Mating and service unit

Chapter 5

Pig production
 Stimulation of oestrus
 Each sow must be able to see, smell and
touch at least one boar.
 To stimulate oestrus in sows, the sow must
have snout contact with boars or other sows.
 If the sow only shows wakely signs of
oestrus, it can help to stress them.
 Move them around in the pens.
 Change its roommate.
 Give the sow some high protein feed after
weaning.
 Boar contact
 The boar must be placed, so that it has direct contact
with as many sows as possible.
 Make sure that the boar only has contact with as
many sows, as you can inseminate in 30 min.
 After 30 min. the sows loose interest in the boar.
 To keep the boar interested, allow it to jump on a sow
some times.
 Surprise the sow, take the boars out of the service
unit 3 days before mating.
 Then the sow will be so happy to see the boar, that it
shows clear oestrus.
 Climate in the stable
 Keep temperature at 18-22 celcius.
 If its to hot, the sows wont eat.
 If its to cold, the sow will use a lot f energy to
keep warm.
 The unit must be well ventilated, to remove
ammonia from the air.
 The relative humidity must not exceed 80%
 Lighting
 From august to February the sows thinks its winter,
an then nature wont allow them to get pregnant.
 Because if they get pregnant now, they will give birth
to the piglets in the winter season.
 If that were in the nature, the piglets would die.
 We have to cheat them, with artificial lighting.
 So they think its summer time.
 16 hours a day there have to be bright light.
 100 lux is the lowest.
 You have to be able to read a newspaper in the
stables, without pinching your eyes.
 Sexual and oestrus cycle
 The oestrus cycle is when the sows
willingness to mate.
 The oestrus cycle lasts from one ovulation to
another.
 Gilts will normally show oestrus signs at the
age of 5 month and sows after its piglets have
been weaned.
 The oestrus cycle is 21 days.
 There are to periods in a oestrus cycle
 Pre-ovulation period
 Four days before ovulation, the hypophysis
secretes a follicle stimulating hormone, which
stimulates several folicles in the ovary.
 Pre-ovulation period
 While the folicles grow, they produce the
female hormone oestrogen.
 Oestrogen makes the sow show signs of
oestrus.
 Vulva will swell up, specially during 1 and 2
oestrus of gilts.
 Pre-ovulation behaviour
 Swollen and red vulva.
 Mucus, moist vulva.
 Reduced appetite.
 Restless behavior.
 Mounting other sows.
 Special grunting sounds.
 Ovulation period
 The hypophysis measures the amount of oestrogen,
when its high enough the hypophysis will secreting
the luteinizing hormone.
 This will cause the follicle to burst, and the eggs will
ovulate 24-36 hours after the beginning of the
ovulation period.
 The eggs will pass down the oviduct where the actual
fertilization takes place.
 The eggs can only survive four hours if they are not
fertilised.
 Therefore it is important that the sow is
served/inseminated before ovulation.
 Sperm cells can survive up to 24 hours in the oviduct.
 Ovulation behavior
 Swelling and redness of vulva is reduced.
 Still mucus, but thinner.
 Calm behaviour.
 Standing oestrus.
 Allows other to mount them. Passes the riding
test.
Sexual organs of the sow
 See page 68 in your book.
 Hormones
 FSH, folicle stimulating hormone.
 LH, luteinizing hormone.
 Oestrogen, the sexual hormone.
 Progesterone, pregnancy hormon.
 Prostagladine.
 Weaning to oestrus
 If you wean your sows on a Wednesday, the
first signs of oestrus will show the following
Sunday.
 90% will be ready for servicing Monday
morning.
 10% ready Tuesday morning.
 Always make sure that the sow has standing
oestrus.
 Duration of oestrus period
 Normal oestrus 60 hours.
 Vary from 30-140 hours.
 Ovulation, two third of the oestrus period.
 Most efficient period from 24 hours before to
4 after the ovulation.
 Always serve once a day during the oestrus
period.