Rest days and storage of boar semen at 17°C: Effect on motility and sperm concentration

Boar fertility is an important factor in farm production; it is therefore of interest to determine factors which reduce the fertilising capacity of semen samples stored at 17 degrees C for use in intrauterine insemination. This work evaluated the effect of the number of rest days between each mounting of the boar, and the number of days that the semen was stored at 17 degrees C, on sperm motility and semen concentration. We also analysed whether the boar's age influenced the sperm concentration. The results showed that only the total motility diminished as the storage time at 17 degrees C increased (p < .05). A low negative correlation was observed between the variables' rest days and total and progressive motility. The sperm concentration presented no relation with rest days or the boar's age. The boars' rest days had no effect on motility and sperm concentration in the males studied, allowing them to be used with the frequencies described with no effect on these parameters.