TRIXcell+, a new long-term boar semen extender containing whey protein with higher preservation capacity and litter size

Abstract

It was the aim of the present study to test whey as protective protein for the sperm cell in the long-term boar semen preservation medium TRIXcell. Analyses of sperm cell motility using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) indicated that the whey protein Porex has a similar protective effect as bovine serum albumin (BSA) in maintaining viability of stored boar sperm. Boar sperm diluted in TRIXcell+ maintains commercially acceptable motility (>60%) for 10 days, while swine sperm diluted in the semen preservation medium Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) maintains commercially acceptable motility (>60%) for 3-5 days for most boars. To test the on-farm fertility performance of TRIXcell+ compared to BTS, inseminations were started on 35 commercial pig production farms in the summer of 2006. During the period of July 2006 until July 2012 for each farm and each calendar year the mean farrowing rate and litter size for semen diluted in TRIXcell+ and stored for 3-5 days was found higher than that of semen stored for 1-2 days in BTS. Based on data gained from a total of 583.749 sows inseminated through the years 2006-2012, the mean farrowing rate for semen diluted in TRIXcell+ and BTS was 90.4 ± 4.0 and 87.9 ± 3.6, respectively, which is not significantly different. Based on the same data, the mean total number of piglets born alive for semen diluted in TRIXcell+ and BTS was 14.2 ± 0.7 and 13.6 ± 0.6, respectively, which is significantly different. We conclude that whey protein can effectively be used in the long-term preservation medium TRIXcell resulting in a higher litter size.

Comparative efficacy of three extenders on quality of boar semen during preservation at 15°C

“…The mean percentage of sperm motility at each hour of preservation in Modena was significantly higher (P<0.05) than GEPS extender. Similar findings were also obtained by Bania (2017), van den Berg et al (2014) and Saikia et al (2016) who recorded significantly lower sperm motility in TRIXcell+, Modena and GEPS extenders. The significantly higher sperm motility in TRIXcell+ extender is unknown as its composition is a commercial secret.…”

“…The conception rate following AI with fresh diluted semen (N=25) and semen preserved for 24 (N=5), 48 (N=3), 72 (N=3), 96 (N=2) and 120 (N=2) h was 80, 80, 66.67, 66.67, 100 and 50%, respectively. van den Berg et al (2014) also reported better farrowing rate and litter size for semen diluted in TRIXcell+ and stored for 5 days on farm fertility performance. However, in the present study, the data were inconclusive of the fertility efficacy of TRIXcell+ extender as the insemination number was very less and not done on equal number of females and hence, the result was variable for different age of semen used.…”