HEAT DETECTION & THE RIGHT MOMENT FOR MATING SOWS

INTRODUCTION

When a sow comes into heat, she displays a number of changes both in behaviour and to the sexual
organs. This has to be detected during the daily oestrus checks and based on the findings; the mating
moment has to be decided.

It is known that ovulation takes place at roughly 70% of the total period of standing in heat.In order to
obtain the maximum results, insemination should take place between 24 hours before ovulation and the
moment of ovulation. The onset of oestrus in most units is well known but unfortunately hardly any
farmer is aware of the end of oestrus period. When one records for a while both the onset and the end
of oestrus, an analysis can be done leading to an optimal mating/insemination strategy for that specific
unit. This can be done using TOPIGS software PIGSIS.

A scheme to be used to determine the right moment of mating

It is important that the heat indicators for the type of pig being worked with are well recognised, so that
the right moment for mating can be determined, and therefore good results can be achieved. To
determine the moment that animals are in heat, it is necessary to check the weaned sows and gilts
ready for mating twice a day. This is best done in the morning and afternoon just after feeding. The
period during wich animals show signs of heat with teaser boar present is most of the time longer than
the period that they show heat without the boar present (for the man alone).For this reason, 1st check
without the teaser boar present and then check again with the teaser boar. This testing of oestrus with
the teaser boar present can be done during insemination of the sows that are ready for mating.

Be aware that there are differences in the behaviour of sows between farms and between breeds, not
only in showing heat also in the interval weaning to mating and the duration of oestrus and thus the
moment of ovulation.

Heat should not only be checked for in recently weaned sows and gilts to be mated, but also in the
group of sows that were mated 3 weeks before. Apart from that, a daily check of the remaining
pregnant sows makes it possible to recognise abortions and other returns.

DAY 1 TO 3 AFTER WEANING

Check the sows with the teaser boar present. Those sows showing clear signs of oestrus have to be
marked but are not mated untill 24 hours after they first show signs of standind in heat.

DAY 4 AFTER WEANING

Check sows for standing in heat without the teaser boar present. Sows standing in heat for the 1st time
for the man alone can be inseminated late in the afternoon or even the next morning.

Check again with the boar present to identify those sows that are coming in heat. Again indicate these
sows clearly (marker)

Repeat the same procedure in the afternoon. Sows showing signs of heat for the man alone can be
inseminated the next morning.

DAY 5 AFTER WEANING

Check sows for standing in heat without the teaser boar present. Sows standing in heat for the 1 st time
for the man alone can be inseminated later in the morning or in the aternoon.

Check again with the boar present (while inseminating the other sows) to identify those sows that are
coming in heat. Again indicate these sows clearly (marker)

Repeat the same procedure in the afternoon. Sows showing signs of heat for the man alone can be
inseminated directly in the afternoon.

DAY 6 OR MORE AFTER THE WEANING

Check sows for standing in heat with the teaser boar present. Sows standing in heat for the 1st time have
to be inseminated the same morning.

Repeat the same procedure in the afternoon. Sows showing signs of heat have to be inseminated
directly

Sows have to be re-inseminated between 18-20 hours after the 1st insemination when they still show
signs of heat (preferably for the man alone).

MATING/ INSEMINATION MANAGEMENT

NATURAL INSEMINATION: mating should be done in quiet environment. The boar should fit the sow in
terms of size and weight. The floor of the servicing pen should be non-slip to avoid loss of footing by the
boar. A careful check should be made that the boar actually does mate, and if necessary he should be
assisted. The boar should be allowed to comnplete the mating. Do not allow too many boars to mate at
the same time in adjacent pens where this might be distracting.

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION: the sows should be prepared for insemination by applying presure to the
flanks and back. When it has been ascertained that the right time has been chosen to mate, the sow can
be inseminated in proximity to a boar. Before insemination the vulva should be cleaned with a dry paper
towel. The clean pipette should be inserted in an upright direction (taking care to avoid insertion in
urethra) and turned home or pushed into the cervix; the pipette should then be lowered to check for
correct insertion.When urine flows out, the pipette apparently has been inserted in the urethra. In this
case remove the catheter and use a new one for a second attempt. While stimulating the sow, semen is
introduced. Stimulation can be given, for example, by the tehnician sitting on the back of the sow
putting presure on the flanks, by the use of a heavy mating bag providing weight and pressure, or by the
use of a mating clamp again putting pressure on the flanks of the sow. Never put presure on the semen
container (bottle or tube) but allow the sow to absorb the semen by uterine contractions. Newer types
of semen containers (plastic bag, blister, flexi-tube) hinder adding pressure and facilitate the
insemination technique. Using these packs and a ‘hanging device’ , one technician can easily inseminate
5 sows at the same time.

HEAT STIMULATION

Extra stimulating measures that can be taken to encourage heat are, amongst others:
GILTS: transfer gilts at an age of 6 months to the mating section and accommodate them between the
weaned sows, in the proximity of a boar. The feed ration can be increased 1 week before intended
mating (flushing).
SOWS: housing sows in groups after weaning may encourage heat. Following mating however, the sows
should be individually housed in stalls till at least 30 days of pregnancy. Allowing sows to walk free
(outside or in the mating section) for several hours a day stimulates heat. Moving the animals to other
pens when they di not come in heat within 7 days after weaning stimulates heat. The presence of the
boar and the daily heat check with the teaser boar has a heat stimulating effect, The mating section
should be well illuminated (1x40 Watt tube per 15 to 20 m2 lit for 16 hours per day providing 150 Lux
per animal on eye level). Changes in feed and feed ration can encourage and stimulate coming in heat
(for example the temporary provision of piglet or finisher feed)

When despite all, problems are encountered in coming in heat, hormones can be used for heat
induction (e.g. PG600). Use of hormones, however, should never become a routine. Be sure to never use
oestradiol for the purpose of heat stimulation where this only enhances heat signs and has no influence
on the ovulation!

The following guidelines for the use of PG600 should be used:

Should a number of sows from a weaning grup show no signs of heat within 10 days following weaning,
it can be assumed that the cycle has failed to start. These animals can be injected 10 days after weaning.

Sows that do not react on this injection may be injected again 22 days after weaning (probably these
sows have hav ‘silent heat’ or the heat has gone unnoticed (possibly in the farrowing crate)