The aim of this study was to assess whether vulvar morphometric changes occurring in female pigs during proestrus and oestrus could be objective, accurate and predictive indicators of the onset to oestrus and thus performed artificial inseminations at the most appropriate time. For that purpose, pictures of vulvas from 60 hyperprolific females (30 gilts and 30 sows) during proestrus and oestrus were taken once a day. Vulva measurements (area, perimeter, length and width) on these pictures were performed using the image processing ImageJ software. Gilts and sows showed statistical differences (p < .01) in all vulvar morphometric measurements between proestrus and oestrus. Statistical differences in vulvar metrics were detected 24 h before the onset to oestrus, affecting all vulvar measurements in gilts, whereas only vulvar width was affected in sows. The image analysis used in this study may contribute to the development of smart technology in swine farming.

The aim was to assess the reproductive efficiency of different techniques used to preserve spermatozoa in artificial insemination semen doses (AI‐doses) by evaluating refrigeration at 15°C, cryopreservation and encapsulation. Forty‐two hyperprolific sows were treated with buserelin and inseminated once at a single fixed time. The fertility rate, embryonic vesicles viability and the early embryonic mortality (arrested conceptuses) evaluated post‐mortem at 24th day of pregnancy, were analysed in order to assess the effectiveness of each proposed technique. Results show an overall reduction on fertility using the three proposal sperm preservation techniques (69.27%, 60.00% and 78.75% for refrigerated, frozen–thawed and encapsulated AI‐doses, respectively). Total number of embryonic vesicles was very similar among the three treatments; yet, the number of viable vesicles was numerically different among groups, and thus, embryonic viability was 79.25%, 80.0% and 87.15% for refrigerated, frozen–thawed and encapsulated AI‐doses, respectively.

Córdova Izquierdo, A.; Pérez Gutiérrez, J.F.; Méndez Hernández, W.; Villa Mancera, A.E.; Huerta Crispín, R.: Obtención, evaluación y manipulación del semen de verraco en una unidad de producción mexicana. Rev. vet. 26: 1, 69-74, 2015

Ido a la producción de especies reactivas de oxigeno (ERO) en los espermatozoides. Por lo que el objetivo del presente trabajo es mostrar una visión general de los riesgos del ambiente cálido, el estrés oxidativo y los mecanismos por los cuales se presenta una alteración en la capacidad espermática en el macho. La mayor parte de las ERO, son producidas por los espermatozoides y leucocitos seminales. Las ERO causan daño en la membrana del espermatozoide (conteniene ácidos grasos poliinsaturados PUFAs), disminución de la motilidad, poca capacidad para fusionarse con el ovocito y alteración del ADN espermático, causando pobre desarrollo embrionario y baja fertilidad. Por lo que la determinación de ERO en espermatozoides animales podría ser una herramienta diagnóstica a tener en cuenta en la identificación de la etiología de la infertilidad del macho.