Methods for increasing genetic progress in a line or breed of swine using sex-selected sperm cells

1. A method of increasing the genetic progress of a line or breed of swine within a genetic nucleus comprising the steps of:

providing a boar from a genetic nucleus and a sow from a genetic nucleus, wherein said boar and said sow are from a line or breed within said genetic nucleus and wherein said line or breed of said boar and said sow are the same line or breed;

collecting a semen sample from said boar;

sorting said semen sample into at least two subpopulations of sperm cells, wherein at least 80% of a first subpopulation bears X-chromosomes or Y-chromosomes;

administering a hormone or hormone analog to said sow;

detecting ovulation in said sow;

inseminating said sow with 50×10 6 or less sperm cells from said first subpopulation by deep intrauterine catheter or by laparoscopy;

producing offspring from said sow;

calculating one or more estimated breeding values for said offspring; and

selecting one or more of said offspring as a parent in the line or breed in the genetic nucleus based on the one or more determined estimated breeding values.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more estimated breeding values are calculated by best linear unbiased prediction.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein ovulation is detected by ultrasound.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hormone or hormone analog is selected from the group consisting of: progesterone; a progestin; and a gonadotropin.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sow is inseminated with 1×10 6 or less sperm cells from said first subpopulation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deep intrauterine catheter is 1 to 3 meters in length.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sow is inseminated laparoscopically in one or more of said sow's utero-tubal junctions.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sow is inseminated laparoscopically in one or more of said sow's isthmus.