How to determine if a sow is pregnant. How to determine whether a pig is covered or not at home. Normal pregnancy period

Pigs are capable of producing two litters per year. In order for farming to generate good income, you need to be savvy in many issues related to animal physiology. Pregnancy in pigs is a complex process about which the farmer needs to know everything: how long the period of gestation of piglets lasts, how to determine that the mating was successful, how farrowing occurs. The success of farming activities depends on knowledge and skills in these matters.

Signs of pregnancy in pigs

A farmer can assume that the mating of pigs was successful if he observes the behavior of the female. At the initial stage of pregnancy, a pig’s pregnancy can be determined by the following signs:

1. The animal becomes apathetic, lethargic, rests more, and moves smoothly.
2. A cheesy secretion is released from the vagina.
3. The nipples swell a little.
4. In due time (after about 3 weeks) sexual heat does not occur.
5. Change in appetite. Some pigs lose interest in food, while others increase their appetite.
6. Increase in body weight.

Attention! False pregnancy also occurs in pigs; its symptoms are similar to those listed above. However, with false pregnancy, after 2-3 weeks the animal’s condition returns to normal when the time comes for the next estrus.

Methods for determining pregnancy

To confirm or deny the presence of pregnancy in a pig, farmers resort to various diagnostic methods. These include:

• rectal method;
• reflexological method;
• palpation of the abdomen;
• vaginal biopsy;
• blood test for progesterone;
• ultrasonography.

Rectal examination

The rectal examination method is allowed to be used 4 or more weeks after mating of animals. By this time, the pig's uterine arteries dilate and begin to vibrate, which makes it possible to confirm pregnancy. Before the inspection procedure, the pig is securely restrained so that it remains motionless. The veterinarian puts gloves on his hands and lubricates them with Vaseline or another slippery substance. Folding his fingers into a cone, he carefully inserts his hand into the animal's rectum. You can start diagnosing after relaxing the muscles of the anus, otherwise intestinal rupture is possible.

The specialist’s task is to palpate 3 arteries:

• external iliac;
• middle uterine;
• genitourinary

By the 30th day of pregnancy, the middle uterine artery begins to vibrate, and its diameter increases. By the end of the 2nd month of pregnancy in pigs, the diameter of this artery usually increases by 50 percent or more, and the vibration is felt even more strongly. After another month, the urogenital artery begins to vibrate, and the diameter of the middle uterine artery is equal to or greater than the diameter of the external iliac artery. Using these signs, the veterinarian can not only find out whether the pig is pregnant or not, but also approximately determine the gestation period of the piglets.

Attention! If the specialist was unable to detect vibrations of the uterine artery, a repeat examination is recommended after 21 days.

Reflexological method

This method does not provide a 100% guarantee of the accuracy of the result, but its advantage is that it can be used within 3 weeks after mating. It is widely used in private farms. The essence of the method is that a boar is brought to pigs that were inseminated 15-30 days ago every 2 hours. Based on the reaction of the animals, the presence of sexual heat in females is determined. Those pigs in which its signs are detected are not pregnant.

Palpation of the abdomen

By resorting to the method of palpation of the abdomen, it is possible to determine the pregnancy of a pig only 3 months after its insemination. By this time, farmers usually already know that the pig is pregnant. This is the disadvantage of this technique.

To palpate piglets in the womb through the abdominal wall, the animal is placed on its left side. You need to calm the sow by scratching her belly. You need to palpate the fruits in the area of ​​the last two nipples, which are located closer to the lower abdomen.

Attention! Before the palpation procedure, the pig is not fed for 12 hours. It is best to conduct this study in the morning on an empty stomach.

Vaginal biopsy

This method involves taking samples of tissue and secretions from the pig's vagina. The biomaterial is sent to the laboratory, where it is examined under a microscope. This procedure allows you to accurately diagnose pregnancy in the early stages, but it is rarely used due to its high cost.

Blood test for progesterone

A blood test for pregnancy testing allows you to determine the pregnancy of pigs with 98% accuracy from 20 days after coating. The biomaterial is collected from the parotid vein. In the blood of a pregnant pig, the level of progesterone gradually increases, which allows us to draw a conclusion regarding the onset of pregnancy. If by the twentieth day after mating the level of this hormone reaches 9ng/ml, pregnancy is confirmed.

Ultrasound

This type of study is absolutely safe and can be used to diagnose pregnancy within 20 days after mating. Using a special sensor on the monitor screen, it is possible to record the heartbeat of the embryos, and later examine their outlines. According to statistics, the most accurate data can be obtained starting from the 30th day after mating. During the ultrasound examination, the animal should lie motionless on its side. The skin in the abdominal area is lubricated with a special gel, then a sensor is applied.

Length of pregnancy in pigs

All pig farmers know that pregnancy in pigs lasts 3 months, 3 weeks and another 3 days, that is, 114-116 days. This is an average value, since some pigs give birth to piglets 110 days after mating, others - after 125. According to statistics, a quarter of animals give birth to piglets on the 114th day after mating or earlier, the rest - later.

The duration of pregnancy is influenced by the following factors:

1. Belonging to one breed or another. Vietnamese pigs farrow within 110 days.
2. Season. Farmers note that winter farrowing always occurs a little earlier than expected, and summer farrowing later.
3. Age of the animal. Young sows give birth a little earlier.
4. Number of piglets gestated. The fewer babies a sow has in her womb, the more likely she is to farrow later.
5. Conditions of detention.
6. Pig health status.

Every farmer should know the signs of a pregnant pig if he wants to be successful in his activities. Experienced pig breeders can determine pregnancy at its initial stage, without resorting to expensive diagnostic methods. It is important to record the date of mating and record your observations in the gestation calendar.

During the period of farrowing and subsequent appearance of piglets, it is very important that the temperature in the pigsty should be very high, about 25 degrees Celsius. A pregnant pig and small piglets are in dire need of warmth, dryness and comfort, so before farrowing at home, you should prepare and insulate the pigsty, change the bedding, and prepare incandescent lamps for postpartum heating of the young animals.

How to determine pregnancy in pigs?

The bedding should be soft and dry; it is advisable to use straw or hay for this purpose. It is also necessary to prepare clean towels or burlap, large boxes and baskets for placing piglets in them immediately after birth. Before farrowing itself, the sow is stopped allowed to go for walks and movement around the crate is limited.

farrowing in pigs

Causes of prolonged labor

1. Malposition;

Postpartum actions

Video: farrowing of a white pig

The large white breed was brought to Russia from Great Britain, where it was bred through interbreeding. In Russia, the breed was noticeably improved and gradually became the most profitable from an economic point of view. Adult boars of the white breed weigh 300-350 kilograms, sows reach a weight of 220-280 kilograms. The main advantage of the breed is its multiple births, an adult female gives from 10 to 14 or more piglets per farrowing, that is, per year the owner of just one white breed pig receives about 25-30 piglets of a new litter. With intensive fattening, piglets gain up to 0.8 kilograms per day, and upon reaching a weight of 100 kilograms, the specific percentage of meat in the carcass will be at least 55-60%.

After it has been determined that the sow is pregnant, this is determined by characteristic excitement, or, on the contrary, calmness, clear separation of the nipples and udder, noticeable weight gain, they begin to prepare the pig for farrowing. On an industrial scale, farrowing is carried out in special separate pig barns. The uterus is placed in a separate cage a week before farrowing, the time of which can be determined quite accurately, since it occurs on the 114th day after insemination. In the first weeks of a pig's pregnancy, its diet remains the same, but closer to birth it is best to reduce the amount of succulent and roughage feed by almost half. Highly concentrated feeds are best served in liquid form. This is done in order to reduce the milk production of sows, since in the first few days the piglets will not need a large amount of milk, during which time the nipples may become rough, which may lead to mastitis.

Preparing the room for farrowing

Signs of impending farrowing

farrowing in pigs

The fact that farrowing is approaching can be understood by the way the sow behaves:

1. A large white sow becomes even larger just before farrowing, her belly and nipples sag and swell, and it becomes difficult for the pig to move;
2. Some pigs begin to experience increased excitement and rush around the stall, but then calm down and begin to arrange their nest, pulling the bedding into a dark corner;
3. To determine whether farrowing is imminent, you can try squeezing the nipples; if milk appears from them, the sow will farrow soon.

Farrowing white breed pigs - time and process

Usually farrowing occurs at night, so several days before the expected event you should carefully monitor the pig and organize night shifts in order to have time to help the sow give birth to healthy young animals. The help of a veterinarian, or independent actions, is very important, this is due to the fact that not all babies are born already breathing and moving; usually a healthy piglet, left without help, chokes or suffocates in the amniotic fluid.

Farrowing occurs as follows:

1. The sow lies on her side, begins to breathe heavily, contractions begin, which can last from 2 to 6 hours; in case of complications, the time allotted for childbirth increases to 10 hours. The reason for this is keeping the sow in a cramped room without walking and intensive feeding with roughage.
2. Contractions occur at intervals of 2-10 minutes, after each attempt a piglet is born, with which part of the amniotic fluid is released. Each piglet is born in an amniotic membrane, which ruptures when leaving the uterus, but this does not happen with all piglets, for some the membrane remains intact, which is dangerous for the life of the piglet, it can suffocate, which is why it is necessary to immediately wipe the piglet with burlap, or, with a towel and, if necessary, blow out his nose.
3. If a piglet does not show signs of life at birth, there are several ways to resuscitate it:
4. if the first does not help, you need to open the piglet’s mouth and blow hard into it, this procedure gives almost 100% results;
5. You should immediately wipe the piglet’s chest, lightly massaging it, while lightly hitting the face and sides of the body;
6. The last resort is to alternately place the piglet in a bucket of normal and warm water at a temperature of 45 degrees.
7. After the piglet is born, it needs to cut the umbilical cord, this is done at a distance of 5-6 centimeters from the tummy, after which the remaining tip should be cauterized with iodine to avoid infection. It can also be tied with strong threads, but after this it will be necessary to constantly ensure that the threads do not cause infection, that is, keep the piglets perfectly clean.
8. Immediately after birth and the above steps, the piglet should be placed in a box under a lamp to provide it with sufficient heat.
9. A sow's farrowing time is unlimited, so piglets can appear at very large intervals, ranging from 1 minute to several hours.
10. It is important that the piglets try colostrum in the first 45 minutes after birth, the sooner the better, their health and vitality depend on this, so you should not wait until the end of farrowing, you need to slip the piglets to the sow’s nipples and hold them to feed them. The first few feedings are half artificial, the piglets will have to be helped to find the nipples and make sure that they are fed equally. Weaker piglets need to be placed on the front teats; they contain more milk than all the others.
11. Before you start feeding your piglets, the sow's teats should be lightly pressed and then the udder should be wiped with a clean, damp cloth.

Farrowing in a white pig, as well as in pigs of any other breed, ends with the release of the placenta, after which any attempts stop, and the birth can be considered complete. It is very important to remove the afterbirth in time, otherwise the sow may eat it, after which she will begin to eat her piglets.

How to determine if a pig is pregnant and how long does a pregnant pig walk?

Pets should not be allowed near the afterbirth; it must be buried deep in the ground so that dogs and cats cannot dig it up.

How to help a sow during farrowing

There are rare cases when a pig's contractions have been going on for some time, but the piglets never appear. The longer this happens, the greater the likelihood that the piglets will be stillborn. The pig urgently needs help; you can do this yourself by following the following sequence of actions:

1. Trim the fingernails, wash with soap and water up to the forearm, treat possible wounds with iodine, smear the hand with Vaseline or soap;
2. A hand prepared in this way is slowly inserted into the sow’s vagina until the piglet can be felt; it must be lightly pulled out by the legs and resuscitative measures must be carried out. If labor does not return to normal after this, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

After the end of labor, pigs experience postpartum discharge, usually it has a reddish tint, and stops after a few days, but if there is no cessation and the discharge begins to smell bad, you should contact a veterinarian.

Causes of prolonged labor

1. Narrowness of the birth canal in young sows;
2. Malposition;
3. Delayed placement of sex in the birth canal;
4. Weak muscles of the abdominal wall and uterus are the reason for lack of exercise.

Postpartum actions

Successful completion of farrowing does not guarantee the continued viability of the offspring. The first thing to do is to place the sucklings under the sow; if there are more piglets than there are teats, you can try to place them under another sow, if there is one; if not, then you should feed the piglets one at a time.

The farrowing area should be cleaned, dirty bedding should be removed, new bedding should be put in, then the pig should be washed to remove blood and dirt with warm water and soapy water, and wiped dry.

Immediately after farrowing, the sow must be given access to water; after 4-6 hours, the pig must be given about 700 grams of concentrated feed in the form of mash. Two days after farrowing, the quantity of feed and its quality can be increased to reach the normal level by day 4. It is forbidden to change feed, which will affect the milk and, accordingly, the piglets. After the sow’s diet has been brought back to normal, she can be released to pasture for about half an hour to an hour in the morning and evening. If there is no pasture on the farm, then you need to think about expanding the space in the pigsty, increasing the access of fresh air into the room, it is especially important to do this in the summer.

Caring for suckling piglets in the first days of life

Small piglets must be kept warm and dry. After birth and the first feeding, they must be carefully examined for possible defects in the legs and teeth. Some piglets may develop sharp fangs; they need to be lightly sharpened so that they do not injure the sow's nipples during feeding.

In the first few days, the piglets are very tender and small; a large, clumsy sow can inadvertently strangle the offspring, for example, trying to roll over or lie down more comfortably. To avoid the loss of young animals, they are usually taken from the sow, placed in a separate pen, another possible option is to place several concrete blocks at a height of 25 centimeters from the floor, which will help save the piglets, even if the sow lies on them. It will be possible to remove them only in a week, when the piglets become more mobile and lively, enough to escape from the impending danger in time.

In addition, the pig's behavior should be carefully observed during the first few days to prevent possible aggression directed at the piglets. If aggressive behavior is detected, piglets must be isolated and allowed into the pig only under supervision, so that they can soon be switched to artificial feeding.

Thus, farrowing of white pigs proceeds exactly the same as farrowing of conventional sows, the only exception being the large weight of the white breed of sows. In order for farrowing to proceed properly, it is necessary to observe sanitary conditions and standards, prevent the occurrence of infection and carefully examine each piglet after its birth. Compliance with the above will help not only preserve the young, but also the sow’s continued ability to reproduce.

Video: farrowing of a white pig

The large white breed was brought to Russia from Great Britain, where it was bred through interbreeding. In Russia, the breed was noticeably improved and gradually became the most profitable from an economic point of view. Adult boars of the white breed weigh 300-350 kilograms, sows reach a weight of 220-280 kilograms. The main advantage of the breed is its multiple births, an adult female gives from 10 to 14 or more piglets per farrowing, that is, per year the owner of just one white breed pig receives about 25-30 piglets of a new litter. With intensive fattening, piglets gain up to 0.8 kilograms per day, and upon reaching a weight of 100 kilograms, the specific percentage of meat in the carcass will be at least 55-60%.

Preparing sows for farrowing

After it has been determined that the sow is pregnant, this is determined by characteristic excitement, or, on the contrary, calmness, clear separation of the nipples and udder, noticeable weight gain, they begin to prepare the pig for farrowing. On an industrial scale, farrowing is carried out in special separate pig barns. The uterus is placed in a separate cage a week before farrowing, the time of which can be determined quite accurately, since it occurs on the 114th day after insemination. In the first weeks of a pig's pregnancy, its diet remains the same, but closer to birth it is best to reduce the amount of succulent and roughage feed by almost half. Highly concentrated feeds are best served in liquid form. This is done in order to reduce the milk production of sows, since in the first few days the piglets will not need a large amount of milk, during which time the nipples may become rough, which may lead to mastitis.

Preparing the room for farrowing

During the period of farrowing and subsequent appearance of piglets, it is very important that the temperature in the pigsty should be very high, about 25 degrees Celsius. A pregnant pig and small piglets are in dire need of warmth, dryness and comfort, so before farrowing at home, you should prepare and insulate the pigsty, change the bedding, and prepare incandescent lamps for postpartum heating of the young animals. The bedding should be soft and dry; it is advisable to use straw or hay for this purpose. It is also necessary to prepare clean towels or burlap, large boxes and baskets for placing piglets in them immediately after birth. Before farrowing itself, the sow is stopped allowed to go for walks and movement around the crate is limited.

Signs of impending farrowing

farrowing in pigs

The fact that farrowing is approaching can be understood by the way the sow behaves:

1. A large white sow becomes even larger just before farrowing, her belly and nipples sag and swell, and it becomes difficult for the pig to move;
2. Some pigs begin to experience increased excitement and rush around the stall, but then calm down and begin to arrange their nest, pulling the bedding into a dark corner;
3. To determine whether farrowing is imminent, you can try squeezing the nipples; if milk appears from them, the sow will farrow soon.

Farrowing white breed pigs - time and process

Usually farrowing occurs at night, so several days before the expected event you should carefully monitor the pig and organize night shifts in order to have time to help the sow give birth to healthy young animals. The help of a veterinarian, or independent actions, is very important, this is due to the fact that not all babies are born already breathing and moving; usually a healthy piglet, left without help, chokes or suffocates in the amniotic fluid.

Farrowing occurs as follows:

1. The sow lies on her side, begins to breathe heavily, contractions begin, which can last from 2 to 6 hours; in case of complications, the time allotted for childbirth increases to 10 hours. The reason for this is keeping the sow in a cramped room without walking and intensive feeding with roughage.
2. Contractions occur at intervals of 2-10 minutes, after each attempt a piglet is born, with which part of the amniotic fluid is released. Each piglet is born in an amniotic membrane, which ruptures when leaving the uterus, but this does not happen with all piglets, for some the membrane remains intact, which is dangerous for the life of the piglet, it can suffocate, which is why it is necessary to immediately wipe the piglet with burlap, or, with a towel and, if necessary, blow out his nose.
3. If a piglet does not show signs of life at birth, there are several ways to resuscitate it:
4. if the first does not help, you need to open the piglet’s mouth and blow hard into it, this procedure gives almost 100% results;
5. You should immediately wipe the piglet’s chest, lightly massaging it, while lightly hitting the face and sides of the body;
6. The last resort is to alternately place the piglet in a bucket of normal and warm water at a temperature of 45 degrees.
7. After the piglet is born, it needs to cut the umbilical cord, this is done at a distance of 5-6 centimeters from the tummy, after which the remaining tip should be cauterized with iodine to avoid infection. It can also be tied with strong threads, but after this it will be necessary to constantly ensure that the threads do not cause infection, that is, keep the piglets perfectly clean.
8. Immediately after birth and the above steps, the piglet should be placed in a box under a lamp to provide it with sufficient heat.
9. A sow's farrowing time is unlimited, so piglets can appear at very large intervals, ranging from 1 minute to several hours.
10. It is important that the piglets try colostrum in the first 45 minutes after birth, the sooner the better, their health and vitality depend on this, so you should not wait until the end of farrowing, you need to slip the piglets to the sow’s nipples and hold them to feed them. The first few feedings are half artificial, the piglets will have to be helped to find the nipples and make sure that they are fed equally. Weaker piglets need to be placed on the front teats; they contain more milk than all the others.
11. Before you start feeding your piglets, the sow's teats should be lightly pressed and then the udder should be wiped with a clean, damp cloth.

Farrowing in a white pig, as well as in pigs of any other breed, ends with the release of the placenta, after which any attempts stop, and the birth can be considered complete. It is very important to remove the afterbirth in time, otherwise the sow may eat it, after which she will begin to eat her piglets. Pets should not be allowed near the afterbirth; it must be buried deep in the ground so that dogs and cats cannot dig it up.

How to help a sow during farrowing

There are rare cases when a pig's contractions have been going on for some time, but the piglets never appear. The longer this happens, the greater the likelihood that the piglets will be stillborn. The pig urgently needs help; you can do this yourself by following the following sequence of actions:

1. Trim the fingernails, wash with soap and water up to the forearm, treat possible wounds with iodine, smear the hand with Vaseline or soap;
2. A hand prepared in this way is slowly inserted into the sow’s vagina until the piglet can be felt; it must be lightly pulled out by the legs and resuscitative measures must be carried out. If labor does not return to normal after this, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

After the end of labor, pigs experience postpartum discharge, usually it has a reddish tint, and stops after a few days, but if there is no cessation and the discharge begins to smell bad, you should contact a veterinarian.

Causes of prolonged labor

1. Narrowness of the birth canal in young sows;
2. Malposition;
3. Delayed placement of sex in the birth canal;
4. Weak muscles of the abdominal wall and uterus are the reason for lack of exercise.

Postpartum actions

Successful completion of farrowing does not guarantee the continued viability of the offspring. The first thing to do is to place the sucklings under the sow; if there are more piglets than there are teats, you can try to place them under another sow, if there is one; if not, then you should feed the piglets one at a time.

The farrowing area should be cleaned, dirty bedding should be removed, new bedding should be put in, then the pig should be washed to remove blood and dirt with warm water and soapy water, and wiped dry.

Immediately after farrowing, the sow must be given access to water; after 4-6 hours, the pig must be given about 700 grams of concentrated feed in the form of mash. Two days after farrowing, the quantity of feed and its quality can be increased to reach the normal level by day 4.

How to determine if a pig is pregnant?

It is forbidden to change feed, which will affect the milk and, accordingly, the piglets. After the sow’s diet has been brought back to normal, she can be released to pasture for about half an hour to an hour in the morning and evening. If there is no pasture on the farm, then you need to think about expanding the space in the pigsty, increasing the access of fresh air into the room, it is especially important to do this in the summer.

Caring for suckling piglets in the first days of life

Small piglets must be kept warm and dry. After birth and the first feeding, they must be carefully examined for possible defects in the legs and teeth. Some piglets may develop sharp fangs; they need to be lightly sharpened so that they do not injure the sow's nipples during feeding.

In the first few days, the piglets are very tender and small; a large, clumsy sow can inadvertently strangle the offspring, for example, trying to roll over or lie down more comfortably. To avoid the loss of young animals, they are usually taken from the sow, placed in a separate pen, another possible option is to place several concrete blocks at a height of 25 centimeters from the floor, which will help save the piglets, even if the sow lies on them. It will be possible to remove them only in a week, when the piglets become more mobile and lively, enough to escape from the impending danger in time.

In addition, the pig's behavior should be carefully observed during the first few days to prevent possible aggression directed at the piglets. If aggressive behavior is detected, piglets must be isolated and allowed into the pig only under supervision, so that they can soon be switched to artificial feeding.

Thus, farrowing of white pigs proceeds exactly the same as farrowing of conventional sows, the only exception being the large weight of the white breed of sows. In order for farrowing to proceed properly, it is necessary to observe sanitary conditions and standards, prevent the occurrence of infection and carefully examine each piglet after its birth. Compliance with the above will help not only preserve the young, but also the sow’s continued ability to reproduce.

Video: farrowing of a white pig

Pregnancy in pigs

As you know, the average duration of pregnancy (pregnancy) in pigs is 115 days (almost 4 months). However, in order for a pig to become pregnant and bear offspring, its weight should not be less than 120 kg, and mating is possible only after the pig reaches 10-11 months of age. In general, how to determine if a pig is pregnant is not such a difficult task. Today, there are several effective ways to find out that a pig is pregnant:

• clinical;
• laboratory;
• visual.

Pregnancy symptoms in pigs vary widely.

Help me figure out whether the pig is pregnant or not?

One of the first signs of how to determine pregnancy in a pig is its lack of sexual desire, which is expressed in its calmness and even some lethargy. Often her appetite decreases. After 4-5 months, the appetite returns, the pig moves little, eats and sleeps a lot.

Lack of sexual desire.

Pig pregnancy period

False pregnancy in pigs

Watch this video on YouTube

Categories: About pigs

How to determine if a pig is pregnant at home: diagnostic methods

Sooner or later, every pig owner is faced with the phenomenon of pig pregnancy. Unlike many other household inhabitants, pigs are able to bear offspring twice a year. Of course, in order for the sow to farrow safely and be able to bear a healthy litter, it is necessary to have certain knowledge related to aspects of her pregnancy. So, how can you tell if a pig is pregnant and what signs accompany it?

Pregnancy in pigs

Pregnancy in pigs is one of the most complex physiological processes, which, as a rule, is accompanied by lethargy and toxicosis in the female. In addition, the volume of a pig’s body during pregnancy can increase several times.

As you know, the average duration of pregnancy (pregnancy) in pigs is 115 days (almost 4 months). However, in order for a pig to become pregnant and bear offspring, its weight should not be less than 120 kg, and mating is possible only after the pig reaches 10-11 months of age.

Pregnancy in pigs: methods and methods for determining at home

In general, how to determine if a pig is pregnant is not such a difficult task. Today, there are several effective ways to find out that a pig is pregnant:

• clinical;
• laboratory;
• visual.

After mating between a pig and a boar has occurred, on the third day after fertilization, the initial stage of pig pregnancy can be determined, which is confirmed by the presence of indicative symptoms, which we will consider below.

Main signs of pregnancy in a pig

Pregnancy symptoms in pigs vary widely. One of the first signs of how to determine pregnancy in a pig is its lack of sexual desire, which is expressed in its calmness and even some lethargy. Often her appetite decreases. After 4-5 months, the appetite returns, the pig moves little, eats and sleeps a lot.

It’s not difficult to find out how to determine if a pig is pregnant at home; the main sign is the cessation of heat.

If her sexual desire has not returned within 15-30 days, then we should expect a quick birth. This method of determining pregnancy in a pig at home is called a reflexological examination.

Of course, in addition to this sign, the pig also exhibits other characteristic visual indicators of pregnancy: an increase in the size of the abdominal area, swelling and redness of the nipples. But all these signs begin to appear only in the second half of pregnancy. The special situation of a pig can be determined by the rapid weight gain that is typical for it during this period.

So, the main symptoms of pregnancy in a pig are the following:

Lethargy of the pig (poor sleep and appetite in the animal).

Redness of the nipples (when pressure is applied to the nipples, the so-called colostrum is released).

Lack of sexual desire.

Mucous discharge with a curd consistency on the genitals.

Pig pregnancy period

The normal gestation period for a pig is considered to be within 4 months. But in young females there may be a slight delay of up to 5-7 days. Such a delay is not regarded as a deviation from the norm. More mature sows, on the contrary, can give birth prematurely and farrow ahead of schedule by 7-10 days.

Unlike mare and cow, sows have multiple births. Those. during one pregnancy they can produce 2 or more piglets. However, it is almost impossible to determine the exact number of piglets at home. This largely depends on two factors: the age of the sow and overall productivity. According to statistics, one mature pig aged from 1 to 3 years gives birth on average from 10 to 12 piglets. In some cases, this figure can reach 15-16 heads per litter. Read more about when a pig starts walking here.

It is important to know: in the first year of pregnancy, a young sow gives birth to no more than 8 piglets.

How to determine that a pig is pregnant: methods for determining pregnancy in pigs

If you want to get more accurate confidence in the sow's pregnancy, you should conduct a rectal diagnosis by palpating the pulsation of the urogenital and uterine arteries. But only ultrasound examinations of the pelvic and abdominal cavities can provide the most accurate data. The ultrasound diagnostic method can detect the pulsation of the fetus inside the uterus.

Another effective method for finding out that a pig is pregnant is a biopsy, during which a tissue sample is taken from the pig’s vagina, after which it is examined in a laboratory. You can feel the fetuses in the last stages of pregnancy using the palpation method. To do this, the pig is carefully placed on its side and the abdominal area at the level of the nipples is probed with soft, careful movements.

Vietnamese pig pregnancy

Like ordinary pigs, the pregnancy of a Vietnamese pig lasts no more than 114-118 days. You can find out how to determine the pregnancy of a Vietnamese pig from the list of visual signs.

External signs of pregnancy

As for such external signs as an enlarged abdomen and chest, in Vietnamese pigs they are little pronounced in the first half of the term. The animal eats well, continues to grow and gain weight, so such changes are hardly noticeable. However, closer to the last month, it is possible to accurately recognize the pregnancy of the mumps. Her rounded belly protrudes strongly, her nipples become engorged, and the back of her body widens slightly.

Pregnancy can also be determined by behavior. In the second half of the term, the pig rests and lies down more. May exhibit some actions to protect the territory, sometimes becoming more timid. At this time, it is important to protect the female from other animals and protect her from excitement and stress.

How to feed a pregnant Vietnamese pig

In order to increase the productivity of the Vietnamese pig breed, proper feeding is a priority. In general, feeding Vietnamese pigs is no different from feeding a regular breed. The best option for feeding a pregnant Vietnamese pig is grain feed (rye, wheat, barley). In summer, their diet consists of green food. Note that oats and corn are undesirable in the diet of Vietnamese pigs during pregnancy, as they contribute to excessive accumulation of fat.

False pregnancy in pigs

As is known, pigs can experience such a physiological phenomenon as false pregnancy. So how do you know if a pig is pregnant or not? During the period of the so-called false pregnancy, the unfertilized female stops estrus and exhibits signs characteristic of a normal pregnancy.

In order not to be deceived, you need to be very careful about mating. To avoid false pregnancy, the pig is gradually mated with several boars at once. To determine whether fertilization of the female has occurred, she is placed with a boar. If the pig exhibits aggressive behavior and does not allow the male to approach her, then fertilization was successful. Read more about mating here.

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Categories: About pigs

Pregnant pig: diagnosis and gestational age

Raising pigs at home is one of the most successful options in animal husbandry. This is a fairly profitable and relatively uncomplicated activity. A sow gives two litters of an average of ten piglets in one year. Cubs are able to gain weight well, while consuming a small amount of food. Neither poultry nor cattle breeding can provide such effective growth. But it is worth remembering that pigs require certain housing and feeding conditions. Although they are considered omnivores, the quality of pork is determined by the animal's diet.

Before you get serious about breeding pigs, you should learn the basic rules and characteristics of the various breeds. It is necessary to enrich the knowledge base about the characteristics of an animal’s pregnancy in order to know how to determine whether a pig is pregnant or not in order to help it during childbirth.

Methods for determining the pregnancy of a pig

Carrying out pregnancy diagnostics in a pig is very important for the possibility of normal planning of work processes. There are three methods that explain how to find out whether a pig is pregnant or not:

• laboratory;
• clinical;
• visual.

Many livestock breeders tell how to find out whether a pig is pregnant or not, using external observation. It is effective already in the late stages of pregnancy of the sow. To carry out this method correctly, it is necessary to carefully, without pressure, place the animal on its side. After this, the anterior abdominal cavity is probed. This is done along the line of the last row of nipples, slightly above the mammary glands. Thus, you can easily feel the fruits.

In livestock farming, the question often arises of how to know that a pig is covered, because this is an important point in all work.

The sow develops an appetite; if a pregnant pig does not eat, it is necessary to look for the cause and eliminate it immediately. Usually she starts to sleep more and becomes lazy.

It is worth waiting eighteen to twenty days after mating and then observing the pig’s behavior; if it does not express a desire to “walk,” then we can say with confidence that the pig is pregnant. Read about at what age a pig begins to walk and is able to produce offspring. The average duration of a pig's pregnancy is one hundred and fifteen days. In the last month, the animal exhibits active hyperemia of the udder and increased colostrum production.

Very often, ordinary rural residents are interested in how to determine the pregnancy of a pig at home, since they do not always have access to a veterinarian. You can use the rectal method, with the help of which the question that arises when breeding pigs, namely, how to find out that a pig is pregnant, is resolved after three weeks. A more accurate result should be expected in a month. After the intestines have been released, you can use rubber gloves to palpate the intestines as they relax. The iliac diameter of the external artery becomes thicker during pregnancy. When the first month ends, the vibration of the uterine artery is clearly felt, the urogenital artery has a weak pulsation.

Laboratory and clinical conditions allow you to use the most promising method, which will definitely help with the question: how to determine whether a pig is pregnant or not; This is done using ultrasound. In addition, practice has shown that a vaginal biopsy gives accurate results. It is absolutely safe for both the animal and the fetus. Research is carried out using a microscope.

Why did the pig produce a small litter?

It is important to know why a sow has few piglets: first of all, it depends on the age of the animal, then you need to pay attention to the pig’s diet. Basically, under favorable conditions, the sow gives birth to about two litters of ten cubs. An aging animal will produce smaller offspring. Breeders are dealing with the issue of increasing the number of piglets, considering the characteristics of the breeds, and developing drugs.

Conditions for keeping pregnant sows

After obtaining data and experience, the livestock breeder knows how to determine whether a pig is full grown or not, and, accordingly, must think about the nuances of keeping the animal. In order to maintain a pregnant sow, it is necessary to provide her with good and comfortable conditions. Be sure to have a small enclosure that the animal can easily enter. If the weather outside is unfavorable, the pig should remain indoors.

Walking through the pasture can begin with the arrival of the first warmth, in early or mid-spring. Usually the animal is taken out in the morning, before feeding. The purpose of such walks is to provide the pig with a large amount of fresh vegetation for food. Towards evening you can take her out again. A container containing water must be left at the grazing site. If there is no pasture nearby, the sow should still receive the required amount of fresh green feed with concentrates - approximately eleven kilograms per day.

In order to eat well, a pig usually only needs an hour's walk; in places with little vegetation this period is three hours. When the animal begins to dig the soil, it is necessary to bring it into the pen.

The sow's place is positioned so that her head is directed towards the door. A feeding container is installed near the entrance. Experienced livestock breeders cover the surface of the den using wooden planks; a large amount of uncontaminated bedding is required. You can use sawdust or straw. It is imperative to pay attention to whether the food remains after feeding. The sow must eat the entire portion. Use warm water to wash the trough immediately before eating. Water for drinking also needs to be heated a little.

Features of pregnancy in Vietnamese pigs

The optimal age for covering Vietnamese pigs is four to five months. “Hunting” is defined by the following features:

The genital slit becomes redder and swells, mucus is released from it.

The animal behaves extremely restlessly.

Appetite gets worse.

The pig begins to grunt characteristically.

Typically, the “hunt” lasts three days, sometimes a little longer. It is better to introduce a Vietnamese pig to a boar in the early morning or evening. Ten minutes is usually enough. The main thing to remember is that mating should take place in an absolutely quiet environment so as not to disturb the pig and boar. Pregnancy of Vietnamese pigs is determined in this way: “hunting” does not occur, the animal begins to eat better, and the belly increases in size. Read more about pig mating here.

Reasons why a pig crushes piglets

It is interesting to know why a sow crushes her piglets, because this happens quite often. This happens due to a problem with feeding. The pig's instinct prompts it to make selections. The animal strives to exterminate weak piglets that are incapable of further existence. There are also sows that are aggressive and do not accept their cubs.

Lack of menstruation in a pig

Experts in the field of animal husbandry, answering the question of why a pig does not have periods, assure that this process is not typical for it. After all, the pig gets by with estrus, that is, the follicles mature in the ovaries, and the process of ovulation occurs. A “hunt” occurs in the pig, characterized by a certain psychophysiological state. This moment is optimal for mating.

A pig can feel “hunted” up to several times a year; the genitals secrete thick mucus, which helps sperm enter the uterus.

Pregnancy period

An important question for a farmer is how to know that a pig will farrow soon in order to prepare in time. The average pregnancy is one hundred and fifteen days. It is also divided into two time periods, namely:

• the first eighty-five days;
• last thirty.

The first period includes a stage of embryonic development at a low level, as well as a small metabolism. This cannot be said about the second period, when the level of intrauterine development is enhanced, as well as metabolism. It should be noted that at this time the diet must be increased by about twenty percent.

Feeding pregnant sows

Weight, age, gestation period and time of year determine the feeding habits of the pig.

How can you tell if a pig is pregnant or not?

The presence of nutrients in food is mandatory, because the development of fruits and the health of the animal itself depend on it. A balanced diet is also necessary. After all, obesity also has a bad effect on offspring. The level of weight gain over the entire period should be no more than half a centner.

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People who breed pigs and keep animals at home will someday have to deal with such a process as the pregnancy of their pigs (pregnancy). A distinctive feature of pigs, in comparison with other domestic animals, is the ability to bear offspring twice a year. In order for the sow to farrow successfully and be able to give birth to healthy piglets, the owner must know all the nuances of this process.

Pig pregnancy

Pig pregnancy is one of the most complex processes in the animal’s body, which occurs with a lethargic state and signs of toxicosis. In addition, the sow’s body volume increases significantly.

The average pregnancy duration for pigs is 115 days (about 4 months). The optimal weight for a sow is considered to be 120 kilograms, which will allow her to successfully bear offspring. Mating can be carried out starting from 10-11 months of life.

The owner must be able to determine whether his pig is pregnant, so as not to miss precious time for a quick replenishment. Today, many farmers use several methods by which they can determine whether a pig is in position, these include:

• Clinical;
• Laboratory;
• Visual.

After copulation with the inseminating boar, already on the 3-4th day you can try to determine the first stage of pregnancy (only if successful fertilization has occurred). It is easily confirmed by the presence of a number of specific signs.

The main signs by which you can determine the pregnancy of a pig

The symptoms that occur in a pregnant pig can vary. The earliest manifestation of pregnancy in a sow is the cessation of sexual heat, which occurs with increased calm and a kind of lethargy of the animal. Very often she loses her appetite, which soon returns with greater force, she walks little and sleeps a lot of time.

If there is no hunting for 15-30 days after mating with a boar, then the owner can count on a quick litter. This method of determining the pregnancy of pigs is the most common among farmers who raise pigs at home.

In addition to this sign, you can notice many visual changes in a pig that occur during pregnancy: an increase in abdominal volume, swelling and hyperemia of the mammary glands. But these signs of determining pregnancy become noticeable only from the second half of pregnancy. Pregnancy can also be determined by the rapid increase in body weight of the sow, which is characteristic of pregnancy.

To summarize, the following signs of pregnancy can be identified:

• Atypical condition of the pig (lack of craving for food and normal sleep at the beginning of pregnancy);
• Mild hyperemia and enlargement of the nipples (when squeezed, colostrum is released from them);
• Lack of hunting;
• The appearance of a large amount of mucous discharge from the external genital organs;

To obtain the most accurate information and make sure that the sow is really pregnant, you need to conduct a rectal examination by feeling the pulsation of the uterine arteries. But the most reliable information can be provided by an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. This method can calculate the pulsation of the fetus inside the mother's uterus.

A biopsy is considered an equally effective method for determining pregnancy. During this study, a tissue sample is taken from the female's vagina and examined under a microscope in the laboratory.

At the extreme stages of gestation, the offspring can be felt by feeling with your hands - palpation. To carry it out, the pig is laid on its side and the abdominal cavity (at the level of the nipples) is felt with soft, gentle movements.

Pig pregnancy period

The normal duration of pregnancy in pigs is 115 days, or almost 4 months. In young sows, a short delay of up to 5-6 weeks may occur, which is not a serious pathology. Older sows, on the contrary, often under-bear their offspring and piglet a little earlier than expected (about 7-10 days).

The pig is prolific, meaning it can give birth to two or more piglets at one time. But calculating exactly how many cubs are in a litter at home is unrealistic. To a large extent, this depends on several factors: the age of the female and her productivity. According to statistics, one mature sow aged 1-3 years can give birth to 10-12 piglets per pregnancy. In special cases, the number reaches 15-16.

Pregnant pig diet

For successful gestation of the offspring, the owner must take care of the diet of the sow, which he keeps at home. The best feeding option is to enrich the diet with cereals. In summer, the food base can be diluted with fresh grass.

False pregnancy

Some farmers may observe a phenomenon called false pregnancy in pigs, during which all the signs of real pregnancy are present. Many people are concerned about this process, and they are afraid to confuse it with pregnancy.

In order not to be left with a nose, you need to take the process of mating pigs very seriously, and in order to avoid any risks of the appearance of false signs, the pig is gradually mated with not one, but several males. You can understand for sure whether the sow has been conceived in another simple way. After mating, the female is allowed to approach the boar, and if she shows increased aggression towards him and does not allow the male to approach her, fertilization can be considered successful.

To determine a suitable individual for the role of a sow, it is necessary to conduct a detailed examination of all pigs on the farm. The future sow must be completely healthy, moderately well-fed and have a good appetite. It is desirable to have an elongated body shape, soft delicate skin, a strong physique and fully developed 12 nipples. Such signs guarantee the quality of the future sow and a healthy offspring.

The healthiest pigs are allowed to breed

It is worth carrying out a set of preparatory procedures in advance, and not waiting until the pig begins to give birth. There are a number of factors that affect the quality of gestation. Pig pregnancy is calmer, increasing the likelihood of developing healthy offspring, and directly depends on the quality of nutrition. The sow's daily diet should contain vitamins and immune-strengthening drugs. Worming is also carried out regularly throughout pregnancy. In addition, while the pig is bearing offspring, it must be protected from possible infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Breed selection

Among the huge number of different breeds of pigs, farmers became interested in breeding the Hungarian Mangalica downy pigs. They are valuable because both lard and meat from this breed of pigs have a special taste, being considered a delicacy. Breeding Mangalitsa pigs is a profitable business, as the small exotic piglets are in demand and sell for good money.

Mangalitsa pig with piglets

When purchasing young stock, remember that this breed of pig is quite rare today, so to ensure its purity, it is recommended to read the documents. Ideally, it is better to buy young Mangalitsa from a farm where you can see the parents of the piglet. This is the only way to minimize the risk of purchasing non-purebred pigs, from which you will not make a profit in the future. All that remains of the great idea is the name.

The first farrow of a pig of this breed is not the most productive. The peak is reached only after the second birth.

Therefore, only those farmers who have firmly decided to maintain it for a long time should invest their money in the cultivation of mangalitsa. Otherwise, the business will simply become unprofitable.

The physiology of breeding and gestation of Mangalitsa are no different from representatives of other breeds. But the demand for Mangalitsa products and young animals increases every year, and is a very profitable investment of your money. Hungarian downy pigs will add a touch of exoticism to any farm's artiodactyl herd.

Mangalitsa pig

Duration of pregnancy of sows

By standard, a pig's pregnancy lasts for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, or 114 days. This is the average duration of pregnancy for a sow of any breed, but as practice shows, birth can occur after 101 days or after 126.

According to statistics, farrowing of pigs on day 114 occurs in only a quarter of pregnant mothers. For the rest, the due date occurs earlier than the specified standard or later. So it is not possible to determine the exact time of birth of a sow based on gestational age.

Let's return again to the statistics, which claim that the due date for 95% of pigs falls from 110 to 118 days. The pig may farrow on any of these nine days.

Therefore, when calculating the day of birth, the exact number that falls under the 110th day of gestation is entered into the pregnancy calendar.

If the sow was kept with other animals before farrowing, then a few days before the expected date of birth she is transferred to a separate room. The important day is calculated using the sow's pregnancy calendar. There is a specially created standard table in which the insemination dates are written in the first column, and the name of the month in the top line. The table works very simply. If you draw lines from the date and month of fertilization of the pig, then at their intersection will be the date when the sow needs to be placed in a separate pen. The pig is scheduled to farrow on one of the next nine days.

Don't forget that one in a hundred pigs may still give birth earlier than planned.

Farrowing occurs between 110 and 118 days of pregnancy

Preparing for childbirth and signs of farrowing

From the day of mating, you need to keep an accurate count of days in order to be able to approximately determine the date of future birth.

As mentioned earlier, a pig's pregnancy lasts for 114 days, but there are cases of delay when labor begins 4-5 days after the due date.

Before farrowing, the sow behaves restlessly. She either lays down, or suddenly jumps up from her place. You can also detect a significant enlargement of the genitals and swelling of the nipples. Signs that a pig is about to farrow are a sagging belly, a sagging spine, milk leaking from the nipples and the presence of mucous discharge from the vagina.

At this time, they stop feeding the sow, pouring her a sufficient amount of clean water. Now she cannot be allowed out of the pen for a walk until she gives birth.

The future farrowing of a pig must be approached responsibly and prepared:

• clean cloth or piece of burlap;
• threads with scissors;
• weak (pink) solution of manganese;
• basket or box for newborns.

Just before giving birth, the pig tries to find a separate, secluded corner, where piglets are most often born at night. The pig itself will let you know by its behavior how long you need to wait and when the birth will come to its logical conclusion. There are no special signs to remember here.

Before giving birth, the pig often lies down

At least 7 days before the expected day when labor is due to begin, the room must be cleaned and disinfected. To do this, using a hose, a stream of water is directed under pressure onto the floor to clean it. After drying the floor, we begin to disinfect it with chemicals, the remains of which must be removed. After this, the floor is covered with clean, fresh straw.

The bedding must be constantly dry, so you need to ensure that it is replaced in a timely manner. For additional heating of the room it is equipped with an infrared lamp.

The litter must be kept clean at all times

Farrowing a pig at home

The sow usually copes with the farrowing process on her own, so giving birth at home without the involvement of a veterinarian is normal. The physical strength of the pig plays an important role here.

If normal attempts are recorded, then the duration of farrowing should not last more than 4 hours, however, with weak attempts, labor can delay the birth of the offspring by 10 hours.

No matter how long labor lasts, throughout the entire process the sow will experience heavy breathing and strong contractions of the abdominal muscles. The number and intensity of pushing increases, as a result of which piglets begin to emerge from the uterus of the pig at a certain interval. The amniotic membrane must rupture after passing through the birth canal.

If a piglet was born wrapped in hymen, you need to help him and tear it apart yourself. Otherwise, the baby will simply suffocate.

After the piglets are born, they are immediately wiped dry and the mucus is removed from the mouth. It's time to deal with the umbilical cord. It is cut using scissors at a distance of at least 5 cm to the abdomen. After this, the edge of the umbilical cord is cauterized by dipping it in an iodine solution.

Pig with newborn piglets

To prevent hypothermia, the piglets are placed in a basket, covered and placed under an infrared lamp for additional heating.

If childbirth takes place at home, then it is worth taking care of the fate of the placenta. The main action here is to wait. If the placenta has not come out within three hours, then do not delay calling the veterinarian, since retention is a pathological phenomenon.

If the afterbirth came out without problems, then it must be quickly destroyed without leaving time and the opportunity for the pig to eat it. If the moment is missed, such negligence will lead to the desire of the sow to eat her cubs. Before feeding your piglets for the first time, express some milk yourself, making the task easier for them.

During the hot season, American farmers pour water over the sow during the birthing process. After such procedures, contractions become more frequent, and childbirth is less painful.

No matter how much is said about the external health and strength of the pig, keeping the animal in a small room and rare walks can provoke weakening of the muscles and, as a result, weak attempts during farrowing. Therefore, in order not to call a veterinarian, provide the pigs with a decent existence, and you will not have to spend money on doctors.

It is impossible to imagine breeding pigs without insemination. Young females begin to appear at the age of ten months, but only on condition that the live weight of the animal is more than 10 kilograms. Before fertilization, the individual must be healthy, active and without signs of obesity. Hunting occurs approximately every 20 days.

This article describes in detail the signs of heat, which will tell you when an individual is ready to mate. In addition, you will learn what methods of mating pigs exist and how to carry them out correctly.

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.

The best results are achieved if not only a boar of a different breed is used for mating, but also a boar of a different productivity direction. For example, the boar is taken from the Estonian bacon breed, and the uterus belongs to the meat and fat breed of productivity. With this crossing, the offspring is more resilient and productive, and the carcasses contain more meat than the carcasses of a large white breed.

Note: Before using a boar from another farm, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian.

Gilts are coated twice: immediately after detection of heat, and the second time after about 18 hours. The second time it is recommended to use a different boar. This is done to increase the fertility of the sow and produce higher quality piglets. From the video you will learn how to practically determine the sexual heat of an animal.

Frequency of hunting

Heat in females that are ready for pregnancy by age and weight occurs regularly. If after mating insemination does not occur, heat will occur again after 21 days. However, depending on the individual characteristics of the individual, this period can range from 18 to 24 days.

An interesting phenomenon is also observed in animals: a female can bear cubs of different ages. Accordingly, two farrows occur with a very short interval. This is explained by the fact that some females, even after pregnancy, may show signs of heat and the boar is reintroduced.

Pig mating - video

Fertilization is not always successful. It may not come from an illness of the female herself, and if the boar has poor sperm, or there are irregularities in the maintenance and feeding of the pig, fertilization does not always occur.

To get a healthy offspring, after about 2-3 weeks the pregnant individual is carefully monitored. An individual is considered to be pregnant if signs of heat do not appear 22 days after the last mating. However, if signs of heat appear again, she is prompted to another boar.

Figure 2. Natural and artificial insemination

Large farms also practice artificial insemination. This allows you to control the quality and quantity of offspring, and also ensures high productivity of breeding young animals. In addition, with artificial insemination, you can choose the breed of boar whose sperm will be used for fertilization. Figure 2 shows the basic principles of artificial and natural insemination. The procedure for artificial insemination is given in the video.

How many days does a pig walk?

After the first signs of heat appear, estrus begins. As a rule, it lasts from 40 to 60 hours (2-3 days). At this time, insemination should be carried out. If fertilization does not occur, the heat will appear again.

How many days later does he walk again?

On average, repeated heat (in case of unsuccessful fertilization) occurs after 3 weeks. But taking into account the individual characteristics of animals, this period can vary from 20 to 24 days.

It is important to determine whether an individual is capable of becoming pregnant in principle. Some of them are not suitable for breeding. Fertilization does not occur, and such animals are usually sent for slaughter.

All the subtleties of the mating process

Natural mating is a fairly simple process. It is enough just to bring the female to the male. But to obtain productive and healthy offspring, you need to select the right pairs of animals. In some cases, preference should be given not to natural, but to artificial insemination, which provides more guarantees that pregnancy will occur the first time.

Matching

Boar productivity plays a particularly important role. Ideally, you need to check his seminal fluid before the tip. Since it is difficult to do this at home, the male and female are selected according to breed and physical parameters.

Note: The best indicator of high productivity of a boar is healthy offspring. Therefore, be sure to take an interest, or, if possible, even look at the young animals born from a certain male.

The female, which will be used for breeding for the first time, is selected solely by external characteristics. It must be fully consistent with the breed and have no external defects or serious health problems. It’s easier with individuals that have already been fertilized before. It is enough to evaluate the quality of their offspring.

What are the mating methods?

Mating can be natural or artificial. Each of these types has some characteristics. Natural can be manual and free. With the manual method, the female is placed with a specific boar one or more times.

In free mating, the boar is in a pen with several females and fertilizes them. However, in this case, the quality of sperm and future offspring decreases, and the boar quickly loses productivity.

Artificial insemination is considered more effective. In this case, the likelihood of fertilization increases, since the sperm is injected into the vagina by a veterinarian. In addition, with artificial insemination it is easier to select a breed, and seed material can be stored on the farm for several years.

Pig mating technology

Mating, including natural mating, requires adherence to a certain technology. If insemination is carried out artificially, you need to bring the female to the male, and not vice versa. A boar, finding itself in unfamiliar conditions, begins to explore the area, its interest and sexual activity decreases.

Note: It is advisable that there are no unauthorized persons in the pen during this process. Any yelling, prodding or stroking will only make the situation worse. The longer the male and female sniff each other, the higher the likelihood that fertilization will be successful.

The technology for artificial insemination is different. A pig that is in heat is placed in a special separate pen. The veterinarian uses special instruments to inject seminal fluid into the female's genital tract. In some cases, after semen, the animal is administered a glucose-saline solution to increase the likelihood of successful fertilization.