| Artifi cial insemination is the best process to eff ectively accelerate genetic improvement in pig production. However, there are risks of disease transmission when introducing the semen from the outside as well as within the fi eld. A variety of pathogens, such as bacteria, chlamydia and viruses, could be detected in the semen from normalreared or healthy pigs, because the testicles that produce sperm are immunological privileged site of the body. When the semen carries poisons or pathogens, especially microorganisms, the quality of semen is negatively aff ected. It could result in boar infertility, infection to sows during breeding, and further disease transmission to piglets from sows, which cause signifi cant economic losses. |
