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This study investigated the relation between the nutrition of the boar and semen quantity and quality with data collected over a three year period.
Starting data of 130 boars of the same breed were collected over three years. During this period, data from
52 boars deceased or culled for reasons other than semen quality were excluded. The analysis looked at two groups of boars. Group A (n = 44) which did not have any semen quality problems. Group B (n = 34), boars which were culled for semen quality reasons. Collection of semen was weekly and boars were weighed individually every three weeks. The diet (pellet feed) contained 15,5 % crude protein, 3150 kcal/kg DE, 5,0% oil, 7,0 % fibre, 0,88 % lysine. Depending on the average daily live weight gain (DLWG), the quantity of feed was adjusted accordingly.
The average DLWG of the culled boars was 248 g/d with a SD of 68 g/d (min 132 g, max 428 g). The remaining 44 boars had an average DLWG of 156 g/day with a SD of 33 g (min 66g, max 214g). There was a significant difference (P < 0,05) between the DLWG of the culled boars and the remaining boars. There was a significant correlation between mV and DLWG of Group A (r = -0,31; P<0,05), between mMotp and DLWG of culled boars (r = -0,35; P<0,05). DLWG of boars was very high in the first year of production, more linear in the second, sometimes negative in the 3rd year, even if the feeding is adjusted positively. No significant relation was found between semen quality and DLWG, for Group A and B both. Group A had a negative correlation between mMotp and DLGW over 190g/d (n=5).
The present results had shown a large difference in DLGW between boars culled for semen quality and the
remaining animals, that indicates a potential association between surviving in activity or not. Although statistical significance was not observed, higher DLWG was connected with health or semen problems (P>0,10), less production of semen (Volume) and morphological cells anomalies. Boars need to be treated as individuals and fed accordingly. It is advisable to weigh the boars frequently to maintain the correct plane of nutrition.
M.G. Marchesi ,F. Cesarini. Effect of nutrition on boar semen quality. IPVS 2012.
