FROZEN SEMEN: A complement in Artificial Insemination programs.

Advantages of frozen semen
The use of frozen semen doses is considered to account for only 1% of the total number of sows mated globally. This is due in part to a noticeable reduction in fertility and prolificacy rates compared to fresh semen. However, new technologies are emerging in the semen freezing and thawing processes, which, together with the improvements introduced in the management of the technique and the arrival of new dose application systems, make AI with frozen semen more efficient and attractive for some pig farms.
Advantages of frozen semen compared to fresh semen: fresh semen has a life span between 3 and 7 days post-dilution, depending on the diluent used, while cryopreservation technique allows us to preserve the sperm cells for an indefinite time. This fact allows new applications such as:
1. Shipment of semen doses over long distances: Sperm cryopreservation is a viable alternative to transport sperm long distances allowing the introduction of new genetic lines or semen of high genetic value in countries with an increasing demand for new breeds.
2. Conservation of genetics: Being able to maintain the fertilizing potential of the sperm in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196 ºC allows us to preserve certain genetic lines for long periods of time.
3. Health assurance: By increasing indefinitely the life span of the doses, an intense monitoring can be carried out at the source stud. It also allows a reasonable time to elapse in case the donor boars were in the incubation period at the time of ejaculate collection.
In 2016 Semen Cardona shipped 2600 doses of frozen boar semen.
For more information about this service: internacional@semencardona.com