Optimizing Boar Sperm Fertilization Competency

Problem: U.S. swine herd reproductive performance is limited more by sire subfertility than dam. Today’s boar semen processing and handling techniques have been largely unchanged since the 1980s. The newly identified, but long-­‐time existing technical problem is that current techniques promote non-­‐desired biological events during storage that shorten the in vivo lifespan, deem a considerable portion of spermatozoa subfertile and for pre-­‐mature cell death, and reduces overall pounds/sow/marketed due to inefficient use of superior genetics. Opportunity: Managing the identified problem can 1) increase sow litter sizes, an opportunity cost of $1 billion per 5% increase in piglets per litter marketed and 2) lead to better use of swine genetics, an opportunity cost of $400 million. Most companies in this space have pulled R&D departments from extender development due to fiscally tight times in the pork industry and lack of high impact scientific findings to translate. Consequently, novel and high impact findings from previous USDA NIFA-­‐funded research has gone without implementation. Herein lies the excitingopportunity to translate recent highimpactfindingstoincreaseU.S.porkproductionefficiency.Project objectives:1)Optimize aliquid boar semen storage buffer that decreases storage-­‐induced, premature and pathological sperm capacitation. 2) Optimize a boar semen buffer that reactivates sperm at time of insemination. Description of the effort: The proposed research seeks to optimize a new semen extender platform with two patented/provisionally patented intellectual properties for which we have secured allocation of rights from the University of Missouri. Proposed Phase I studies will conduct a series of lab experiments to optimize our proof of concept. Our anticipated results are creation of final boar semen extender recipeswith technical expectedoutcomes outlined in the proposal for laterphaseIIanimalbreedingtrials.Commercialapplications oftheproposed researchis high becausesemenextendersare amandatorycomponent in the inseminationof over95%of the115 million pigsproducedannually(pigproductionbeinga$20billionindustry).Pairing witha world-­‐renownedprofessor ofspermfertilityandhavinga historical track recordas pioneersin the adoptionofswineartificialinsemination, weenthusiasticallylook forward to commercialization.