At what age are pigs ready?
At 5–6 months, pigs begin puberty. Nevertheless, animals are not ready for mating and breeding offspring - boars' testes are not yet fully formed, as are the mammary glands of sows, and therefore mating at this age is fraught with defects in the offspring and inhibited development of the parents themselves.
The most optimal age to start mating is from 10 to 12 months. Sows must weigh more than 110 kilograms, boars - more than 125 kilograms. The most preferred time of year is winter or the first month of spring.
Sexual maturity in pigs
By five to six months, the young are ready to mate, and at the same time they begin to estrus. Veterinarians do not recommend mating pigs at this age - the formation of the genital organs in young pigs has not yet been completed. It is an established fact: in all animal species, sexual maturity occurs somewhat earlier than the formation of the organism is completed.
In particular:
- pigs' mammary glands are not yet sufficiently developed;
- In boars, the testes are just maturing.
Veterinarians recommend mating animals only after the genital organs are fully formed.
It is better to wait until the pig gains 100–110 kilos of weight, and the boar - all 120. This usually happens by the tenth month of life or a little later (not earlier than 240 days). By then the pigs are in good physical shape. You should not select a pig that is too fat: if its weight exceeds 150–160 kilos, this may subsequently affect the results of pregnancy - you will have to make sure that the sow does not accidentally choke the newborn babies with her weight.
The pig, as you yourself understand, has the main role in reproduction. In order for a sow to successfully bear, give birth, and then feed her offspring, one that meets certain criteria must be selected from the available livestock. Livestock breeders begin to make a choice when the pig is four months old - at this age it is already possible to determine both its character and stateliness.
Here is a list of the parameters that the future sow must meet:
- The body of the animal is sufficiently elongated, at least 12 milk nipples have formed on it, or even better - 14 pieces, because in one farrow the sow is capable of giving birth to up to 16 piglets.
- The top row of teats does not overlap the bottom row when the pig is lying down, so that future piglets have full access.
- The back of the pig should be strong and wide, the belly should not sag, the back and bones should be powerful.
- The female has a good appetite, and the pig’s character is affectionate and calm. Balanced individuals make excellent “mothers.”
Give preference to a zoned breed of pigs. We advise you to calculate the mating time of sows so that the birth of piglets occurs in the warm season, for example, in May or June. To do this, mating is carried out in the middle of winter, taking into account that the pig will be pregnant for 110 to 130 days. Born in the spring and developing in the summer, the cubs grow healthy and strong.
Advice. There is an opinion that the winter pig is hardened, and therefore healthier. If you time the birth of the young in the spring, then the cubs can be sold at a greater profit, and they can be hardened enough, since it is not yet warm, but not very cold either.
It is recommended that the pigs selected for reproduction be placed in isolated cages, so that the animals remain in the company of their “comrades”, but are located at some distance from them or behind a lattice partition - visual contact must remain, otherwise the animal in complete isolation may sexual dysfunction may occur.
How to choose a female
When choosing a female, you should pay attention to her character - good mothers come from sows with a calm temperament. They are usually selected at the age of 4 to 5 months, mating is carried out after 10 months.
Important! The male and female selected for mating should not be related, as this will negatively affect the gene pool of the young and its survival.
The weight of the individual must be at least 110 kilograms, and the age must be from 10 months to 4 years. The more relatives a pig had in the same litter, the greater its fertility. During selection, attention is also paid to the nipples of the expectant mother - they must be convex, otherwise it will be difficult for the young to feed.
Choosing the ideal female
A pig is not chosen as meticulously as a boar, but a lot depends on it. In this case, it is not necessary to show the female to a veterinarian; all the pros and cons can be assessed by eye at home.
The female born in winter is best covered. Such animals are stronger, more resilient and healthier. The pig should be calm and docile - she will take better care of the piglets.
Females, like males, are selected for breeding work at the age of 4-5 months. If you are buying a pig, ask how many brothers and sisters it has. The more piglets in the litter, the higher her fertility will be.
Pay attention to the pig's mammary glands. She must have a minimum of 12 developed, erect nipples. The survival of the future offspring depends on this. If the nipples are sunken or flat, the born piglets will be malnourished or die of starvation.
As for the exterior, a pig suitable for breeding must have a flat, strong back, an elongated body, a broad chest, strong legs with clean, healthy hooves. The optimal age of a female is 2-4 years.
How to mate pigs
There are two types of pig mating - group and individual. In group breeding, one boar is assigned several females, whom he will fertilize. In case of individual treatment, a pair is selected for each animal, taking into account its individual characteristics.
With such reproduction, two approaches are used - homogeneous and heterogeneous. In the first, individuals with approximately the same physical characteristics, fertility and gene pool are selected. In the second approach, animals that demonstrate low performance are mated with the most productive ones.
In addition, attention is paid to age. Young sows are preferred to be mated with older boars, while older females are mated with males of any age.
Important! It is advisable that mating be carried out within the same breed.
Signs of the hunt
Heat in pigs is the period when the sow goes into heat and ovulates. It is during the hunt that fertilization is guaranteed, and therefore it is important to be able to recognize it.
Hunting is determined by the following characteristics:
- the pig stands, arching its back if you approach it from behind and press on the lower back;
- throwing the sow around the barn with a sudden stop and arching of the back, accompanied by irritable and restless behavior;
- discharge of blood and specific secretions from the genitals;
- urination becomes more frequent;
- there is redness, swelling and an increase in the size of the genital organs;
- loss of appetite or a radical change in eating habits.
Hunting in pigs and its signs
Hunting is manifested by mild swelling of the genital loop and nipples, as well as the release of mucus from the organs of the reproductive system (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Signs of hunting
During the hunt, the animal refuses food, shows anxiety, sniffs, listens, if you press it with your hand on its backside, it will stand motionless, and if you try to move it forward, it will resist. To obtain high-quality offspring, breed crossing (using boars of a different breed) is also allowed.
Preparing for mating
The main preparatory measure is changing your diet. For males, especially during group mating, a month to a month and a half before mating, the daily portion of food is increased so that they gain strength for insemination and have better health.
Females increase their food intake 2 weeks before mating. At the same time, the genital organs of animals and their gene pool are checked. Animals are given more time to walk so that they are in good physical condition.
Did you know? The record farrowing was recorded in 1961, when one sow gave birth to 34 piglets.
Features of the mating period of pigs
Let's look at the features and duration of the mating period for pigs, and when it occurs again.
How many days does a pig walk?
Estrus comes with the manifestation of the first signs of readiness for mating. Its duration depends on the age, breed, condition of the pig and is 2–3 days. If insemination does not occur, then the hunt will appear again. There are cases when in very young females this period lasts up to a week, after which all signs of readiness for mating disappear and a time of dryness and complete rest begins.
Did you know? The Danish pig gave birth to a record number of piglets in 1961: their number was 34 individuals.
How many days later does he walk again?
Typically, the hunting period occurs at intervals of 20–24 days, i.e., about three weeks, therefore, if mating did not occur or was unsuccessful, a second hunt occurs after 3 weeks.
Mating process
A boar and a sow are brought together. The process can take place both indoors and outdoors. The male courts the female for some time, after which sexual contact occurs. Animals begin the process both themselves and after stimulation.
Mating lasts from 15 minutes to half an hour, after which the animals are bred. To ensure success, the procedure is repeated 12 hours after the first mating. Some livestock farmers prefer not to breed pigs, but to keep them together.
Find out how long a pig's pregnancy lasts.
Mating process
When mating animals, it is necessary to provide them with an appropriate environment and comfortable conditions.
In order for animals to engage with each other, they do two things:
- A female in heat is simply brought to the boar, stimulating the beginning of the process.
- The couple is brought together in one pen and left alone.
It is advisable that the mating take place in the boar’s territory - the male will be able to immediately begin courtship and will not be distracted by exploring new conditions for himself, and unfamiliar smells will not unnerve the animal. However, on our farms, more often than not, everything happens the other way around - the boar comes to the “bride”. But if the male who comes is unable to inseminate the female the first time, it is worth trying to bring them together in conditions more familiar to the male.
The coating process lasts from a quarter of an hour to half an hour. Since, as we have already mentioned, it is quite difficult to predict the moment of ovulation, the couple can be left together for the whole day or brought together again after 12–14 hours. The first option is preferable, since in this case the animals will mate many times, which significantly increases the chances of successful fertilization.
Try to comply with the following measures:
- Matings do not have to be carried out indoors - the process can begin outside if it is warm and comfortable for the animals.
- In winter, mating must be carried out in a well-heated room.
- It is recommended to create an appropriate environment for the pigs - remove unnecessary noise, try to ensure that there are no strangers nearby - this makes the animals nervous. In general, provide them with peace and quiet.
A person does not need to somehow influence the process itself - by shouting, pushing or stroking. The more natural and longer the process of courtship between a boar and a female, the greater the chance that everything will end in success.
You should intervene only if the pig’s signs of “hunting” decrease for any reason. Then it is advisable to drive her away from the pen with the boar and wait for time. If the desire appears again, the female is able to independently come to the “suitor”, and then, perhaps, things will go more successfully.
Some tips
You should adhere to the following tips:
- fat females, characterized by potbellies, have less pronounced estrus and slower ovulation, and therefore they should be allowed to fertilize no less than 12 hours after the hunt begins;
- if the female is in weak heat, she is kicked out of the pen. If she is ready to mate, she will go with the male towards the cage;
- the male must be familiar with the place where mating takes place, otherwise he may forget about the female and begin exploring a new territory for him;
- animals should be left alone - the presence of a person can frighten them.
Pigs of different hybrids
When breeding hybrids, you need to know what breeds are needed to obtain it. If the hybrid is supposed to be a meat hybrid, then the parents must also belong to meat breeds. The female and male must have a good gene pool and a good breeding history.
Also learn about pig breeds such as Russian White and Vietnamese Pot-bellied.
Pigs of different sizes
When breeding pigs of different sizes, attention is primarily paid to the male - if he is too heavy, he will injure the female’s back with his weight. In this regard, before mating, it is important to consider the physical characteristics of animals.
In addition, there are many special devices that help overcome the size difference.
If the male is passive
Passivity is often a consequence of violation of the rules for keeping a boar. First of all, it is worth reviewing his diet, making it more balanced, and reducing the number of matings. It is also possible to use stimulants for pigs. In addition, there is a practice of accustoming animals to a stuffed female.
Did you know? Pigs appear in ancient Greek myths: catching the wild pig Psophida was one of the labors of Hercules.
How to tell if a pig has covered itself
The indicator is the behavior of the female. She becomes lethargic and drowsy, and reacts aggressively to the appearance of a boar. During the period when she should start hunting again, the sow will still refuse contact with the male.
In addition, females become nervous and react sharply to the world around them, which is explained by their unusual state of health.
Find out which stimulants promote pig growth.
Raising pigs is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to be able to select animals that can give good offspring and wait for the sow to heat. Both experienced pig breeders and beginners can handle proper breeding
How to tell if a pig has gone on a spree
The process of estrus in a female is a sure sign of successful fertilization. At the initial stage of heat, the pig will not yet be ready to mate and allow the boar to approach her. And without primary signs, you should not allow an incoming male to approach the sow. She becomes very aggressive and restless. There is only one explanation for why this happens: the absence of estrus.
During this period, ovulation occurs (24-48 hours) and when the male’s sperm enters, fertilization will occur. It is quite difficult to accurately determine this period for a female, so she is mated more than 2 times after the start of the hunt. The first time occurs after 12-18 hours, and the second after the first, after 12-15 hours.
