Methods for increasing genetic progress in a line or breed of swine using sex-selected sperm cells

• US 10,188,082 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inguran LLC
• Original Assignee: Inguran LLC
• Inventors: Moreno, Juan, Bevier, Gregg, Dobrinsky, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Noble, Marcia S
• Application Number:
  US15/655,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20170311577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/108 Swine
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/02 Breeding vertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/313 for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2057 Details of tracking cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 19/027 Devices for injecting semen into animals, e.g. syringes, guns, probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 20/00 ICT specially adapted for functional genomics or proteomics, e.g. genotype-phenotype associations
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 20/40 Population genetics; Linkage disequilibrium

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of increasing the genetic progress of a line, breed or herd of swine through the use of sex-selected sperm cells in artificial insemination techniques. The invention also encompasses methods of artificially inseminating a swine via deep intrauterine catheter or via a laparoscopic procedure, which allow the use of reduced doses of sex-selected sperm cells.

Claims

1. A method of producing an embryo or zygote in a genetic nucleus comprising the steps of:

collecting a semen sample from a boar from the genetic nucleus;

sorting the semen sample into at least two subpopulations of sperm cells, wherein at least 60% of a first subpopulation bears X-chromosomes or Y-chromosomes;

fertilizing an egg from a sow from the genetic nucleus with one or more sperm cells from the first subpopulation to produce a zygote or embryo;

genotyping the zygote or embryo to obtain a genotype;

determining an estimated breeding value for the zygote or embryo; and

selecting the zygote or embryo to develop into offspring that is used for breeding in the genetic nucleus based on the estimated breeding value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of fertilizing an egg comprises in vitro fertilization.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring the zygote or embryo to a recipient sow.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said recipient sow is a sow in the genetic nucleus.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said recipient sow is a sow in a second genetic nucleus.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said recipient sow is a sow in a daughter nucleus herd, multiplier herd or commercial farm.