Sex ratio variation between ejaculates within sire evaluated by polymerase chain reaction, calving, and farrowing records

Ejaculates from sires were examined by polymerase chain reaction to determine percentage of sperm bearing the Y chromosome. Results were verified by examining the percentage of male calves per ejaculate used in artificial insemination (AI) and the percentage of male piglets per litter from a controlled mating program. Spermatozoal DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the Y chromosome. Image analysis measured the fluorescent intensity of the 194-bp band. Ejaculates were compared with a pooled standard of spermatozoal DNA equated to a 50% Y-bearing sperm ejaculate. Calving data were obtained from information collected for the National Association of Animal Breeders for dystocia evaluation of cows bred to AI bulls. Breeding data were obtained from Al technician receipts. Calving and breeding data were merged on cow, sire, calving date, and breeding date. The percentage of males was calculated per sire, ejaculate, and herd combination. Farrowing data were evaluated for the percentage of male piglets per litter. Ejaculates within bulls contributed to variation (24 +/- 9.8% to 84 +/- 9.8%) in the percentage of sperm bearing the Y chromosome. Ejaculates from the same brill contributed to variation in, the percentage of male calves (16.1 to 72.3%). Ejaculates from the same boar contributed to variation in the percentage of male piglets that ranged from 7.8 to 94.7%. These percentages and the results obtained by polymerase chain reaction analysis of ejaculates suggested that spermatozoa bearing X and Y chromosomes were unequally represented in ejaculates. The use of ejaculates screened by polymerase chain reaction could enhance production of the desired sex of calf.