Driving excellence in semen quality
As a market leader in the pig industry, PIC South Africa realizes the responsibility that lies on our shoulders to be able to deliver a world class product on a consistent basis. Being able to sustain that performance, PIC pride ourselves in certain features of our semen production chain:
- Semen production equipment: PIC utilizes two MiniBSP and one TwinPacker automated semen packaging machines, achieving a combined production capacity of 2500 semen tubes per hour.
- Boar capacity: PIC has two boar stations, with the total capacity of 400 boars. In addition, a third Usergroup GTC is based at Niemen Stud, further enhancing PIC’s genetic capabilities and production capacity.
- Semen deliveries: PIC delivers semen country wide with our own temperature controlled vehicles. Temperature inside the vehicle and semen box is monitored electronically.
- Semen extender: PIC utilizes Androstar® Plus, a long term semen extender designed to enhance semen resilience against temperature fluctuations. It contains essential antibiotics, buffers, antioxidants, and a specialized membrane-protecting agent to ensure optimal quality and longevity.
- Identification: PIC equips each boar with an RFID microchip, which is scanned during semen collection. A bar code, containing the boar’s ID, collection history and other relevant details, is then generated and attached to the semen bag. In the lab, the bar code is scanned to capture important information such as the collector’s identity and the boar’s rectal temperature, ensuring accurate tracking and record-keeping throughout the process.
- Computer software program: Prism10 is an advanced ejaculate management system that centralizes and integrates all ejaculate data, linking processes from semen collection through to the reporting of production statistics. PIC utilizes Prism10, alongside the world-class CASA (Computer Assisted Semene Analysis) software program, AndroVision®, to evaluate semen quality.
PIC RSA liaised with multiple international sources of expertise in order to implement satisfactory contingency plans to ensure continuous production of semen for the next number of years.
This solution includes establishing multiple boar stations where semen collection will occur, pre-diluted and then transported to the off-site lab, located in a central area. That will increase biosecurity measures, allow for specialist functions in terms of specialist Boar House Manager, specialist Laboratory Manager, stockmen and drivers.
By establishing more than one boar house, 20km apart, the boar houses become contingency for one another, without affecting semen production. This multi-site production flow created opportunity to PIC RSA to improve boar quarantine facilities to supply boars to multiple boar stations. The Boar Training and Quarantine Centre was established near Magaliesburg and is in full operation since late 2018. To implement this strategy, PIC removed the semen production laboratory off-site to a neutral area, where pre-diluted semen can be received from the different boar stations. The off-site lab also provides for advantages of its own.
- Overall hygiene improved with epoxy floors and walls, stainless steel equipment and surfaces and glass and aluminium finishes.
- Temperature maintenance is enhanced by the cement ceiling of the lab and multiple heavy duty aircons with a 24hr automated monitoring system.
- Although no animals are on the premises, a strict shower in and shower out policy is followed to ensure top biosecurity. Semen from across provincial borders can be processed without having boars on site that might be at risk. Time management can be planned better as semen collection occurs on multiple sites simultaneously.
- Workflow of the employees is a major benefit as there are more flexible logistics, processing times can be planned better and most importantly, specialist functions can be applied. A dedicated Boar House Manager can focus on semen collection and animal welfare and management aspects while a dedicated Laboratory Manager can focus on the processing and events occurring in the lab.
PIC will always stay true to our motto of Never Stop Improving – and in this case we will Never Stop Improving Semen Quality.
Lab Applications
PIC is dedicated to remain at the forefront of semen assessment technology. To achieve this, we have equipped our laboratory with the latest semen analyses and processing tool. In addition to utilizing cutting-edge technology, we also regularly send full semen doses for third-party specialist evaluations to ensure that our practices consistently produce the highest quality product.
Our PIC GTC is supported by Minitube Germany. Minitube is a world leading manufacturer and supplier of AI technologies and equipment. Our PIC GTC is 100% equipped with the latest Minitube products which includes instruments like Computer Assisted Semen Analysis, Mini-BSP automated filling, and sealing, labelling and packaging machine, laboratory management software and automated dispensing.
TEMPERATURE Logging
PIC make use of temperature loggers in the semen cool boxes to monitor temperature. Graphs can be made available to observe any temperature fluctuations.
Not only does this monitor temperature during delivery, but also monitors the temperatures that are occurring in your cooler in the barn.
At PIC we only use long term extenders that contain Cell Shield Protection (CSP) which provides unparalleled protection for sperm when exposed to temperature fluctuations or physical stress. CSP actively plays a role in membrane stabilization.
