Reproductive and litter performance following artificial insemination using semen transported in conventional and temperature-monitored carriers: a field evaluation in rural smallholder pig farms.

This study evaluated the association between semen transportation method and reproductive and litter performance following artificial insemination (AI) in rural smallholder pig farms. A total of 191 inseminated Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred females (40 gilts and 151 sows) from 23 farms in Nan Province, Thailand, were included. Females were classified according to semen transportation method as either conventional carrier (n = 96) or temperature-monitored carrier (n = 95). Associations between transportation method, distance group, season, female category, and their interactions and reproductive performance, litter traits, and birth weight characteristics were evaluated. Transportation method was not significantly associated with conception, pregnancy, or farrowing rates (P > 0.05). However, the temperature-monitored carrier was associated with higher numbers of piglets born alive (10.95 ± 0.71 vs. 9.03 ± 0.60; P = 0.029) and total born piglets per litter (12.26 ± 0.63 vs. 10.84 ± 0.60; P = 0.039) compared with the conventional carrier. Significant interactions between transportation method and distance group were observed for born alive (P = 0.007) and total born piglets (P = 0.029). Litter size remained relatively constant across distance groups in the temperature-monitored carrier group, whereas litter size was observed at greater transportation distance in the conventional carrier group. In conclusion, the use of a temperature-monitored carrier was associated with higher numbers of born alive and total born piglets per litter but was not associated with fertility rates under practical smallholder farming conditions. The association between transportation distance and litter performance varied between semen transportation methods under practical conditions in rural smallholder pig farms.