Semen quality of Colombian Creole as compared to commercial pig breeds

Characterization of Creole breeds is still very limited, including reproductive performance. In this research, we assessed the semen quality of three Colombian Creole breeds (Zungo, Casco de Mula, and San Pedreño) relative to international breeds (Duroc, Belgian Landrace, and Pietrain). Two doses from seven boars per breed were evaluated for sperm kinetics and membrane and acrosome integrity using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry, respectively. The Creole pigs showed lower (P<0.05) volume of fluid ejaculated (185.5 mL vs 239.9 mL), sperm concentration (340.5 x106 vs 395.4 x106 sperm/mL), motility (90.9% vs 95.3%) and progressive motility (63.1% vs 67.2%) than international breeds. No relevant differences between Creole and international breeds for sperm velocity traits were observed, but Creole boars had lower (P<0.05) proportion of morphologic normal sperm (86.1% vs 90.6%) and of sperm with both intact plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (76.8% vs 87.5%). Mitochondrial membrane potential did not differ between breeds. Creole breeds in general produced less normal and motile sperm per ejaculate than international breeds (49.3 x109 vs 81.5 x109). Although San Pedreño had larger ejaculates than Zungo and Zungo had a greater proportion of normal and motile sperm than San Pedreño, Creole breeds did not differ for total amount of normal and motile sperm per ejaculate. The semen from Colombian Creole pigs is qualitatively acceptable being less abundant but rich in normal and motile sperm than that from commercial breeds. This should be considered when developing recommendations for semen use and conservation for AI in Creole pigs

This work was supported by the Tolima Government - Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation #1 under grant announcement for the formation of high-level human capital for Tolima, Colombia (COLCIENCIAS, 755), and RS-M and JE received support from the Spanish Ministry of Science #2 under grant [RTI2018-101346-B-I00].