Sow Artificial Insemination Technique Tutorial: Teaching You How to Inseminate a Sow

AbstractFirst, lubricate the sponge tip of the insemination catheter with semen or lubricating gel, then use your hand to part the sow's vulva, and slowly insert the catheter into the vagina at a slightly upward angle. When it has been inserted about 25-30cm, you will feel a bit of resistance; at this point the tip of the insemination catheter has reached the cervix. Then insert the insemination catheter, use scissors to cut off the top of the semen bottle cap, and then insert it onto the tail of the insemination catheter to carry out insemination.

I. How to Inseminate a Sow

1. When inseminating, first lubricate the sponge tip of the insemination catheter with semen or lubricating gel, which helps with inserting the catheter. At the same time, place a teaser boar outside the sow pen, which helps stimulate the sow's sexual desire and promote semen absorption. Then use your hand to part the sow's vulva, and slowly insert the insemination catheter into the vagina at a slightly upward angle. When it has been inserted about 25-30cm, you will feel a bit of resistance.

2. At this point the tip of the insemination catheter has reached the cervix. Then use your hand to rotate the insemination catheter left and right, and with a slight push, the tip enters the 2nd-3rd fold of the cervix. Generally, a sow in good estrus will lock onto the catheter, and you will feel some resistance when pulling back, which confirms that the catheter has entered the cervix, and insemination can then be carried out.

3. Generally, when inseminating with a semen bottle, after inserting the insemination catheter, you can use scissors to cut off the top of the semen bottle cap, and then insert it onto the tail of the insemination catheter to carry out insemination. When inseminating with a semen bag, you only need to insert the tail of the insemination catheter into the opening of the semen bag. To facilitate semen absorption, you can cut 1 opening in the bottom of the semen bottle and use air pressure to promote absorption.

4. During insemination, the inseminator should massage the sow's vulva or inner thigh, which helps increase the sow's sexual desire. The inseminator straddling the sow's back facing backward and then massaging also produces a fairly noticeable effect. The normal insemination time needs to be the same as natural mating, generally 3-10 minutes.

5. To avoid backflow of semen, after finishing insemination, do not rush to pull out the insemination catheter. You can remove the semen bottle or bag, fold the tail of the insemination catheter, and insert it into the opening of the uncapped semen bottle or bag. This not only avoids air entering but also prevents semen backflow.

II. Precautions for Feeding Sows

1. Generally, meeting the supply of nutrients is necessary to ensure the normal growth and development of the sow and fetus. The nutrients the sow obtains from the diet first meet the needs of fetal growth and development, then supply the sow itself, while also storing nutrients for lactation. In production, in addition to supplying the sow with sufficient energy and protein feed, it is also necessary to meet its needs for minerals and vitamins.

2. Generally, the diet fed to pregnant sows must be hygienic and of guaranteed quality. It is not advisable to feed moldy, frozen, toxic, or strongly irritating feed, otherwise it can easily cause miscarriage. Also, be careful not to casually change the feed variety and formula. When feeding green and coarse feed, feed small amounts and add frequently, and let the sow drink clean water at all times.