Many pig farmers who breed and raise their own pigs have encountered this situation: vaccinations are given on schedule and feed is not skimped on, but the sows have irregular heat cycles, weak standing heat, frequent returns after breeding, and inconsistent conception, so litter sizes never increase. This is especially true now that many farms do not keep boars: if heat detection and stimulation are inadequate, the optimal breeding time is missed, wasting the sows’ potential for high productivity and costing the farm a significant amount of income each year. Getting sows to produce more piglets does not depend on luck; it all comes down to management details!
Today, we’re sharing 5 practical procedures for improving sow productivity, developed through hands-on experience on pig farms. They cover everything from stimulating heat after weaning and managing body condition to scientific breeding and avoiding pitfalls during pregnancy, and are simple to put into practice. With proper management, each litter can reliably produce 2-3 more piglets, making a significant difference to annual returns!
Tip one: Precisely timed short-term feed increases for more synchronized heat and steadier ovulation
For replacement gilts, switch directly to lactation feed 14 days before breeding; for sows that have farrowed before, switch on the day of weaning to stimulate estrus and ovulation.
For sows with a lean body condition score of seven, feed 6-7 jin per day;
For sows with a fat body condition score of eight, feed 5 jin per day to control body condition.
Continue for about 7 days to bring sows to an ideal body condition score of 7-8.
Farms without boars for heat detection can use boar odor products to help stimulate estrus, promoting more synchronized and consistent estrus in sows, more stable ovulation, and preventing irregular estrus from disrupting the breeding schedule.
Method two: Provide enough nutrition after weaning so follicles are full and sows are ready for breeding
Start supplementing weaned sows with energy to promote follicle development on the day of weaning:
Mix 150 grams of glucose into the feed per sow per day to quickly restore body condition and reduce the likelihood of failure to show estrus after weaning.
Supplement the daily diet with 2-3 hard-boiled eggs to increase animal protein intake. If eggs are unavailable, 100 grams of fish meal can be used instead.
For sows with well-developed follicles, adequate body condition, and clear standing heat, consider administering one injection of Ovulation Stimulator No. 3 before breeding to increase the number of dominant follicles.
Consistent daily heat stimulation during the weaning stage can greatly increase the likelihood that sows come into heat on time, helping ensure the optimal breeding window is not missed.
Third tip: Use scientific, precise breeding to reduce returns to estrus and improve the fertilization rate.
Do not use oxytocin indiscriminately. It is only suitable for multiparous sows that stand weakly and are prone to semen backflow. Use it 3-5 minutes before insemination; it is contraindicated for sows with a history of difficult farrowing or a narrow birth canal. Its use is not recommended for gilts.
Before breeding, stimulate the sow so that she stands completely still and remains calm.
For farms without a boar to assist, lightly spray a small amount of boar scent to reinforce the standing reflex, helping the sow stay calmer and avoid moving around.
Wait until the sow’s contractions are steady before insemination. Keep the duration to 5-8 minutes. After insemination, gently pat her rump and let her lie still and rest for 15 minutes. Do not hurry or drive her away. This minimizes semen backflow and greatly improves the fertilization rate.
Tip four: Strictly control feeding for 7 days after breeding to reduce early embryonic mortality
For many pig farms, the problem of low numbers of piglets born occurs in the first 7 days after breeding!
Switch back to gestation feed immediately after breeding. Feed sows in normal body condition around 4 jin per day, adjusting slightly according to backfat.
Days 11-16 after breeding are a critical period for embryo implantation. Feeding too well early on and providing too much energy can easily cause embryo mortality, failure to conceive, and return to estrus.
Important reminder: After a sow is successfully bred, stop all estrus stimulation and do not spray any more scent products, to avoid causing restlessness and stress in the sow and affecting successful embryo implantation.
Tip five: The golden period for preventing pregnancy loss during the 30 days after breeding—avoid miscarriage and weak piglets
The 30 days before breeding are the high-risk period when sow embryos are most vulnerable.
During this period, make sure to:
Do not transfer between groups, mix groups, deworm, or vaccinate indiscriminately; minimize all stress.
Strictly avoid medications harmful to the fetus, such as florfenicol, dexamethasone, and sulfonamides.
Whenever possible, complete classical swine fever and pseudorabies vaccinations during the non-pregnant period. For missed vaccinations, wait until the placenta is stable after 30 days before administering the missed vaccine.
For mild inflammation or respiratory problems, prioritize gentle treatments; avoid medication whenever possible.
These five management steps are closely linked and build on one another.
High sow productivity is not the result of a single procedure, but of a complete process combining body condition, nutrition, heat detection, breeding, and pregnancy maintenance.
As long as you implement this process strictly, you can significantly improve:
common problems such as delayed estrus, poor standing heat, return to estrus after breeding, embryo death, and low litter size, steadily increasing pig farm productivity.
Pig-raising tip: Farms without a boar for heat detection can keep a bottle of boar scent spray on hand. It can help stimulate estrus after weaning and keep sows calm and standing during mating.