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

• US 9,433,195 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• 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:
  US13/840,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 increasing the genetic progress of a line or breed of swine within a genetic nucleus comprising the steps of:

providing a boar and a sow from a genetic nucleus, wherein said boar and said sow are from a line or breed within the genetic nucleus and wherein the line or breed of said boar and said sow are the same line or breed;

collecting a semen sample from said boar;

sorting said semen sample into at least two subpopulations of sperm cells, wherein at least 80% of a first subpopulation bears X-chromosomes or Y-chromosomes;

inseminating the sow with sperm cells from said first subpopulation to produce offspring from said sow;

providing a selection index;

calculating the selection index for one or more of said offspring;

calculating an average of the selection index for said line or breed within the genetic nucleus; and

breeding said one or more of said offspring with other swine in the line or breed of said boar and said sow within the genetic nucleus when the selection index for one or more of said offspring is greater than the average of the selection index for said line or breed within the genetic nucleus, thereby increasing the genetic progress of a line or breed of swine in the genetic nucleus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said line or breed is a gilt line and said first subpopulation bears X-chromosomes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said line or breed is a boar line and said first subpopulation bears Y-chromosomes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection index for one or more of said offspring is calculated based on data derived from a group comprising said offspring.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection index comprises traits for fertility, litter size and milk production.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection index comprises traits for feed efficiency, average daily gain and lean carcass.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inseminating the sow comprises administering said sperm cells into the reproductive tract of said sow by deep intrauterine catheter or laparoscopy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein administering said sperm cells to said sow'"'"'s reproductive tract using a deep intrauterine catheter comprises placing said sperm cells in one or more uterine horns.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said deep intrauterine catheter comprises a video camera or scope.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of visualizing the deep intrauterine catheter via radiography or fluoroscopy while inserted in said sow'"'"'s reproductive tract.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the total number of sperm cells administered is 50×

10⁶ or less sperm cells.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein administering said sperm cells to said sow'"'"'s reproductive tract by laparoscopy comprises injecting said sperm cells into one or more oviducts of said sow'"'"'s uterus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the total number of sperm cells administered is 1×

10⁶ or less sperm cells.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inducing estrus in said sow by administering one or more hormone or hormone analog to said sow.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said one or more hormone or hormone analog comprises PG600, OvuGel, eCG, progestin, or hCG.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said one or more hormone or hormone analog is administered by a programmable device placed in the reproductive tract of said sow.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of detecting ovulation in said sow by examining said females follicles.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said follicles are examined using ultrasound.

19. A method of increasing the genetic progress of a line or breed of swine within a genetic nucleus comprising the steps of:

providing a boar and a sow from a genetic nucleus, wherein said boar and said sow are from a line or breed within the genetic nucleus and wherein the line or breed of said boar and said sow are the same line or breed;

collecting a semen sample from said boar;

sorting said semen sample into at least two subpopulations of sperm cells, wherein at least 80% of a first subpopulation bears X chromosomes or Y chromosomes;

inseminating said sow with sperm cells from said first subpopulation to produce offspring from said sow;

identifying a trait;

obtaining a value for the trait in one or more of said offspring;

calculating an average value of the trait for said line or breed within the genetic nucleus; and

breeding said one or more of said offspring with other swine in the line or breed of said boar and said sow within the genetic nucleus when the value of the trait for said offspring is greater than or less than the average value for the trait for said line or breed within the genetic nucleus, thereby increasing the genetic progress of a line or breed of swine in the genetic nucleus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said line or breed is a gilt line and said first subpopulation bears X-chromosomes.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said line or breed is a boar line and said first subpopulation bears Y-chromosomes.