What are barrows and gilts in pigs?
Newborn pigs, or piglets, are weaned between the ages of 8 to 10 weeks. The gilt’s male equivalent is the boar, the term for an intact male pig. A barrow is a castrated male pig, a procedure generally done when the animal is just a few days old, and definitely by the age of 2 weeks.
What are the 4 stages of swine production?
Production of hogs has consisted of five different phases: farrow-to-wean, feeder pig or nursery, finishing, breeding stock, and farrow-to-finish.
What are gilts and sows?
Although they can become sexually mature sooner, a gilt usually is bred for the first time between six and nine months old. After breeding or having a litter, she is called a sow. Gilts not selected for breeding usually are used for meat.
What is a sow’s matrix?
Allows synchronization of estrus (heat), so gilt pool can be brought into heat when it is convenient and efficient. For synchronization of estrus in sexually mature gilts that have had at least one estrous cycle.
Do gilts or barrows grow faster?
Overall, barrows grew faster than gilts (2.21 vs. 2.10 lb/day) but were less efficient in the utilization of feed (2.37 vs. 2.25 feed:gain) than gilts. The increase in growth rate of barrows was consistent throughout the experiment.
How much are sows fed per day?
On average, each sow consumes between 14 and 15 pounds of feed per day during the period. The more nutrient-dense ration helps supply the protein, energy, amino acid, vitamin and mineral levels the sows require. Allowing the sows to eat what they need during lactation helps them to fulfill their needs on their own.
How many pigs are in a litter?
The average litter size is 7.5 pigs, and it is not uncommon for a sow to have 12-14 pigs per litter. The gestation period of a sow (from the time she is bred until she farrows) is 114 days. A sow can have her first litter at approximately one year of age.
How many piglets does a gilt have?
The average litter size is 7.5 pigs, and it is not uncommon for a sow to have 12-14 pigs per litter. The gestation period of a sow (from the time she is bred until she farrows) is 114 days. A sow can have her first litter at approximately one year of age. Did You Know?
Does Matrix work on sows?
I use Matrix on both gilts and sows. My personal experience is that it works best when you feed it for 15 days vs. the 14. You can go longer but my personal preference is 15 days.
How do you use a pig Matrix?
Treat gilts on an individual basis by top dressing MATRIX on a portion of each gilt’s daily feed allowance. Administer 6.8 mL (15 mg altrenogest) per gilt once daily for 14 consecutive days. Underfeeding of MATRIX may lead to the occurrence of cystic follicles. Excessive use of a syringe may cause the syringe to stick.
How do you mate a gilt with a boar?
Rough handling by a vigorous boar may make a gilt nervous about later matings, but it is important not to interfere unless necessary. With supervised or hand matings, it is important to take the sow or gilt to the boar’s pen or mating pen.
How do you select a gilt sow?
As well as possessing the genetic potential to improve the production characteristics of her progeny, the sow must have the ability to rear large, healthy litters. As with boar selection, gilts should be selected on performance, namely growth rate and lean and fat composition.
What are the characteristics of a gilt pig?
Gilts should be wide through the hindquarters with depth and squareness in the body cavity; ribs should be well sprung. If the physical soundness of the gilt is in doubt she should not be kept as a breeder. Breakdown later in her breeding life can cause piglet losses, hardship and loss of productivity. Gilts should be quiet but alert and active.
Is it normal for sows to be penned next to boars?
When penned next to a boar they will apparently become conditioned by continuous and intense stimulation. It is normal to ‘batch farrow’ sows so that groups of sows will be weaned and come on heat together. Grouping sows or gilts opposite to the boar pens will also aid in the detection of those on heat.
