Breeding Pigs - Key Success Factors For Farming Pigs

Sharing pigs between multiple operations
increases the potential for disease to enter
into the operation.Biosecurity may be the most
important factor to consider when starting your
pig herd. It is important to buy sows and gilts
(young female swine) that come from reputable
sources to help prevent disease and other
problems from entering the farm. The same holds
true in you decide to purchase or rent a boar
for breeding. The profitability of keeping pigs
on your farm will also need to be addressed.

If you cannot or do not want to deal with a pig,
artificial insemination is certainly an option
and even has some advantages: it minimizes
disease risk, is convenient, and allows for the
selection of superior genetics.Good reproductive
management of your herd will be important to your
success of breeding pigs. Genetics will influence
important traits such as litter size, litter
weights, growth rate, feed efficiency, back fat
thickness, pork quality and structural
correctness.

If you plan to farrow at specific time of year,
you must consider the timing of when you breed
your sows. The information that follows should
help you make that timing decision. The estrous
cycle in sows and gilts is the time between the
onset of the next. The cycle length is normally
21 days but can range from 18 to 24 days. Length
of estrus or heat, varies and may last from only
12 hours in gilts to 60 hours or more in
sows.The average gestation length, or time from
conception until farrowing is 114 days. During
gestation, the piglet grows into a fully formed
individual, weighing from 3 to 3.5 pounds.

Pig breeding requires research and good
analytical skills when choosing boars and sows
for breeding. Take some time to research on
where to look for good pigs to buy, who to go
to, and the equipment needed to facilitate good
breeding. You may ask your favorite stores and
businesses for referrals when looking for pig
breeders. They will direct you to breeders who
are known for their healthy and admirable boars,
sows, and who are known to produce impressive
litters all the time.

Remember to always keep the pens or stalls clean
and free from worms or lice so that diseases
won't spread from the pigs to the litters. You
should also treat the mothers for these
parasites before the litters are due to be born.
You can clean the stalls regularly with a mild
cleanser and wash the pregnant pigs gently once
in a while before the piglets are born.

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So remember these pointers in mind. You will
discover that learning about breeding pigs does
not need to be difficult when you're learning
from someone who have experienced. If you would
like other important tips on how to raise pigs,
take a look at: http://www.howtoraisepigs.com

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