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best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 3:56 pm
by ddwil
was wanting to know when the best or optimal timing is to AI a sow or gilt. Is it when the swelling has gone down in their vulva and they are pink inside and have a sticky mucus OR is it when their vulva is still swollen and red and they have a sticky mucus inside their vulva? Just wanting some clarification as to us being new at this and wanting to get it right the first time. Thank you

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 8:37 pm
by 7block
24hrs after first standing heat and 12hrs later for sows and 12hrs for gilts in general. Know your breeding gilts and sow's cycles they vary. Normally after discharge the next day they should be in good estrus.But like i said they can vary in heat cycles. Have a journal for your breeders. Check your sows and gilts twice a day to learn there cycles.

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 8:58 pm
by ddwil
not a lot of help, but thanks for the reply

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:46 am
by buckibri
The advice above is correct but I’ll try to add more detail.

1. Pigs heat cycle is 21 days but always can vary a few days plus minus.
2. Watch the female heat patterns and record standing heat to better time semen.
3. When you certify gilt is in standing heat try to breed about 12 hours later, then next dose 12 hours after that. Semen needs a few hours to migrate in order to fertilize the eggs. Semen typically will live 24 hours in the gilt.
4. I would recommend you breed three times for higher conception chance and larger litter size potential. Especially with litter experience of your part.
5. Always better to be slightly early as opposed to late breeding.

Gilts can have shorter heat periods than sows so sows are typically bred 24 hours after first heat and then again 24 hours later.

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:56 am
by ddwil
ok good information that helps. Thanks. Also, on my questions what in your experience are the best true signs that they are in standing heat, other than that they stand rigidly and their ears are popping, because they don't always do these things

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:51 pm
by zachqhooker
If they are stimulated properly, they will always do those things. If they are not standing rigidly with their ears popping, they are either not in heat or are not getting properly stimulated. I would recommend watching a boar, or watching a video of a boar getting ready to breed a sow. It’s not pretty. By that I mean the boar is not gentle. He roots around on their flank, sometimes pushing the sow hard enough to move her. Then mounting can be quite the ordeal. This will give you an idea of how to properly stimulate her. If properly stimulated they will stand rigidly and their ears will twitch.
Now—that being said, if they are not doing that and you are certain that you have done all you can, this is where it is important to check heat cycles prior to breeding. The most important thing is noticing a change. We use boar spray as it’s easy and reliable. When not in heat, many sows will rub on you or the fence when they are not in heat (after spraying it on their nose). Others run away. As they get closer to standing, some will get aggressive upon smelling it, others will want more. Then, when they are in, they will typically stop and look back out of the corner of their eye. Some will try to follow the boar spray. Others will lock up right away and their ears will twitch. Moral of the story: they all behave differently, but you are looking for the change in attitude.
As far as your vulva question: typically on all of our sows and gilts, standing comes right as the swelling starts to subside. So they’ll be swollen for a few days, then immediately following that the swelling will start to go down and they will stand. While they are all different this should be standard across all sows as it has to do with hormones and blood flow.

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:03 pm
by zachqhooker
Also—look up some GnRH threads on here. (Cystorelin, Fertagyl, etc.)
If you are unsure about timing, a shot of that immediately following the second dose will help with timing of ovulation.

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:08 pm
by buckibri
As to swelling and mucous discharge - in my experience these can be highly variable across pigs and heat cycles.

Some gilts can have strong heat with little to no swelling of the vulva at all while others it is very obvious.

If you don’t have A teaser boar the boar in a can stuff can work well. I always have A teaser boar as you can’t make the sight and smell up for the girls.

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:05 pm
by bcbully

Re: best timing for AI-HELP!

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:08 pm
by ddwil
All good thoughts and insights, thank you