Boar Semen Shipping for Artificial Insemination: Current Status and Analysis of Transport Conditions with a Major Focus on Vibration Emissions

Simple Summary Liquid preserved boar semen is a perishable product, and many environmental influences can affect sperm quality during transport from the boar station to the sow farm. Previous studies have shown that vibration emissions have a negative effect on spermatozoa, however, there has been no documentation of the vibrations spermatozoa are exposed to during transport. To answer this question, several breeding companies worldwide were interviewed about their delivery process. As it turns out, environmental influences are only rarely recorded, and vibrations are not monitored at all. To record and to evaluate vibrations that occur during transport, we have developed a measurement system and investigated vibration intensities in standardized road trials. We were able to show that both speed and road surface significantly influence the produced vibrations. Furthermore, the occurrence of the vibrations on a reference delivery from a German boar stud was studied. In the future, it is recommended that in order to avoid negative influences during transport, the transport of boar semen should be permanently monitored. In the modern pig reproduction system, artificial insemination (AI) doses are delivered from AI centers to sow farms via logistics vehicles. In this study, six breeding companies in three countries (Brazil, Germany, and the USA) were interviewed about their delivery process. It was found that there is currently no comprehensive monitoring system for the delivery of semen. The entire process shipping of boar semen was documented using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). Although it is not currently known which vibrations occur at all, it is suspected that vibration emissions affect the quality of boar semen. For this reason, a prototype of a measuring system was developed to calculate a displacement index (D-i), representing vibration intensities. Vibrations were analyzed in standardized road trials (n = 120) on several road types (A: smooth asphalt pavement, B: rough asphalt pavement, C: cobblestone, and D: dirt road) with different speeds (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 km/h). A two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in mean D-i, depending on road surface and speed as well as an interaction of both factors (p < 0.001). A field study on a reference delivery from a German AI center to several sow farms indicated that 33% of the observed roads are in good quality and generate only a few vibrations (D-i <= 1), while 40% are of a moderate quality with interrupted surfaces (D-i = 1-1.5). However, 25% of the roads show markedly increased vibrations (D-i >= 1.5), as a consequence of bad conditions on cobblestones or unpaved roads. Overall, more attention should be paid to factors affecting sperm quality during transport. In the future, an Internet of Things (IoT) based solution could enable complete monitoring of the entire transport process in real time, which could influence the courier's driving behavior based on road conditions in order to maintain the quality of the transported AI doses.

Automated summary

Liquid preserved boar semen is affected by vibrations during transportation, but there is a lack of monitoring in this area. This study found that both speed and road surface significantly influence vibration intensities. It is recommended to implement continuous monitoring of boar semen transportation in order to avoid negative impacts.