Problem: U.S. swine herd reproductive performance is limited more by sire subfertility than dam. Todays 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 exciting opportunity to translate recent highimpactfindingstoincreaseU.S.porkproductionefficiency.Project objectives: 1) Optimize a liquid 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 recipes with technical expected outcomes outlined in the proposal for later phase II animal breeding trials. Commercial applications of the proposed research is high because semen extenders are a mandatory component in the insemination of over95%of the115 million pigs produced annually (pigproductionbeinga$20billionindustry). Pairing with a world-?renowned professor of sperm fertility and having a historical track record as pioneers in the adoption of swine artificial insemination, we enthusiastically look forward to commercialization.
