Environmental, genetic and epigenetic regulation of male reproduction in pigs

Male reproduction is important for the fitness of both wildlife and farm animals. In pigs, some boars consistently produce high-quality semen, while others do not, and the reasons behind these differences are not fully understood. This PhD research investigated how genes, environmental conditions that occur over an animal’s lifetime influence male fertility.
Using information from thousands of breeding boars, this study examined how environmental factors including the age and season of semen collection, and inherited genetic differences affect semen quality and quantity. It also explored molecular markers in sperm cells, including gene expression and DNA methylation, that can be linked to fertility. The results show to what extent male fertility is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and that these factors change as animals mature. By improving our understanding of the biological processes behind fertility, this research can contribute to understanding male reproduction in pigs and provides insights that may also be relevant for other mammals.