One of the essential elements of pig life is mating. It is useful both for them, since it implements the life program inherent in the animal, and for breeders, as it allows you to control and reproduce the livestock. For the process to go smoothly, you need to know how pairing occurs.
At what age are pigs ready
From 5–6 months of age, puberty begins in pigs. Nevertheless, animals are not ready for mating and breeding of offspring - the testes, as well as the mammary glands of sows, are still not fully formed in boars, and therefore mating at this age is fraught with defects in the offspring and inhibited development of the parents themselves.
The most optimal age for mating start is from 10 to 12 months. Sows should have a weight of more than 110 kilograms, boars - more than 125 kilograms. The most preferred time of the year is winter or the first month of spring.
How to find out when the pig is ready
The pig’s readiness is determined by the beginning of her hunt, the period during which ovulation occurs, and the animal’s behavior becomes more aggressive. Seeing the boar, the sow begins to call him, making specific sounds. The hunt lasts 2 days, a break between hunting periods - 21 days.
How to choose a female
When choosing a female, one should pay attention to her character - good mothers come out of sows with a calm temperament. Usually they are selected at the age of 4 to 5 months, mating is carried out after 10 months.
The weight of an individual should be at least 110 kilograms, and the age should be from 10 months to 4 years. The more relatives there were with a pig in the same litter, the greater its fertility. During the selection, attention is also paid to the nipples of the future mother - they must be convex, otherwise it will be difficult for the young to eat.Important! The male and female, selected for mating, should not be in kinship, as this will adversely affect the young gene pool and its survival.
How to choose a male
When choosing a male, attention is drawn to its size and physical condition so that it does not injure the female when mating.
Age should be from 10 months to 3 years, and weight - more than 125 kilograms. The characteristics of the cubs obtained after the last mating, as well as the total number of successful inseminations, are also taken into account.
How to mate pigs
There are two types of mating pigs - group and individual. When grouping, several females are assigned to one boar, which he will fertilize. With an individual, each animal is matched with a pair taking into account its individual characteristics.
With this reproduction, two approaches are used - homogeneous and heterogeneous. At the first, individuals with approximately the same physical data, fecundity, and gene pool are selected. In the second approach, animals showing low rates are mated with the most productive.
In addition, attention is paid to age. Young sows are preferred to mate with older boars, while more adult females are mixed with males of any age.
Important! It is desirable that the mating was carried out within the same breed.
Signs of hunting
Hunting in pigs is the period when estrus and ovulation occur in the sow. It is during the hunt that fertilization is guaranteed, and therefore it is important to be able to recognize it.
Hunting is determined by such signs:
- the pig becomes, bending its back, if you approach it from behind and put pressure on the lower back;
- sow throwing in the barn with a sudden stop and arching of the back, accompanied by irritable and restless behavior;
- blood and specific secretions from the genitals;
- urination becomes frequent;
- there is redness, swelling and an increase in the size of the genitals;
- loss of appetite or a fundamental change in eating habits.
Mating preparation
The main preparatory measure is a change in diet. For males, especially in group mating, a month and a half before the start of 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 the start of mating. In parallel, a check is made of the genitals of animals and their gene pool. Animals are given more time for walks so that they have good physical condition.
Did you know? A record farrow was recorded in 1961, when one sow gave birth to 34 pigs.
Mating process
The boar and sow are brought together. The process can take place both indoors and outdoors. The male takes care of the female for some time, after which sexual contact occurs. Animals begin the process both themselves and after stimulation.
The mating lasts from 15 minutes to half an hour, after which the animals are bred. To ensure success 12 hours after the first mating, the procedure is repeated. Some livestock farmers prefer not to breed pigs, but to leave together.
Some tips
The following tips should be followed:
- thick females, characterized by viscous abdomen, have less pronounced estrus and slower ovulation, and therefore they should be allowed to fertilize no less than 12 hours after the hunt began;
- if the female has a weak estrus, she is expelled from the pen. If she is ready to mate, she will go with the male towards the cage;
- the male should be familiar with the place in which the mating takes place, otherwise he may forget about the female and begin exploring a new territory for him;
- animals should be left alone - a person's presence can scare them away.
Pigs of different hybrids
When breeding hybrids, you need to know which breeds are needed to obtain it. If the hybrid is supposed to be meat, then the parents should belong to the meat breeds. The female and the male should have a good gene pool and a good history of breeding.
Pigs of different sizes
When reducing pigs of different sizes, attention is primarily paid to the male - if he is too heavy, then the female’s back is injured by its weight. In this regard, before mating, it is important to consider the physical characteristics of animals.
In addition, there are many special tools to help overcome the difference in size.
If the male is passive
Passivity is often the result of a violation of the rules for keeping a boar. First of all, it is worth revising its diet, making it more balanced, and reduce the number of mating. Perhaps the use of stimulants for pigs. In addition, there is a practice of accustoming animals to a stuffed female.
Did you know? Pigs featured in ancient Greek myths: catching a wild pig Psophida was one of the exploits of Heracles.
How to find out that a pig is covered
The indicator is the behavior of the female. She becomes lethargic and sleepy, reacts aggressively to the appearance of a boar. During the period when she must start the hunt again, the sow will still refuse contact with the male.
In addition, females become nervous and sharply react to the world around them, which is explained by their unusual well-being.
Breeding pigs is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to be able to select animals that can give good offspring and wait for sows to hunt. Both experienced pig farmers and beginners will cope with the correct breeding.
