

11

11.05

11.1

11.15

11.2

11.25

11.3

11.35

11.4

Lit

ter

size

FR LS



N =112

N =117



26

Farm 6 (Spain)

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96


Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

10.6

10.8

11

11.2

11.4

11.6

11.8

12

12.2

12.4

Lit

ter

size

FR LS



N =19

N =19



27

Farm 7 (Mexico)

72

74

76

78

80

82

84


Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

9.9

10

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

10.9

Lit

ter

size

FR LS



N =76

N =76



28http://www.absoluteinsemination.com/Pingtung%20University.htm (Taiwan)


29

Litter size born alive by type of catheterCervical catheter = 10.7 pigs per litter; Parity = 3.97 ± 1.65Absolute catheter = 11.9 pigs per litter; Parity = 4.35 ± 1.54

10.411.4

10.1 10.3 10.1 10.5

14.5

12.1

14.1

10.1 10.111.2

02468

10121416

2 3 4 5 6 7

Parity

Nu

mb

er o

f p

igs/

litte

r

Cervical catheter Absolute catheter

718N =

4 14 6 7 8N =14 9 8 515

Swine Vet Center, Dec. 30, 2003.


30

Farrowing rate by type of catheterItem Number bred Farrowing rate,

%

Cervical catheter

~ 80 80%

Absolute catheter

~ 50 94%

What is the exact number of sows bred? 67 farrowed with cervical catheter 48 farrowed with absolute catheterWhat is the actual farrowing rate?


31

Minnesota

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

Absolute Cervical

Far

row

ing

rat

e, %

10

10.2

10.4

10.6

10.8

11

11.2

11.4

11.6

11.8

12

Lit

ter

size

FR LS • Farrowings/week: 54• Semen/dose: $6.00• No. matings: 2• Cervical catheter: 17¢ each• Abs catheter: $1.25 each• PW death: 10%• Profit after catheter, labor

& semen cost– CC = $175,597– IUC = $203,907– Diff. = $ 28,310Remember, small number of

sows per treatment!


32

Is the improved effect the result of forcing the sperm cells farther up the uterine horn by pressure?


33

Deep Intra-uterine Horn Insemination

• Flexible catheter– Used on non-sedated estrous sows– Practical for commercial use– Use fewer sperm cells per dose


34

Deep Intra-uterine “Horn” Artificial Insemination

Photo: Belstra, North Carolina State University Annual Swine Report, 2002

It is unknown how sperm cells from one uterine hornare able to fertilize eggs in both horns!

150 million sperm in 5 mL + 5 mL extender

ContralateralUterine horn

IpsilateralUterine horn


35

FirFlex® Catheter(Patented by University of Murcia)

Marketed in Europe by MAGAPOR(Spain, Portugal, Hungary)

Deep Intra-uterine “Horn” Artificial Insemination

Will there be welfare issues?


36

Effect of number of sperm cells per dose on fecundity index when inseminating non-sedated sows with a flexible catheter

780 771679

406 353

0

200

400

600

800

1000

CC-3 billion FC-150million

FC-50million

FC-25million

FC-10million

Type of catheter-number of sperm cells

Fecundity index

Martinez et al., Reproduction 123:163-170, 2002.


37

“Asymptotic” relationship between number of sperm cells inseminated and number of pigs born alive

0123456789

101112

1 3 5 7 9

Number of motile sperm inseminated (billion)

Num

ber o

f pig

s bor

n al

ive

Boar 12 Boar 97 Boar 29

J. Anim. Sci. 80 (E. Suppl. 1):E47-E53, 2002

Semen used within 48 hrs of collection

40 to 50 ejaculates/boar


38

“Linear” relationship between number of sperm cells inseminated and number of pigs born alive

0123456789

101112

1 3 5 7 9

Number of motile sperm inseminated (billion)

Num

ber o

f pig

s bor

n al

ive

Boar 14 Boar 38 Boar 78

Semen used within 48 hrs of collection

J. Anim. Sci. 80 (E. Suppl. 1):E47-E53, 2002



39

Effect of number of sperm cells per dose and boar on farrowing rate

35

45

55

65

75

85

1 3 5 7 9

Sperm cells per dose (billion)

Far

row

ing

rate

, %

Boar 1 Boar 2 Boar 3 Boar 4

Manipulating Pig Production VIII, pp 157-165. 2001



40

Effect of age of semen and number of sperm per insemination dose on litter size (BTS extender)

Age of semen, hrs

3 billion sperm

5 billion sperm

0 & 24 10.9 aX 11.0 aX

48 & 72 11.0 aX 10.6 aX

96 & 120 10.2 bX 9.8 bY

ab Different within column, P < .05XY Different within row, P < .05

Anim. Sci. 62:599-504, 1996.


41

Motility of sperm cells with or without caffeine (BTS extender)

Age of sperm, days

Without Caffeine

With

caffeine

Difference 1 to 2 64% 78% +14

3 to 4 53% 72% +19

5 to 6 37% 62% +25

7 to 8 23% 48% +25

I would expect a decrease in litter size!


42

Hands-free insemination devices• AI Buddy• Weighted Breed-n Buddy• Weighted breeding saddle (KUBUS)• Weighed breeding saddle (Minitube)• EZ Mate® A.I. Belt• Duct tape method

Weight: Gilts = 13 to 18 lbs; Sows = 31 lbs

These devices should only be used when carefully supervised!!


43

Use of EZ-Mate Belt & Weight during artificial insemination

ItemEZ-Mate &

weightHuman Diff.

Number of sows 194 204 10

Duration of time to AI 1.73 2.23 0.5

Backflow, mL 7.66 6.67 .99

Sperm lost, billion 1.28 1.19 .09

Farrowing Rate, % 90.8 94.0 -3.2

Litter size 11.7 11.9 -0.2

Fecundity index 1062 1119 -57


44

What to do when heat-check boars do not smell!

• Spray them with a can of boar odor

• Wipe them with a boar stink stick


45

Boar “Stink” Stick(1” PVC pipe & Rags)

Levis, University of Nebraska

Recharge once or twice daily with saliva, preputial fluids, a small amount of urine

Stimulates standingReleases oxytocinEnhances sperm transport


46

Monitor the temperature in a semen cooler!

Photograph: IMV International

Purchase these with an externalsensor for wet environmentPlace external sensor in a bottle of water

http://www.onsetcomp.com/Products/Product_Pages/HOBO_H08/3928_H08tempext.html


47

Be careful about fine tuning the number and timing of inseminations


48

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Three Four Five Six

Weaning to onset of estrus, days

Hou

rs

Average duration ofestrus, hrsAverage time ofovulation, hrs

Relationship between weaning to onset of estrus, averageduration of estrus and average time of ovulation

27

4137 34

6153

49

38


49

05

1015202530354045505560

16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88

Duration of estrus, hrs

Tim

e of

ovu

lati

on a

fter

on

set

of

est

rus,

hrs

Variation in “time” of ovulation according to durationof estrus (Estrous detection at 8-hour intervals)

Ovulation = 11.1 + .48 x duration of estrusR2 = .6; P = .0001; n = 144

2.3 days

46 hrs

22 hrs

(Multiparous sows)


50

7-9:30 AM Day 1

7-9:30 AM Day 3

PM Day 27-9:30 AM Day 1

Recommended number and interval between artificial inseminations for multiparous sows

7–9:30 AM Day 2

Estrous detection is once per day: 7:00 to 9:30 am

1st foundin estrus

2nd1st

AI 3rdWeekend

1-2:30 PM Day 1

7-9:30 AM Day 3

PM Day 27-9:30 AM Day 1

7–9:30 AM Day 2

1st foundin estrus

2nd1st

AI3rdWeek days


51

0123456789

101112131415

0 12 18 21 24 26 28 30 33 35 37 39 41 43 46 49 53

Time of ovulation after onset of estrus, hours

Num

ber

of s

ows

Viable1st 3rd

24-hour interval between inseminations

J. Reprod. Fert. 104:99-106, 1995.

Fir

st f

ound

in e

stru

s2nd

Viable sperm, 24 hrs

Viable sperm

Time of inseminating multiparous sows


52

10-11:30 AM Day 1

7-9:30 AM Day 1

Recommended number and interval between artificial inseminations for replacement gilts

7–9:30 AM Day 2

Estrous detection is once per day: 7:00 to 9:30 am

1st foundin estrus

2nd1st

Weekend

1-2:30 PM Day 1

1 PM Day 2

7-9:30 AM Day 1

7–9:30 AM Day 2

1st foundin estrus

2nd1st3rdWeek days


53

Closely evaluate lactation feed intake

• Maximize feed intake during first 7 to 10 days of lactation

– Especially first litter sows

– Reproductive hormones are effected


54

Effect of ambient temperature on lactation feed intake and body weight loss

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

64.4 71.6 77 80.6 84.2

Ambient temperature, F

Av

g. d

aily

fe

ed

in

tak

e, l

bs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Bo

dy

we

igh

t lo

ss

, lb

s

ADFI (Far to wean) Body wt. Loss, lbs

J. Anim. Sci. 77:2124-2134, 1999.

11.910.8

9.9

6.8

12.5


55

The End

I would like to thank the Iowa Pork Producers Associationfor inviting me to give this presentation.

january 28, 2004iowa pork congress des moines, iowa 1 new technologies in reproduction donald g....

Documents

type of cathetermake

equal number of sows

number of services

type of semen

usedmake sure

coolermake sure

equal number of doses

small number of animals