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This farmer tests his sow to make sure she will be receptive to a boar or AI by applying pressure to her back, if she stands immobile, she's ready.

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Once a sow becomes pregnant- the gestation period is 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days (around 114 days).
Litter sizes can rage from 7-14 pigs. Sows can have 2 litters per year.

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Most farmers recommend 1 boar per 15-20 sows

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20-30% of all female swine in production are artificially inseminated. The success rate of artificial insemination in swine is roughly 80%.

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Pros:
- More diverse genetic pool
- 100% controlled
- Eliminates need for boar

Cons:
- Greater cost
- Requires a professional

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The boar is rooting on the female, following her, smelling her and vocalizing.

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A cold winters day,Feb.12,2012, and these two huge pigs are bout to have some loving. At Brown Family Farm.

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According to The Principles & Applications of Domestic Animal Behavior by Edward O. Price, humans can test the sow's immobility response in estrous sows. This can be tested by applying pressure to the sow's back when a male is within a short distance allowing the female to see, smell and hear. If the female stands immobile, she's ready to be mounted.

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The female standing still and the male sniffing and foaming at the mouth are signs that they are ready to mate.

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Courtship in swine is relatively short. The boar is introduced to the estrus sow- the boar then roots around the female, sniffing and grunting to solicite the female into standing. When the sow becomes stationary the boar then mounts.

Kongsted, A., & Hermansen, J. (2008). The mating behavior and reproduction performance in a multi-sire mating system for pigs. Theriogenology, 691139-1147. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.01.030

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Female pigs' estrus cycles can be synchronized with a series of injections. Synchronization makes it easier to AI (artificially inseminate) multiple sows at one time- making it easier on the farmer to monitor fetal growth and predict births.

Carabă, I., Păcală, N., Cean, A., Nicula, M., Petculescu-Ciochină, L., Erina, S., & Ganţă, C. (2014). Induction and Synchronization of Estrus in Gilts with P.G.600. Scientific Papers: Animal Science & Biotechnologies / Lucrari Stiintifice: Zootehnie Si Biotehnologii, 47(2), 63-66.