Effect of feed quality and microbiological contamination on the reproductive health of breeding boars

Abstract

Reproductive performance in breeding boars is influenced not only by the genetic and physiological characteristics of the sires, but also by environmental factors, including feed quality, drinking water hygiene, and the level of microbiological contamination within the production unit. The aim of the present study was to assess the microbiological quality of semen, feed, and drinking water in an intensive swine-breeding farm, as well as to identify potential sources of contamination with an impact on reproductive health and the biological quality of semen. The study was conducted on high genetic merit breeding boars of Pietrain breed and PIC hybrid lines, maintained under intensive housing conditions in controlled microclimate facilities. The animals received a complete and nutritionally balanced diet composed of wheat (30%), barley (25%), soybean meal (14.85%), maize grain (13%), sunflower meal (5%), wheat bran (5%), fishmeal (1.5%), soybean oil (1.2%), and mineral-vitamin premixes with functional feed additives. The ration provided 12.93 MJ/kg metabolizable energy and 180.8 g/kg crude protein, along with adequate levels of essential amino acids, macro- and microelements required for the maintenance of reproductive function and the production of high-quality semen.