How to improve sow conception rates? Try these practical measures

Measures to improve sow conception rates include selecting good breeding boars and breeding sows, strengthening feeding management, doing a good job of estrus detection, and breeding at the right time. For breeding boars, choose those whose testicles are uniform in size and symmetrically arranged; for breeding sows, choose those with a long body and 14 teats. Strengthen feeding management so that breeding pigs maintain balanced nutrition. Do a good job of estrus detection; sows can only be bred after their estrus has stabilized. Breed at the right time to improve the conception rate.

1. Select good breeding boars

The libido of a breeding boar and its body condition are both greatly related to the quality of its semen. Poor semen quality can cause sows to come up empty and reduce the overall conception rate of the herd. Therefore, choose breeding boars that are healthy and free of disease, with testicles uniform in size and symmetrically arranged, and with obvious male characteristics.

2. Select good breeding sows

Choose young sows with a long body as breeding sows, and they must be healthy and free of disease. The quality of the teats is a crucial part of selecting breeding sows; generally, breeding sows with 14 teats are preferred, and the teats should be as large as soybeans, uniform in size, and arranged in pairs.

3. Strengthen feeding management

Strengthen the feeding management of breeding boars and breeding sows by keeping exercise regular, feed nutritious, breeding rational, daily life routine, and the environment comfortable, so that the breeding pigs maintain balanced nutrition. Also maintain a suitable boar-to-sow ratio in the herd to avoid overuse of boars. For artificial insemination, a boar-to-sow ratio of 1:250 is appropriate; for natural mating, 1:15-20 is appropriate.

4. Do a good job of estrus detection

The estrous cycle of sows is usually 20—21 days. Weaned sows generally begin estrus 3-7 days after weaning, and sows can only be bred after their estrus has stabilized. If a sow does not come into estrus, take measures to promote estrus: you can use a boar to stimulate her, or wean the piglets early, or stimulate her by merging litters, giving appropriate exercise, massaging the udder, reducing the amount fed, and other methods, or use drugs to induce estrus.

5. Breed at the right time

The estrous cycle of sows is usually 20—21 days, each lasting 3—5 days. Generally, breeding within 24-48 hours after the sow comes into estrus makes conception easy. Using double mating, that is, breeding the sow with two boars, with an interval of 30 minutes to 2 hours between them, can improve the sow's pregnancy rate and farrowing rate.