A Detailed Guide to Gilt Rearing and Management Methods

In plain terms, a gilt is a female pig that has been kept for breeding but has not yet been mated. Generally speaking, gilts are basically used to replace older sows that have been culled because their reproductive capacity has declined. This can improve the overall quality of the sow herd and thereby increase the economic benefits of farming. So during the breeding process, how should gilts be raised? What points require special attention? Let's learn about them together below.

1. Rearing in Groups

When raising gilts, we should group them according to their size and strength. Generally, three to five pigs per pen are raised as a small group, and this grouping method can be said to be the best. Of course, if the farm is being expanded and the number of gilts is relatively large, we can also appropriately raise a few more per pen, but the maximum should not exceed ten.

2. Feeding

Gilts differ from sows or young pigs in terms of feeding. First, we must ensure the feed is fresh and not spoiled; second, feed with excessively high copper and zinc levels is prohibited, as this will fatten the gilts and thereby affect their reproductive capacity. During rearing, the daily feed amount is generally controlled at around five jin, and it should not be fed all at once but divided into several feedings. In addition, during rearing we should keep plenty of drinking water available in the pigpen, and we also need to let the gilts exercise moderately, which can strengthen their physique and thereby reduce the rate of difficult births.

3. Flushing Before Mating

Flushing gilts before mating is mainly done to increase their ovulation rate, thereby raising the chance of conception and ultimately increasing the number of piglets. Flushing is best carried out about fourteen days before mating, mainly through a high-plane feeding method. On top of the previous feeding amount, feed about six jin per day and let the gilts eat freely. After mating, the feeding amount should be reduced again, kept at around four jin per day as much as possible. Feeding during this period is very critical; if the feeding amount is unreasonable, it will lead to embryo death. To ensure the birth weight of the piglets, at one month and twenty-five days, the daily feed amount should be raised to about seven jin.

4. Daily Management

The daily management of gilts is actually fairly simple. First, keep the sanitary environment in the farm clean and tidy; second, carry out disinfection at irregular intervals, while keeping the temperature in the farm at around 20°C and maintaining good air circulation; and also carry out reasonable vaccination, which can achieve the effect of strong mothers and robust piglets.

5. Points to Note

When raising gilts, what we need to pay attention to is the selection and retention of gilts as well as the introduction of gilts. Next is doing a good job in inducing estrus, mating, and deworming; also, determining the feeding plan and adopting short-term high-plane feeding as well as single mating, repeat mating, and double mating methods, which play a very important role in sow production.

Raising gilts is actually very simple. As long as we master certain breeding techniques and perfectly solve all the points to note during the breeding process, then naturally the productivity of the sows will be improved, and the economic benefits of the farmers will also increase.