Evaluating Boar Semen

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Evaluating Boar Semen

• Donald G. Levis, PhD
• Ohio Pork Industry Center
• The Ohio State University
• 122C Animal Sciences Building
• Columbus, OH 43210-1095
• Telephone [phone]
• Cell 614 404 7248
• E-mail levis.7_at_osu.edu
• Web site http//porkinfo.osu.edu

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Web site that contains a paper entitled,
On-farm Evaluation of Semen Motility,
Morphology and Contamination
http//porkinfo.osu.edu/Word20Documents/evaluatin
g.semen.doc
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Semen Evaluation
Polar Genetics

• Randomly select
• a dose to evaluate
• Microscope needs
• to work at 400X

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Motility of sperm cells

• The estimated motility of sperm cells at the time
  of use should be at least 60, preferably 70.
• Do not use caffeine to estimate motility of sperm
  cells!
• Caffeine over-stimulates motility of
  spermatozoa!!!

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Procedure to estimate motility of sperm cells

• Select a dose of semen
• Fill an 8 oz. Sytrofoam cup half-full of warm
  water (100 F)
• Gently rotate the dose of semen
• Open dose and place .5 to 1 mL of semen into a
  semen sample tube and cap tube
• Place semen sample tube in water bath for 5 to 20
  minutes
• Place a drop of semen on pre-warmed microscope
  slide with end of thermometer

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Procedure to estimate motility of sperm cells

• Gently place a cover slip over sample do not
  press on cover slip.
• Evaluate motility at 100x and 400x 20 seconds or
  less
• Look for non-moving sperm
• Observe 10 different field
• Record motility to nearest 5 or 10 percentage
  points (i.e. 85 or 90)

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Evaluate semen sample for abnormal sperm cells

• Evaluate 100 sperm cells
• Option 1. After estimating motility, allow the
  slide to cool
• Motility will slow or stop
• Option 2. Stain the sperm cells
• Commercial stains are available
• If results indicate that more than 20 of sperm
  cells are abnormal, DO NOT USE DOSE

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Normal Sperm cell
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Abnormalities of sperm cells
Hairpin tail with droplet
Proximal
Distal
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Abnormalities of sperm cells
Multiple heads
Coiled tail
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Abnormalities of sperm cells
Head without tail
Loosened acrosome
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For a more accurate count of abnormal cells

• Use a grid (hemacytometer)

W. L. Singleton
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For a more accurate count of abnormal cells

• Use a counter
• Evaluate 200 cells
• 100 cells in chamber 1
• 100 cells in chamber 2

W. L. Singleton
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Calculating percentage of abnormal cells
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Look for bacteria in semen
Grayish dots are moving - Anaerobic (without
oxygen) Aerobic (with oxygen)
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The End
We sincerely appreciate your taking time to
attend this training session!