Early pregnancy diagnosis should be performed promptly and accurately in mated sows. This can prevent pregnant sows from being mated again, which may cause miscarriage or prolonged open periods, and improve the economic benefits of raising sows.
1, Visual observation method: After conceiving early following mating, a sow often appears tired, sleeps more, and has an increased appetite, with her feed intake gradually rising. She becomes calm and moves steadily. Her coat grows glossier and lies close to her body. She gains weight and gradually puts on condition. The vulva contracts, and the lower commissure of the vulva curves inward and upward. After seeing a boar, the sow lets her tail hang naturally or walks away with her tail tucked, showing that she refuses to mate. In particular, if she shows no signs of estrus around 21 days after mating, this can further indicate that she is pregnant. Some sows may show signs of estrus due to a localized endocrine disorder, but when near a boar they refuse to mate and run away. This is false estrus, and they should not be mated.
2, In multiparous sows, 3-4 days after mating, gently pinch the second-to-last pair of teats. If you feel a firm milk duct, this indicates that the sow is pregnant.
3, Early pregnancy test strip method: A few days after mating, collect 10 milliliters of the sow’s first-morning urine and take out an early pregnancy test strip. Immerse it in the urine past the red line, then wait 1-2 minutes. If two red lines appear, the sow is pregnant.
4, Finger-pressure method: Using your thumb and index finger, firmly press the dorsal midline between the sow’s 9th and 12th thoracic vertebrae. If the sow’s back dips where pressed, this indicates that she is not pregnant. If it does not dip when pressed, or even rises slightly or remains still, she is pregnant.
5, Urine test method: To check whether a sow is pregnant, a few days after mating collect 10 milliliters of her early-morning urine and place it in a colorless, transparent glass container that can withstand high temperatures. If the urine is too concentrated, add a small amount of water. Then add a small amount of white vinegar to make the urine acidic, followed by a few drops of iodine. Heat slowly over a low flame until it boils. After boiling, if the urine turns red from top to bottom, the sow is pregnant. If the urine is pale yellow to brownish green and its color quickly disappears after cooling, she is not pregnant.
6, hormone stimulation test diagnosis: Before the next 1 estrus, an injection test using estrogen or a mixture of estrogen and androgen in mated sows can diagnose whether they are pregnant. (1) 0.5 mg testosterone propionate plus 2 mg valerate estradiol, administered by 1 intramuscular injection(s) 15–23 days after artificial insemination; sows that show no signs of estrus are considered pregnant. (2) 1% testosterone propionate, 0.5 ml, plus 0.5% diethylstilbestrol propionate, 0.2 ml (or 0.1% estradiol benzoate, 1 ml), mixed and administered by 1 intramuscular injection(s) before the next estrus; 2–3 days later, sows showing no signs of estrus are considered pregnant.
7. Use a pregnancy tester on sows 25-30 days after mating, with an accuracy of up to 98%-100%.
8, 30 days after mating, a sow’s teats turn black, and a blackish-purple halo appears around the teat attachment sites, indicating that she is pregnant. When observing the arrangement of the sow’s teats from behind, the teats open outward and the mammary glands are raised; these signs can serve as supplementary indicators of pregnancy.
1, Visual observation method: After conceiving early following mating, a sow often appears tired, sleeps more, and has an increased appetite, with her feed intake gradually rising. She becomes calm and moves steadily. Her coat grows glossier and lies close to her body. She gains weight and gradually puts on condition. The vulva contracts, and the lower commissure of the vulva curves inward and upward. After seeing a boar, the sow lets her tail hang naturally or walks away with her tail tucked, showing that she refuses to mate. In particular, if she shows no signs of estrus around 21 days after mating, this can further indicate that she is pregnant. Some sows may show signs of estrus due to a localized endocrine disorder, but when near a boar they refuse to mate and run away. This is false estrus, and they should not be mated.
2, In multiparous sows, 3-4 days after mating, gently pinch the second-to-last pair of teats. If you feel a firm milk duct, this indicates that the sow is pregnant.
3, Early pregnancy test strip method: A few days after mating, collect 10 milliliters of the sow’s first-morning urine and take out an early pregnancy test strip. Immerse it in the urine past the red line, then wait 1-2 minutes. If two red lines appear, the sow is pregnant.
4, Finger-pressure method: Using your thumb and index finger, firmly press the dorsal midline between the sow’s 9th and 12th thoracic vertebrae. If the sow’s back dips where pressed, this indicates that she is not pregnant. If it does not dip when pressed, or even rises slightly or remains still, she is pregnant.
5, Urine test method: To check whether a sow is pregnant, a few days after mating collect 10 milliliters of her early-morning urine and place it in a colorless, transparent glass container that can withstand high temperatures. If the urine is too concentrated, add a small amount of water. Then add a small amount of white vinegar to make the urine acidic, followed by a few drops of iodine. Heat slowly over a low flame until it boils. After boiling, if the urine turns red from top to bottom, the sow is pregnant. If the urine is pale yellow to brownish green and its color quickly disappears after cooling, she is not pregnant.
6, hormone stimulation test diagnosis: Before the next 1 estrus, an injection test using estrogen or a mixture of estrogen and androgen in mated sows can diagnose whether they are pregnant. (1) 0.5 mg testosterone propionate plus 2 mg valerate estradiol, administered by 1 intramuscular injection(s) 15–23 days after artificial insemination; sows that show no signs of estrus are considered pregnant. (2) 1% testosterone propionate, 0.5 ml, plus 0.5% diethylstilbestrol propionate, 0.2 ml (or 0.1% estradiol benzoate, 1 ml), mixed and administered by 1 intramuscular injection(s) before the next estrus; 2–3 days later, sows showing no signs of estrus are considered pregnant.
7. Use a pregnancy tester on sows 25-30 days after mating, with an accuracy of up to 98%-100%.
8, 30 days after mating, a sow’s teats turn black, and a blackish-purple halo appears around the teat attachment sites, indicating that she is pregnant. When observing the arrangement of the sow’s teats from behind, the teats open outward and the mammary glands are raised; these signs can serve as supplementary indicators of pregnancy.