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A note on the influence of added relaxin on the fertility of aged boar semen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. J. Peacock ,
R. N. Kirkwood  and
P. A. Thacker
A. J. Peacock
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada
R. N. Kirkwood
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada
P. A. Thacker
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada
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Abstract

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the influence of relaxin on the fertility of gilts inseminated with aged boar semen. For experiment 1, oestrus was induced in 43 Yorkshire × Landrace gilts by injection of 400 i.u. PMSG plus 200 i.u. hCG. At 24 h after oestrus detection, gilts were inseminated with fresh semen (1 to 2 day old; no. = 15), aged semen (5 to 6 days old; no. = 15) or aged semen containing 400 fig/l of relaxin added at the time of semen extension (no. = 13). Pregnancy rates 24 days after insemination were lower in gilts receiving aged semen (P < 0·05), an effect not prevented by added relaxin. There was no effect of either semen age or relaxin on numbers of embryos. In experiment 2, the ejaculates of eight boars were extended with or without the addition of 400 fig/I relaxin and motility monitored for 7 days. Fresh sperm motility decreased from 87-5 (s.e. 2·5)% at collection to 71-2 (s.e. 3·3)% after 7 days. The attenuation of sperm motility was not affected by relaxin.

Keywords

artificial inseminationgiltsrelaxin
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 58 , Issue 3 , June 1994 , pp. 419 - 421
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

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