The Suinfort(®) Semen Supplement Counters Seasonal Infertility in Iberian Sows

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Efficient pork production relies on a predictable supply of market pigs. Seasonal infertility caused by heat stress decreases fertility in sows during the summer months, impacting breeding targets and decreasing the efficiency of pork production. The present study examined the effect of a seminal additive containing caffeine, oxytocin, and lecirelin on the fertility and prolificacy of Iberian sows during two consecutive years. The results confirmed that inclusion of the additive in semen prior to AI decreased the seasonality effect, increasing the percentage of pregnant Iberian sows throughout the year. ABSTRACT: Suinfort(®), a commercial semen supplement demonstrated to increase fertility and litter size in commercial sows, was tested to improve reproductive performance in Iberian sows. A total of 1430 Iberian sows were artificially inseminated (AI) with semen from Duroc boars and assigned by parity to receive the seminal additive Suinfort(®) containing 2 IU oxytocin, 5 µg lecirelin, and 2 mM caffeine (SF; n = 1713 AI), or to serve as non-supplemented controls (CON; n = 2625 AI). CON showed a lower fertility comparing to winter for spring (p = 0.001) and summer (p < 0.001); summer was lower than autumn (p = 0.012). SF removed this seasonal effect (p > 0.05). Fertility was significantly higher for SF sows during summer (p = 0.025) and autumn (p = 0.004). Total born, live-born, stillborn, and mummified piglets did not differ between CON and SF but were impacted by the season, with total and live-born decreasing in summer compared with autumn (p < 0.001) and winter (p = 0.005). In conclusion, seminal supplementation with Suinfort(®) improved the fertility of Iberian sows during periods of seasonal infertility.