How Can Wild Boar Reproductive Performance Be Improved? Scientific Feeding Management Is Key

     While providing technical guidance to some farmers, most of them reported that the reproductive rate of wild boars is too low, with some producing only 3 to 4 piglets per litter, which to a certain extent affects the economic benefits of wild boar farming. To address this problem, the author explains how to improve the reproductive performance of wild boars from 3 aspects of the reproductive process, namely the selection, feeding and breeding of boars and sows. Selecting good boars and sows is the prerequisite for improving the reproductive rate

Selection of breeding boars.The appearance requirements for breeding boars are grayish-black or reddish-brown coat color, coarse and sparse hair, small ear tips, long pointed snout, small head and abdomen, thin and tall legs, straight back without concavity, and sharp teeth. At the same time, they are required to show obvious sexual characteristics, a deep and broad forequarters, vigorous sexual function, and symmetrically developed testicles; over 18 months of age, tolerant of coarse feed, fast eating speed, large feed intake, and not picky about food. Such boars have strong mating performance. In addition, semen can also be collected from the vulva of a sow that has just finished mating for sperm quality examination. Although its density is less than half that of domestic pigs (within 100,000 per microliter), the sperm motility must be above 0.6.

Selection of sows.In farming wild boars, improving the reproductive rate must not come at the cost of sacrificing meat quality (rich gamey flavor) and reducing purity. Using local sows as dams can increase the number of piglets, but attention should be paid to ensuring that the purity of the offspring is at least no less than 25%, otherwise their various physiological and biochemical indicators will decline. Sows are required to be at 5 to 6 months of age and reach 40 kg to 60 kg in body weight before they can be mated. While considering purity, sows are required to have good reproductive performance and breeding condition, a delicate face, good structure, fast eating, good spirits, strong maternal instinct, no fewer than 4 pairs of functional teats, and well-developed udder, teats and vulva. Multiparous sows are required to have no record of miscarriage or stillbirth. Raising boars and sows well is the foundation for improving the reproductive rate

Raising breeding boars well.1. Prevent boars from becoming too fat. Boars were originally wild beasts that fed mainly on tree leaves and wild grass. In artificial feeding, 60% to 70% of the feed should be green fodder such as green grass and green vegetables. However, some farmers feed boars with complete formula feed, without restricting the feeding amount in the early growth stage, and with too high a nutritional level, causing the boars to become too fat, which makes it difficult for them to mount or prevents normal mating. Therefore, boars should be properly restricted in feeding, mainly with green fodder, and exercise should be strengthened.2. Supply balanced nutrition. Boars need more crude protein and vitamins. If their content in the daily ration is insufficient or imbalanced, it will affect the boar's physique and semen quality, resulting in semen that is low in volume and thin, underdeveloped sperm with poor motility, a decreased conception rate, and even loss of mating ability. Therefore, feed rich in high-quality protein such as fish meal, soybean meal, shrimp and silkworm pupae should be supplied abundantly year-round. During the mating period, 1 to 2 eggs or 1 cup of milk can be supplemented, and more green fodder rich in vitamins should be fed; ordinarily, attention should be paid to supplementing bone meal, minerals or shell powder, etc., which has a significant effect on improving the quality of boar semen.3. Strengthen exercise and enhance physique. Some farmers overuse boars or do not force boars to exercise, causing a decline in the boar's physique and resulting in reluctance to mate or refusal to mate. Such boars should be given more exercise, allowing them to exercise for 1 to 2 hours per day over a distance of 1.5 km to 3 km. This is an essential measure for enhancing the boar's physique, ensuring its vigorous libido and improving sperm motility.

Raising pre-mating sows well.As the saying goes, “A sow at 70% to 80% fat before mating is easy to conceive and farrows many piglets.” Ensuring a medium-to-upper fat condition in sows is the basic condition for improving the reproductive rate. Only in this way can sows be ensured to produce a large number of high-quality eggs, thereby achieving the goal of farrowing many and strong piglets. For this reason, sows with abnormal fat condition should be adjusted. Thin sows should be given more feed and special care so that they regain fat condition in time; overly fat sows are prone to ovarian fatty infiltration, which affects egg maturation and normal estrus, and at this time feed should be reduced; the normal nutritional needs of sows should also be ensured, and attention should be paid to balancing the nutritional ratio. Before mating, feed more green, juicy feed, animal protein, minerals and vitamin additives. Ten days before mating, feed sows about 1 kg of concentrated feed to implement short-term generous feeding, which can increase the number of ovulations, improve egg quality and facilitate conception. Practice has proved that grazing before mating, allowing sows to be exposed to sunlight, soil and fresh air, etc., can promote estrus and egg maturation.

Doing a good job in managing the breeding process of wild boars is the key to improving the reproductive rate.Attach importance to mating work and fully tap the reproductive potential of boars and sows.Since wild boars are more sensitive than ordinary domestic pigs, only natural mating can be used for breeding. When the sow is in estrus and allows the boar to mount, mating can take place. Mating is effective within 12 to 24 hours after the sow is in estrus and allows the boar to mount. When a sow is in estrus, the external genitalia are obviously red and swollen. When the external genitalia change from red to dark purple, then from swollen to slightly wrinkled, or when the sow's hindquarters are pressed by hand and she stands still, this is the best time for mating. Mating between a boar and a sow takes about 40 minutes, slightly longer than that of domestic pigs. According to experience, it is best to adopt a repeat mating method, that is, mating again after an interval of 6 to 8 hours. When a sow is in estrus and suitable for mating, the boar can also be driven into the sow's pen for 1 to 2 days. At this time, the boar can mount and mate multiple times at night, which can significantly improve the sow's conception rate and litter size. The estrous cycle of a sow is generally 18 days. If she no longer comes into estrus, it proves that mating was successful; if estrus appears again, it means she did not conceive, and missed matings should be promptly caught and supplemented.