Being a good source of protein, the quality and quantity of pigs produced on farm is determined by the type of technology used.
As agritechnology continue to advocate for swine artificial insemination, heat detection is essential for best utilisation of collected semen and timing of insemination is a vital factor that affects fertilization rate.
Heat detection
If sow or gilt is inseminated too early or too late, it may result into small litre size and reduce farrowing rate hence a need to check for records whether the sow is weaned for the appropriate number of days.
Similarly, heat detection is first done using external signs such as reddening of vulva, mucus form vulva, restlessness, frequent urinating, reduced feed intake and with such signs, it is pre heat stage and cant allow to be mounted and this lasts for 2 days. Standing heat comes after and it is seen by pinkish and swollen vulva with clear mucus.
In this stage, it stands and actively look for boers and as this is the right time for insemination and she will accept mounting and it lasts for a day. Other heat detection methods are haunch pressure where the sow is approached from behind and put pressure on sides using hands.
Furthermore, another is riding the back of sow and if not on standing heat, it moves away and for semen on snout method, semen is squeezed from bottle to sow‘s snout and by detecting the scent of semen, sow stands firm for detecting standing heat. Teaser bull method is best for detecting standing heat and stimulation of bull is essential to encourage her stress by parading bore among the dry sows or gilts.
Heat detection is also done by making boer snout come into contact with sows‘s or gilt‘s and if receptive she will actively seek for the boer and stand firm.
Finally, insemination must be performed only when sow or gilt is on standing heat.
