how long is a pig in heat for?
Farming Friends Forum » Pigs
pigs in heat
(4 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Hi katie,
I have noticed that the boar makes a different sort of grunting noise when a gilt/sow is on heat. He seems to follow the gilt around and pushes at her side and sniffs her bottom!Sometimes you can see that the boar has mounted the gilt as there are scratches on her side where the boars feet have been and there is sometimes a red mark on the gilts back where the boar has been rubbing against her. Also vulva may be red and her bottom may be wet with the boars semen.
Gilts usually come into cycle every 3 weeks. Estrus occurs roughly every 21 days (until they are bred) and lasts for about 2-3 days.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriendsPosted 3 years ago # -
I am new to pigs (and to forums).I have 4 saddleback gilts 9 months old,and a boar 18 months old,they are not together but only a gate between them,the gilts dont seem to be coming into heat,i'd prefer not to have them all farrowing together, but 2,then the other 2, 6 weeks or so later,should i let 2 of them in with the boar or wait and see which 2 come into heat first,or are 9 month old gilts too young to be with a boar? I would be grateful for any advice.Eoin
EoinPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi Eoin,
Welcome to the farmingfriends forum.
I had 2 saddlebacks gilts and bred them with a saddleback boar from about 8 months old.Here's a useful link http://farmingfriends.com/what-age-to-breed-gilts-with-a-boar/ Commercially gilts can start breeding from 5-6months old.
I would put two of the gilts in with the boar. http://farmingfriends.com/breeding-gilts/
There are a number of ways that may help to stimulate estrus;
* Placing the gilts on full feed for 7-14 days prior to breeding helps to increase the ovulation rate.
* Exposure to the boar can sometimes set off the gilts cycle.
* Taking a gilt on a short journey can sometimes trigger the cycle.How to tell if a gilt is ready to breed.
There are a number of signs that may indicate that the gilt is ready to breed;
* Place pressure on the gilts back and she will just stand still.
* Her ears prick up.
* Tail may twitch.
* Vulva will be swollen and reddish.
* She may be restless and pacing up and down.
* The gilt may bark more often than normal.Hope this helps. Good luck and let us know how the gilts get on.
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriendsPosted 2 years ago #
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