Many people who breed and raise their own pigspig farmersEveryone has encountered this situation:
Vaccinations are given on schedule, and feed is not skimped on, but the sows have irregular estrus, weak standing heat, frequent returns to service, and inconsistent conception, while the number of piglets per litter never increases.
Especially now, many pig farms do not keep boars. Estrus detection and stimulation are inadequate, so the optimal breeding time is missed, directly wasting the sows’ high production potential and costing a considerable amount of money over the course of a year.
More piglets from sows do not come down to luck; they depend entirely on management details!
Today, we’re sharing 5 sets of practical, high-yield sow management procedures refined on the front lines of pig farms. From inducing estrus after weaning and adjusting body condition to scientific breeding and avoiding pitfalls during pregnancy, the entire process is simple and practical. With proper management, each litter can consistently produce 2-3 more piglets, creating a significant difference in annual returns!
First tip: precise short-term feed boosting for synchronized estrus and more consistent ovulation
Switch to lactation feed directly to stimulate estrus and ovulation 14 days before breeding gilts, and on the day of weaning for sows that have farrowed before.
For sows with a lean body condition of seven-tenths, feed 6-7 jin per day;
For sows that are about eighty percent of the way to ideal body condition, feed 5 jin per day to control their condition.
Keep this up for about 7 days to bring the sows to 7-8 percent of ideal body condition.
Farms without boars for heat detection can use boar odor agent to help induce heat. It stimulates sows to come into heat more synchronously and show more uniform signs, promotes more stable ovulation, and prevents irregular heat from disrupting the breeding schedule.
Second tip: Provide adequate nutrition after weaning so follicles are well-developed and the sows are easier to breed
Begin energy supplementation to promote follicular development on the day sows are weaned:
Mix 150 grams of glucose into each sow’s feed per day to quickly restore energy and reduce the incidence of sows not coming into heat after weaning.
Supplement daily with 2-3 cooked eggs to increase animal protein intake. If eggs are unavailable, 100 grams of fish meal can be used as a substitute.
For sows with well-developed follicles, body condition meeting the target, and clear standing heat, consider administering one injection of Ovulation Promotion No. 3 before breeding to increase the number of dominant follicles.
Consistent daily estrus stimulation during the weaning stage can greatly increase the likelihood of sows coming into estrus on time, so the optimal breeding window is not missed.
Third tip: Breed scientifically and precisely to reduce returns to estrus and improve the fertilization rate
Do not use oxytocin indiscriminately. It is suitable only for multiparous sows with a weak standing reflex that are prone to returning to estrus; use it 3-5 minutes before insemination. It is contraindicated in sows with a history of dystocia or a narrow birth canal, and its use is not recommended in replacement gilts.
Stimulate estrus before breeding so that the sow stands completely still and remains calm.
If the pig farm does not have a boar to assist, lightly spray a little boar scent to strengthen the standing reflex, helping the sow remain calmer and still.
Wait until the sow’s contractions are steady before inseminating. Keep the duration to 5-8 minutes. After insemination, gently pat her hindquarters and let her rest lying down for 15 minutes. Do not rush or drive her away, to minimize semen backflow and greatly improve the fertilization rate.
Step four: Strictly control feeding for 7 days after mating to reduce early embryonic mortality
Many pig farms have low litter sizes because the problem lies in the first 7 days after mating!
Immediately after mating, switch back to gestation feed. Feed sows in normal body condition about 4 jin per day, adjusting flexibly according to backfat thickness.
Days 11-16 after mating are a critical period for embryo implantation. Feeding too well in the early stage and providing excessive energy can easily lead to embryo death, failure to conceive, and return to estrus.
Important reminder: After a sow has been successfully mated, stop all estrus-induction stimulation. Do not spray any more scent products, to avoid agitation and stress that could affect successful embryo implantation.
Fifth tip: The golden period for protecting the pregnancy during the 30 days after mating; prevent miscarriage and weak piglets
The 30 days before breeding are the high-risk period when sow embryos are most vulnerable.
During this period:
Do not move sows to another group, mix groups, deworm, or administer vaccines indiscriminately. Minimize all sources of stress.
Strictly avoid drugs that can harm the fetus, such as florfenicol, dexamethasone, and sulfonamides.
Complete classical swine fever and pseudorabies vaccinations during the non-pregnant period whenever possible. If a vaccination is missed, give it later, after 30 days, once the placenta is secure.
For mild inflammation or respiratory problems, prioritize gentle medication; avoid medication whenever possible.
These five steps of management are interconnected and build on one another.
High sow productivity is not the result of a single procedure, but of the entire process: body condition + nutrition + heat stimulation + breeding + pregnancy maintenance.
As long as you implement this process rigorously, you can make a noticeable improvement:
Common challenges such as slow onset of estrus, poor standing heat, return to service, embryo mortality, and small litter sizes can all be addressed, steadily increasing pig farm productivity.
Pig farming tip: Farms without a boar for heat detection can keep a bottle of boar scent on hand. It can be used to stimulate estrus after weaning and help ensure the sow stands reliably during mating.
Vaccinations are given on schedule, and feed is not skimped on, but the sows have irregular estrus, weak standing heat, frequent returns to service, and inconsistent conception, while the number of piglets per litter never increases.
Especially now, many pig farms do not keep boars. Estrus detection and stimulation are inadequate, so the optimal breeding time is missed, directly wasting the sows’ high production potential and costing a considerable amount of money over the course of a year.
More piglets from sows do not come down to luck; they depend entirely on management details!
Today, we’re sharing 5 sets of practical, high-yield sow management procedures refined on the front lines of pig farms. From inducing estrus after weaning and adjusting body condition to scientific breeding and avoiding pitfalls during pregnancy, the entire process is simple and practical. With proper management, each litter can consistently produce 2-3 more piglets, creating a significant difference in annual returns!
First tip: precise short-term feed boosting for synchronized estrus and more consistent ovulation
Switch to lactation feed directly to stimulate estrus and ovulation 14 days before breeding gilts, and on the day of weaning for sows that have farrowed before.
For sows with a lean body condition of seven-tenths, feed 6-7 jin per day;
For sows that are about eighty percent of the way to ideal body condition, feed 5 jin per day to control their condition.
Keep this up for about 7 days to bring the sows to 7-8 percent of ideal body condition.
Farms without boars for heat detection can use boar odor agent to help induce heat. It stimulates sows to come into heat more synchronously and show more uniform signs, promotes more stable ovulation, and prevents irregular heat from disrupting the breeding schedule.
Second tip: Provide adequate nutrition after weaning so follicles are well-developed and the sows are easier to breed
Begin energy supplementation to promote follicular development on the day sows are weaned:
Mix 150 grams of glucose into each sow’s feed per day to quickly restore energy and reduce the incidence of sows not coming into heat after weaning.
Supplement daily with 2-3 cooked eggs to increase animal protein intake. If eggs are unavailable, 100 grams of fish meal can be used as a substitute.
For sows with well-developed follicles, body condition meeting the target, and clear standing heat, consider administering one injection of Ovulation Promotion No. 3 before breeding to increase the number of dominant follicles.
Consistent daily estrus stimulation during the weaning stage can greatly increase the likelihood of sows coming into estrus on time, so the optimal breeding window is not missed.
Third tip: Breed scientifically and precisely to reduce returns to estrus and improve the fertilization rate
Do not use oxytocin indiscriminately. It is suitable only for multiparous sows with a weak standing reflex that are prone to returning to estrus; use it 3-5 minutes before insemination. It is contraindicated in sows with a history of dystocia or a narrow birth canal, and its use is not recommended in replacement gilts.
Stimulate estrus before breeding so that the sow stands completely still and remains calm.
If the pig farm does not have a boar to assist, lightly spray a little boar scent to strengthen the standing reflex, helping the sow remain calmer and still.
Wait until the sow’s contractions are steady before inseminating. Keep the duration to 5-8 minutes. After insemination, gently pat her hindquarters and let her rest lying down for 15 minutes. Do not rush or drive her away, to minimize semen backflow and greatly improve the fertilization rate.
Step four: Strictly control feeding for 7 days after mating to reduce early embryonic mortality
Many pig farms have low litter sizes because the problem lies in the first 7 days after mating!
Immediately after mating, switch back to gestation feed. Feed sows in normal body condition about 4 jin per day, adjusting flexibly according to backfat thickness.
Days 11-16 after mating are a critical period for embryo implantation. Feeding too well in the early stage and providing excessive energy can easily lead to embryo death, failure to conceive, and return to estrus.
Important reminder: After a sow has been successfully mated, stop all estrus-induction stimulation. Do not spray any more scent products, to avoid agitation and stress that could affect successful embryo implantation.
Fifth tip: The golden period for protecting the pregnancy during the 30 days after mating; prevent miscarriage and weak piglets
The 30 days before breeding are the high-risk period when sow embryos are most vulnerable.
During this period:
Do not move sows to another group, mix groups, deworm, or administer vaccines indiscriminately. Minimize all sources of stress.
Strictly avoid drugs that can harm the fetus, such as florfenicol, dexamethasone, and sulfonamides.
Complete classical swine fever and pseudorabies vaccinations during the non-pregnant period whenever possible. If a vaccination is missed, give it later, after 30 days, once the placenta is secure.
For mild inflammation or respiratory problems, prioritize gentle medication; avoid medication whenever possible.
These five steps of management are interconnected and build on one another.
High sow productivity is not the result of a single procedure, but of the entire process: body condition + nutrition + heat stimulation + breeding + pregnancy maintenance.
As long as you implement this process rigorously, you can make a noticeable improvement:
Common challenges such as slow onset of estrus, poor standing heat, return to service, embryo mortality, and small litter sizes can all be addressed, steadily increasing pig farm productivity.
Pig farming tip: Farms without a boar for heat detection can keep a bottle of boar scent on hand. It can be used to stimulate estrus after weaning and help ensure the sow stands reliably during mating.