Topics:

*       Behavior of the boar

*       Training the boar

*       The role of the stockperson

*       Collection designs

*       Checking the collection area

*       Collection techniques

*              Collection pictures

*                   Collecting from an untrained boar

*        

 

 

AI Collection Protocols

 

1

Wash collection room and boar passages with clean water

2

Ensure the collection room floor in non slippy.  Place non slip rubber mat if necessary

3

Check collection stool has no sharp edges, is not loose and has a properly fastened cover

4

Ensure that two pig stock-boards are behind the safety barriers

5

Put the boar in the collection, room, and try to stay out of sight.  Leave him for approximately 5 minutes.  Observe the boar periodically

6

While the boar sniffs around, put a disposable glove on each hand and an additional loose fitting disposable glove on top of your right hand (if you are right handed), so you have two gloves on one hand

7

Collect the prepared collection cup.  Do not touch anything whatsoever with the single gloved hand

8

Take extra care when entering the collection area.  At this stage the boar can be aggressive.  If the boar has mounted the stool, he will be doing thrusting movements.  Place the collection cup on the shelf in the collection room

9

With the double gloved hand, remove any straw and dirt from the underline of the boar. Rub his sheath and clean it out by grasping behind the sheath and milking the hand forward

10

Remove the top glove and throw it away

11

Place clinched hand in front of the prepuce and lightly rub the entrance of the prepuce to encourage him to start to erect

12

Now reach for the cup

13

Place the clench hand in front of the prepuce and lightly rub the entrance of the prepuce.  The penis will erect and start to enter the clenched hand.  The penis will relax and will allow the stockperson to extend the penis.  Once fully erect the boar will settle down.  With the cup in one hand and the other holding the penis the boar should be close to ejaculation

14

The first stage will be gel and some cloudy fluid

15

Then a clean fraction will flow.  The first ejaculations should be discarded to wash out the urethra.  Further ejactulations should be collected followed by a milky coloured fraction, known as sperm rich and then another clear fraction will follow.  All of this may be collected

16

Finally, another gel fraction will be produced, this should be collected

17

During the collection of semen you may get preputial fluid (from the sheath) trickling down the penis, this will kill the semen.  You can wrap a folded tissue around the penis during collection to avoid this.  In additional having a kink in the penis just before the collection cup will prevent any preputial trickle entering the cup

18

Aim to keep the tip of the end of the penis in the pool of semen held by the gauze to keep the tip warm

19

Continue to hold the penis until the boar withdraws his penis from your hand.  The end of ejaculation is often determined by a bouncing of the penis.  Be very careful of contamination

20

The whole collection process takes from 5 to 15 minutes.  It is essential to satisfy the boar

21

Now throw away the gauze and gloves into the bin provided

22

Complete the necessary records regarding the collection

23

Put the cup of semen in the laboratory hatch ready for processing and let the laboratory know the semen sample is ready

24

Return the boar to his pen and thank him for his efforts

25

Wash hands and collection pen

26

All boars must be worked at least every two weeks and have a minimum rest of 4 days  (unless in training)

 

Collection photographs

 

Collection from an untrained boar