Sperm cryopreservation

Description of impact

Sperm cryopreservation is an indefinite semen preservation method. Unlike refrigerated semen, which is stored for no more than 7 days, frozen semen can be kept indefinitely submerged in liquid nitrogen. Sperm cryopreservation is specially indicated for importation and the exportation of semen doses. For health reasons, increasingly more states are limiting the entry of breeder animals from other countries, and consequently the importation or exportation of frozen semen is becoming the safest alternative for introducing genetic lines with a high economic value. Sperm cryopreservation also permits the creation of semen dose banks that can be used as a germplasm bank, i.e. as a genetic line reserve of high genetic and economic value, or for the storage of semen doses to cover the needs of farms in low-production or poor sperm quality periods. For artificial insemination centres, sperm cryopreservation provides greater leverage of male swine semen doses, thus improving the management of semen doses and insemination planning. Frozen semen doses are normally applied by postcervical insemination, a simple technique that provides excellent results in terms of fertility and prolificity.