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Breeding for only 1 litter per year: Bad idea?

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 1:35 am
by JTESLK
This is our first year breeding pigs and we just had two litters from our first time gilts. We want to focus on breeding for our fall show but some people are telling us we need to breed them at least twice a year. Would we run into fertility issues if we only breed for our fall fair each year? Off season breeding would only mean a loss of money. What are your thoughts?

Re: Breeding for only 1 litter per year: Bad idea?

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:27 pm
by mict71
In my opinion i would find some cheap semen and make a batch of feeders to sell. When you leave a sow open all summer they tend to put on extra weight. They are also harder to find in heat when you want to breed them. It also sometimes reduces the litter size of her next litter. To me it is better to make some cheap feeders than leave them open all summer.

Re: Breeding for only 1 litter per year: Bad idea?

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:54 pm
by colored_pigs
Late response but. Leaving them open causes them to release eggs each cycle. If you keep them bred they retain those eggs. I feel it keeps the sows productive longer. I agree keeps it easier to bred. When you have open for fewer days