The reduction of sperm cells used per sow is an important tool to optimise the use of boars in insemination
programmes. Within this perspective, techniques such as
post-cervical artificial insemination (PCAI) allow insemination with a reduced number of sperm cells. This technique
may even increase fertility at a lower semen dose compared with cervical artificial (CAI) insemination (Watson
and Behan, 2002; Rozeboom et al., 2004), allowing an
increased use of genetically superior boars.