养猪生产手册-11繁殖猪管理(英文）.pdfVIP

Swine Production Handbook Section 11: Reproductive Management Page 117 REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT BRIEF REVIEW OF REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY 1. Boars L In any breeding herd, boars are outnumbered by sows, but do not underestimate their contributions! They do contribute 50% of the genetic makeup of every pig sired. Thus, their levels of libido, mating ability, and fertility influence farrowing rate and litter size greatly. A. Testes - Have two primary functions: 1) to produce sperm ( % germ cells) 2) to produce testosterone ( % sex hormone). The size of testes can be related to boars sperm production capability, and testes for 7 to 8 month-old boar should be at least 6-7 in height 6-6 in width (paired testes). B. Scrotum - Supports and protects testes, and helps maintain testes at the optimum temperature for sperm production (generally, . 4-5F below the body temperature): 1) Draw testes close to the body in the cold environment relax muscles, ˆ fall away from the body, in the hot environment. 2) Extreme temperatures [i.e., 85F or the low temperature that can cause frostbite/infection] can result in the low fertility rate because of inability to maintain the optimum body temperature! C. Epididymis - Exterior of testes and involved in: 1) sperm maturation, 2) sperm concentration, 3) sperm storage and 4) passing sperm (passageway). D. Vas deferens - Connects the epididymis to the urethra and acts as a passageway for spermatozoa. E. Accessary glands - Seminal vesicles secrete a large volume of fluid, prostate gland contributes to the fluid volume, and bulbourethral gland (Cowpers gland) secretes pelleted gel materials (referred to as a ìcervical