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Mating and service unitChapter 5

Pig production

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S timulation of oestrus

Ea ch sow must be a ble to see, smell a ndtouch a t le a st one bo a r.To stimul a te oestrus in sows, the sow must

hav e snout cont a ct with bo a rs or other sows.If the sow only shows w ak ely signs of oestrus, it c a n help to stress them.Mov e them a round in the pens.Ch a nge its roomm a te.Giv e the sow some high protein feed a fter we a ning.

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B oar contact

The bo a r must be pl a ced, so th a t it h a s direct cont a ctwith a s m a ny sows a s possible.Mak e sure th a t the bo a r only h a s cont a ct with a s

m a ny sows, a s you c a n insemin a te in 30 min. After 30 min. the sows loose interest in the bo a r.To k eep the bo a r interested, a llow it to jump on a sowsome times.

Surprise the sow, t ak e the bo a rs out of the ser v iceunit 3 d a ys before m a ting.Then the sow will be so h a ppy to see the bo a r, th a t itshows cle a r oestrus.

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Climate in the stable

K eep temper a ture a t 18-22 celcius.If its to hot, the sows wont e a t.If its to cold, the sow will use a lot f energy tok eep w a rm.The unit must be well v entil a ted, to remo v ea mmoni a from the a ir.

The rel a tiv e humidity must not exceed 80%

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L ighting

F rom a ugust to F ebru a ry the sows thin k s its winter,a n then n a ture wont a llow them to get pregn a nt.Bec a use if they get pregn a nt now, they will gi v e birthto the piglets in the winter se a son.If tha t were in the n a ture, the piglets would die.We h av e to che a t them, with a rtificia l lighting.So they thin k its summer time.16 hours a da y there h av e to be bright light.100 lux is the lowest.You h av e to be a ble to re a d a newsp a per in thest a bles, without pinching your eyes.

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S exual and oestrus cycle

The oestrus cycle is when the sowswillingness to m a te.The oestrus cycle l a sts from one o v ula tion toa nother.Gilts will norm a lly show oestrus signs a t thea ge of 5 month a nd sows a fter its piglets h av e

been wea

ned.The oestrus cycle is 21 d a ys.There a re to periods in a oestrus cycle

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P re-ovulation period

F our d a ys before o v ula tion, the hypophysissecretes a follicle stimul a ting hormone, whichstimul a tes se v er a l folicles in the o va ry.

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P re-ovulation period

While the folicles grow, they produce thefem a le hormone oestrogen.Oestrogen m ak es the sow show signs of oestrus.Vulva will swell up, speci a lly during 1 a nd 2oestrus of gilts.

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P re-ovulation behaviour

Swollen a nd red v ulva .Mucus, moist v ulva .Reduced a ppetite.Restless beh av ior.Mounting other sows.Speci a l grunting sounds.

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O vulation period

The hypophysis me a sures the a mount of oestrogen,when its high enough the hypophysis will secretingthe luteinizing hormone.This will c a use the follicle to burst, a nd the eggs will

ov ula te 24-36 hours a fter the beginning of theov ula tion period.The eggs will p a ss down the o v iduct where the a ctu a lfertiliz a tion t ak es pl a ce.The eggs c a n only sur v iv e four hours if they a re notfertilised.Therefore it is import a nt th a t the sow isser v ed/insemin a ted before o v ula tion.Sperm cells c a n sur v iv e up to 24 hours in the o v iduct.

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O vulation behavior

Swelling a nd redness of v ulva is reduced.Still mucus, but thinner.Ca lm beh av iour.St a nding oestrus.

Allows other to mount them. P a sses the ridingtest.

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S exual organs of the sow

See p a ge 68 in your boo k .

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H ormones

F SH, folicle stimul a ting hormone.LH, luteinizing hormone.Oestrogen, the sexu a l hormone.Progesterone, pregn a ncy hormon.Prost a gla dine.

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W eaning to oestrus

If you we a n your sows on a Wednesd a y, thefirst signs of oestrus will show the followingSund a y.90% will be re a dy for ser v icing Mond a ymorning.10% re a dy Tuesd a y morning.

Alwa ys m ak e sure th a t the sow h a s st a ndingoestrus.

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D uration of oestrus period

N orm a l oestrus 60 hours.Va ry from 30-140 hours.Ov ula tion, two third of the oestrus period.Most efficient period from 24 hours before to4 a fter the o v ula tion.

Alwa ys ser v e once a da y during the oestrus

period.

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