Every pig farmer should know how to choose a sow, what signs can determine pregnancy, how long a pig’s pregnancy lasts, what determines its duration. This knowledge will help to identify deviations from the norm in time and take the necessary measures, because the profit of the farm directly depends on the quality of the offspring.
Offspring after farrowing
Sow selection
The quality of the offspring and the number of piglets, and hence the profit of the farmer, depend on the correct choice of the sow. A pig for reproduction is selected by evaluating its multiplicity and fertility. In doing so, the following indicators are taken into account:
- Average number of piglets per litter (only live pigs are counted).
- The mass of each piglet.
- The number of piglets surviving to one month of age.
- Number of lactation periods.
Sow fertility is evaluated according to the following criteria:
- When the first hunt came.
- How long does the sexual cycle last (the shorter it is, the better).
- How many unsuccessful matings a particular pig had.
- The number and shape of nipples are taken into account – individuals with funnel-shaped nipples and those with less than 12 are culled.
The choice is also influenced by the pig’s weight gain in infancy, because a potential sow per tribe begins to be selected long before the onset of puberty. If by two months the piglet gains weight of 18-24 kilograms, it is taken into account. In the future, from the selected females, those who have a good appetite, are distinguished by a wide back and reach a mass of 120 kilograms at the age of ten months are selected.
Reference. Of the possible candidates, preference is given to females with a calm character.
Pig pregnancy calendar
The gestational age in pigs is easier to calculate if you have a special document. It fixes the estimated date of fertilization of the female, starting from which you can plan the time of farrowing.
Pregnancy calendar
The pig pregnancy calendar serves as a reference for the farmer and helps to prepare for the birth of the offspring. With the help of such a document it is impossible to know exactly when the sow farrows, but it is easier to observe the changes taking place with it. Focusing on the expected date of farrowing, the farmer can notice signs of its approach in time.
Definition of pregnancy
It is very important for the farmer to determine exactly whether a pig has become pregnant after mating or artificial insemination. You can find this out in different ways:
- During a veterinary visit.
- With the help of a test.
- Doppler accessories.
- With the help of ultrasound.
- After the biopsy.
It is possible to determine pregnancy at an early date at home. A fertilized sow usually behaves calmer, her appetite improves, and a curdled secret is released from the vagina.
Reference. If more than 15 days have passed after mating, and the female has no signs of hunting, she is considered pregnant.
Consider the rest of the methods for determining pregnancy in detail. All of them have a high degree of accuracy, but some of them have drawbacks.
Test
The serological test allows you to determine pregnancy at the earliest possible date. Already 22 days after mating, testing can be carried out. Venous blood is taken from the pig (usually from the area near the ear) and examined for hormone levels. Such testing is rarely used in Russia because of its high cost.
Serological test
Examination by a specialist
A veterinarian, using a rectal examination, is able to determine pregnancy in a pig as early as the third week. At the same time, he assesses the condition of the middle uterine artery – at this time it significantly increases in size. However, more accurate data can be obtained when the animal is examined by a specialist 6 weeks after the intended conception. At this time, the uterine artery vibrates strongly. On this basis, pregnancy is determined.
Doppler accessories
Doppler diagnostics is considered the most accurate, it is used starting from the 26th day after the fertilization of the female. Its principle is based on listening to sound vibrations produced by the blood flow in the uterine arteries. Also, the Doppler device captures movements inside the uterus and transmits data on the heartbeat of the fetus. The following factors can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis:
- Inexperience of a specialist in using the device.
- Infectious diseases of the animal.
- Freezing of the embryo.
US
One of the most accessible and accurate methods for determining pregnancy is ultrasound. With the help of a sensor, images of the uterine cavity of the female are displayed on the monitor screen. This allows you to see the presence of embryos or fetuses in it, evaluate their parameters, and also diagnose some developmental pathologies.
Biopsy
This method also deserves attention, because it gives accurate results. It involves taking biomaterial from the sow from the vagina. The veterinarian removes a small piece of tissue with a special tool, places it in a test tube and sends it to the laboratory for analysis. The disadvantages of this technique:
- High cost.
- Long wait for results.
How long does a pregnant pig walk?
The gestation period in pigs lasts about 114 days. This is an average indicator, since many different factors affect the duration of pregnancy.
The gestation period in pigs
Those who raise pigs will say that a pregnant sow walks for 3 months plus three weeks and three days. In practice, everything can happen differently – pregnancy can end in 102 days or in 125 days. Experts say that almost 95% of sows give birth in 110-118 days after fertilization.
Important! It is believed that if the sow has farrowed in less than 110 days, the piglets may not be viable.
Factors affecting the duration of pregnancy
The duration of the gestation period is directly dependent on the following factors:
- From the age of the sow – mature sows bear offspring for fewer days.
- From the time of year – in summer, pregnancy in a pig lasts a little longer than in winter.
- From the number of piglets in the womb – if there are less than 6, gestation is slightly delayed.
- Influenced by belonging to a particular breed. For example, Vietnamese pigs walk a little more than 114 days, and large white pigs a few days longer.
- The duration of the gestation period also depends on the conditions in which the pigs are kept and the quality of nutrition.
- The first or second farrowing usually occurs later than all subsequent ones.
In order to regularly make a profit by breeding pigs, you need to have information regarding the duration of gestation, be able to recognize signs of pregnancy in a sow, and be able to navigate the farrowing calendar. This knowledge helps the farmer to notice any deviations and pathologies in animals in time and take measures to improve their maintenance. The quantity and quality of the offspring, and hence the profit, directly depend on the correct care of the animals.
