New technologies and sanitary practices to improve fertility and to reduce microbiological contamination in swine semen minimizing the use of antibiotics

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Brazilian pig production has increased its production in recent years, placing Brazil among the world's largest animal protein producers. This increase was mainly due to technological advances, such as artificial insemination. Artificial insemination is widely used in farm animals for genetic material dissemination. Data points out that more than 95% of sows are inseminated in Brazilian pig production. This biotechnology can also be a biosecurity tool that keeps production systems sanitary closed but genetically open. Despite the reasonable reproductive rates obtained in Brazil today (with an average birth rate of 87.6%), there is the use of a high number of doses per estrus (2.5 AI/estrus), compared to the world average (1.7 and 2.6 IAs/estrus). To decrease the number of doses per estrus, and thus increase producers' profitability, it is essential to improve production-distribution-quality control protocols. Thus, the project aims to reduce the need for antimicrobials and improve DIs' quality produced in pig CCPS through two strategies. The first refers to developing and validating an agricultural process based on best practices protocols that reduce bacterial contamination during obtaining ID. The second focuses on the development of a supplement based on natural semen components with biological antibacterial activity. Both actions are complementary since better supplement activity is expected at lower concentrations of bacteria.

Status: Completed Start date: Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2020 Conclusion date: Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 GMT-03:00 2024

Head Unit: Embrapa Swine & Poultry

Project leader: Mariana Groke Marques

Contact: mariana.marques@embrapa.br