A novel semen supplement (SuinFort) improves sow fertility after artificial insemination

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine effects of a novel seminal supplement, SuinFort, on fertility of multiparous sows. For 2 years, a total of 1159 sows were assigned to be artificial inseminated (AI) either with semen supplemented with the additive (2 IU oxytocin, 5 μg lecirelin, 2 mM caffeine, n = 830 AI) or with no supplementation (Control, n = 2422 AI). The supplement was included 15 min before insemination. Supplementation with SuinFort resulted in greater fertility both by increasing farrowing rate 87.2% ± 0.7 to 90.7% ± 1.0 (P < 0.001) and litter size from 13.8 ± 0.1 to 14.4 ± 0.1 (P < 0.001). To test if there was a direct effect of SuinFort on spermatozoa, an in vitro experiment was conducted using semen doses from 10 boars. Semen was stored at 15 °C and on days 1, 2 and 3 were aliquoted to a control and SuinFort-supplemented group, incubated at 37 °C and analyzed for sperm quality at 15 min and 2 h. For aliquots with SuinFort, there was a small decrease in semen quality. In conclusion, the administration of a combination of oxytocin, lecirelin and caffeine to boar semen 15 min prior to AI, positively affects sow fertility. Considering that in vitro effects on sperm quality were small, it is likely that SuinFort affects fertility by modulating uterine function. Supplementation of semen with SuinFort, therefore, has potential for increasing pork production efficiency as a result of increased reproductive efficiency after AI of sows.