JSRs frozen boar semen plan
JSRs frozen boar semen plan
DESPITE being an expensive investment, setting up a genetic bank of frozen boar semen is being considered by JSR Healthbred, thanks to lessons learned from a DTI secondment to the University of Milan.
Researcher, Andre Maldjian, from the company, has spent a year in Milan mastering cryopreservation (freezing) techniques, which could allow boar semen to be kept for several years as a valuable genetic resource.
"In years to come Large White genetics may be rare, but the genetic bank will allow shipments of viable, frozen sperm to anywhere in the world," says Mr Maldjian.
However, boar sperm is notoriously sensitive to refrigeration and suffers from cold shock below 15C, causing loss of motility and viability of sperm. This sensitivity is unique to boar semen and only 1-2% of pig AI uses frozen samples, compared with nearly 100% of cattle AI.
Mr Maldjian says his research in Italy shows that a quality fresh ejaculate is needed as a precursor to successful freezing and possibly a diet formulation which will increase levels of unsaturated fatty acid content, specifically docosahexaenoic (DHA), in sperm cells.
"As bull semen contains 60% DHA and boar semen 35%, the difference in fatty acid composition could allow an increase in membrane flexibility, which seems to allow sperm to become more resistant to damage caused by ice crystal formation."
lMr Maldjians secondment was supported by the DTIs International Technology Service (ITS), which financially assists and gives practical advice to UK employees from any discipline, wishing to visit a country for three to 12 months (020-72154195, www.globalwatchonline.com) *