Artificial Insemination (AI) allows Maltese farmers to breed their sows with the best boars in the world, instead of being limited to the boars available in Malta. Thereby they can improve their animals at a much faster rate than would be otherwise possible. However, sows are happiest when they can see and smell a boar at all times, so while farmers who use AI can reduce their number of boars, they still keep a few on their farms.