~ 42 ~  European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience 2015; 3 (2): 42-44 ISSN: 2321-9122 www.biosciencejournals.com EJBB 2015; 3 (2): 42-44 Received: 05-02-2015 Accepted: 23-02-2015 Jennica Camille G. Ancheta College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120, Philippines. Flocerfida P. Aquino Philippine Carabao Center, Central Luzon State University,Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines. Ma. Elizabeth DC Leoveras College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120, Philippines. Lerma C. Ocampo Philippine Carabao Center, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines Eufrocina P. Atabay Philippine Carabao Center, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines Correspondence: Flocerfida P. Aquino Philippine Carabao Center, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120 Philippines. Effect of duration of transport time and holding temperature in the Cryopreservation of boar semen Jennica Camille G. Ancheta, Flocerfida P. Aquino, Ma. Elizabeth DC Leoveras, Lerma C. Ocampo, Eufrocina P. Atabay Abstract In the Philippines, the use of extended boar semen is commonly preferred over the frozen semen in doing AI of swine because of the premise that extended semen is of better quality and efficiency. However this is not always be the case as cryopreservation technique is becoming more advantageous in genetic improvement and conservation since different sources of genetic materials such as semen, embryos, and somatic cells can be stored and be used after prolonged period even after the donor animal died. A total of seven ejaculates were collected and were diluted 1:1 using Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS), and were placed in a Styrofoam box maintained at 25-30 o C. Upon reaching the PCC facility, the semen sample was cooled to 15 o C and was placed in a refrigerated centrifuge to simulate a day’s travel. This was done to determine the effect of duration of transport time and holding temperature to the post-thaw motility. FAO guidelines for the cryoconservation of Livestock genetic materials made use of Lactose- Eye Yolk (LEY) freezing extender which was also used at the PCC laboratory. Semen pellet after centrifugation had an average semen volume of 8.08 ml and with an average motility of 65%, indicative of a good quality and an average sperm concentration of 290.14 x 10 7 . Average post thaw motility of the frozen semen was 18.57% although cryopreservation of the semen was done a day after the collection because the sperms had already developed resistance to low temperature which was recorded at maximum during 18-24 hours after ejaculation. Collected boar semen cooled at 15 o C and stored for a day prior to cryopreservation could still be processed and produced live sperms. Keywords: Cryoconservation, Cryopreservation, Refrigerated centrifuge, Post-thaw motility 1. Introduction Cryopreservation is a process of preserving semen, eggs cells, embryos, tissues, blood, and other samples in sub-zero temperature using cryoprotectant to maintain the viability of the samples. It is also used to increase the production rate and to gain access on superior breeds of animals. Due to the abrupt changes on weather pattern due to climate change and the changing market demands and intensification of agriculture, farm animals are gradually disappearing. It has come to the interest of the international community to conserve livestock genetics to maintain the biodiversity since the removal of single species can affect the functioning of global ecosystems [1] . In other countries, successful cryopreservation of boar semen that is being transported from one place to another is already established but not yet in tropical countries like the Philippines. This study is important in gene banking activities where semen samples are routinely collected using worldwide most-used preservation medium for swine semen dilution, the Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) [2] to one location and travelled to a central laboratory for processing and storage. The general objective of the study was to determine the effect of duration of transport time and holding temperature to the post-thaw quality particularly when semen is held 24 hours prior to cryopreservation. It specifically aimed to simulate the time and temperature of the semen before its arrival in the laboratory prior to processing.