Department of Animal Science
Date of this Version
2001
Abstract
Reproductive performance is a major concern for pork producers because the financial stability of a pork enterprise that produces piglets is substantially influenced by fecundity index (FI) for number of piglets born alive (FI = farrowing rate x litter size born alive). It is well known that farrowing rate and litter size are affected by numerous factors. A new reproductive technique that pork producers are hearing and reading about is intra-uterine insemination. Intra-uterine insemination is the process of placing spermatozoa directly into the uterine body instead of the cervix as traditionally done. The uterine body is located between the cervix and uterine horns. The uterine body is about 1.5 to 2.0 inches long. Although the sperm cells are placed about 8 inches farther into the female reproductive tract, the sperm cells still have to be transported through the uterine horns.
Comments
Published by The Ohio Pork Industry Center - May 15, 2001.