DMEM and FBS as thawing solutions for frozen semen of pigs can improve sperm motility and sow reproductive performance

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Beltsville thawing solution (BTS), Androhep, and Dulbecco?s modified Eagle medium + Fatal bovine serum (D-F) as diluents of frozen semen on sperm motility and sow reproductive performance. In experiment 1, boar semen was collected and diluted to 2.0 × 109/60 mL, 1.5 × 109/60 mL, and 1.5 × 109/40 mL with Androhep. The appropriate semen dose was determined by postcervical insemination. In experiment 2, boar semen was fumigated with liquid nitrogen and thawed semen was diluted to 1.5 × 109/40 mL with D-F, Androhep, and BTS, respectively. The effects of above diluents on sperm motility and sow reproductive performance were studied by postcervical insemination. The appropriate semen dose for postcervical insemination was 1.5 × 109/40 mL. After thawing of frozen semen, sperm motility of semen diluted with D-F was significantly higher than that of semen diluted with Androhep and BTS. There was no significant difference in pregnancy rates among sows via artificial insemination. The litter size of sows using D-F diluted semen was significantly higher than that of sows using Androhep and BTS diluted semen. In conclusion, D-F freezing diluent can improve sperm motility of frozen boar semen after thawing, prolong sperm survival time, and increase sow reproductive performance.