5 advantages of post-cervical insemination

Post-cervical artificial insemination (PCAI) is a reproductive technique that allows semen to be deposited directly into the body of the uterus, rather than in the cervix, as in conventional insemination.

This procedure helps optimise the use of semen doses and working time on the farm, while also making it possible to obtain more doses from a single boar ejaculate. Its application can offer advantages at different stages of the reproductive process, from dose preparation to the organisation of daily tasks.

Reduced Semen Dose

The sow’s reproductive tract acts as a barrier to sperm. During conventional cervical insemination, some sperm are lost due to semen backflow or the female’s own physiological mechanisms for eliminating sperm.

Post-cervical insemination makes it possible to partially overcome these barriers by depositing semen directly into the body of the uterus. This allows the volume of each dose and the number of sperm required per insemination to be reduced without compromising reproductive results, provided that the appropriate dosing parameters are followed.

More Doses from the Same Ejaculate

The ability to reduce the number of sperm per dose is particularly valuable when working with boars of high genetic value.

As fewer sperm are needed for each insemination, a single ejaculate can be used to prepare a greater number of doses. This means that one boar can contribute its genetic material to a larger number of females.

This approach improves the efficiency with which boars are used and helps disseminate their genetic traits more widely.

Reduced Insemination Time

The time required for each insemination is an important factor, especially on farms with large numbers of sows.

During conventional cervical insemination, the dose must be administered in a controlled manner to avoid excessive pressure that could encourage semen backflow. This procedure can increase the time required per animal.

With post-cervical insemination, direct semen deposition into the body of the uterus can considerably shorten the procedure. This is particularly beneficial on farms with large numbers of sows or in batch production systems, where efficient organisation and time management are essential.

Better Planning During Hot Weather

High temperatures can affect sow reproductive performance. Heat stress has been associated with changes such as a reduced farrowing rate and other alterations in reproductive outcomes.

In this context, post-cervical insemination can make it easier to organise reproductive tasks by reducing the time required per animal. This allows inseminations to be scheduled during the coolest hours of the day, helping improve the planning of daily farm routines.

This technique does not prevent heat stress, but it can help make better use of working time during the hottest months.

Optimised Farm Logistics and Management

Introducing post-cervical insemination can also help improve the organisation of reproductive tasks. By optimising working time, inseminations can be scheduled more efficiently, which is particularly useful on farms with large numbers of sows. In addition, if the same type of semen dose can be used for different groups of sows, including gilts, planning and storage can be simplified.

Post-cervical artificial insemination offers benefits that go beyond the procedure itself. These include fewer sperm per dose, better use of each ejaculate, less time per insemination and improved planning. To make the most of these advantages, it is important to adapt the technique to each farm’s needs and follow appropriate insemination and dosing protocols. All these factors make post-cervical insemination a useful tool for managing reproduction on pig farms