How Do Wild Boars Reproduce? Master These Breeding Key Points

    I. Mating

Wild boars can generally produce 2 to 2.5 litters per year, with 8 to 16 piglets per litter. The optimal mating time is at 6 to 7 months of age and a body weight of 60 to 70 kg. Because wild boars have higher intelligence and sensitivity than ordinary domestic pigs, the mounting crate, artificial vagina, or manual semen collection methods cannot be used during mating; only natural mating can be used. Mating can take place when the sow is in estrus and allows the boar to mount. Generally, mating within 12 to 24 hours after estrus begins and mounting is allowed is effective. When the female wild boar can calmly accept mounting, or when the vulva changes from bright red to dark purple, from swollen to slightly wrinkled, or when the breeder presses the pig's hindquarters by hand and it stands still, these are all suitable times for mating. After the first mating, repeat the mating once at an interval of 6 to 8 hours to improve the conception rate. Before mating, debris in the female wild boar's pen should be moved out to prevent leg injuries or accidents. At the same time, use a 3% potassium permanganate solution to wipe and clean the female wild boar's external genitalia, then introduce the breeding boar for mating (the mating process takes about 30 minutes). After mating, let it drink water 1 hour later. If it is confirmed that the female wild boar has conceived, apply amitraz solution to its entire body 2 to 3 times to kill surface parasites, so as to prevent excessive rubbing and scratching by the female wild boar that could lead to abortion.

II. Farrowing Assistance

1. Preparation Before Farrowing

About 20 days before the expected farrowing date, wild boars should receive an intramuscular injection of E. coli vaccine, or 3 days before farrowing, an intramuscular injection of long-acting antibiotics. At the same time, thoroughly clean and wash the pen, and disinfect it with Lysol or potassium permanganate solution. After the cement floor dries, spread dry bedding straw, install the water trough and electric lights, fill the trough with enough clean water, and prepare the farrowing box (a warmth-keeping box should be prepared in the cold seasons of winter and spring), iodine tincture, degreased cotton balls, tying thread, and disinfected scissors, with dedicated personnel on duty to watch over, so as to prevent accidents when the female wild boar suddenly gives birth.

2. Precautions During Farrowing Assistance

The gestation period of female wild boars is generally around 114 days. Before farrowing, they begin to carry straw in their mouths, urinate frequently, defecate in irregular places, have a red and swollen vulva, breathe faster, and are unwilling to stand, all of which indicate that farrowing is imminent. Most sows lie on their side on the bedding straw and, after straining, deliver the piglets smoothly. When domestic pigs give birth, the head comes out first, while wild boars give birth with the hind legs and rump coming out first. Once a wild boar finishes farrowing, it immediately stands up and begins to produce milk. If too many piglets are born and there are not enough teats, feeding can be done in batches, or the piglets can be fostered to other female wild boars that are about to farrow or that have farrowed few piglets. However, insufficient milk after farrowing rarely occurs in female wild boars.

Each time the female wild boar delivers a piglet, the farrowing assistant should pick it up and use a towel soaked in 3% potassium permanganate solution to wipe the blood stains from the piglet's entire body and the mucus in its mouth. Leave the umbilical cord 4 to 5 cm long, tie it with thread, then cut it, apply iodine tincture to the cut, and cut off the upper and lower canine teeth on both sides of the mouth, then place the piglet into the previously prepared farrowing box. After farrowing is complete, mix norfloxacin into a paste and place it at the base of the piglet's tongue for it to swallow, to prevent intestinal diseases such as hemolytic yellow-white dysentery and edema-type E. coli. After 20 days of age, piglets should be vaccinated, and at 60 days of age, they should receive an intramuscular injection of the pig “triple vaccine.”

After the female wild boar has expelled all the placenta, the original bedding straw and blood stains should be removed completely, the floor disinfected, and clean chopped straw and other bedding material should be replaced promptly. Use 3% potassium permanganate solution to wipe the sow's teats and both sides, and at the same time inject 3.2 to 4 million units of penicillin intramuscularly into the neck of the female wild boar for two consecutive days, twice a day (with an interval of 8 to 12 hours each time), to prevent high fever and uterine inflammation in the female wild boar. Then place the piglets into the female wild boar's pen to let them suckle freely, feeding once every 4 hours for 4 consecutive days, to prevent the piglets from being crushed to death by the female wild boar. After that, observation of the piglets' and sow's defecation color and mental state should be strengthened, so as to detect diseases early and treat them early, ensuring healthy growth and development of the piglets and the female wild boar and improving breeding efficiency.