People who own large farms often engage in artificial insemination of pigs. This procedure greatly simplifies and speeds up the process of obtaining young offspring. However, before starting insemination of piglets, it is necessary to understand in more detail the main rules and nuances of its implementation.
The essence and advantages of artificial insemination
Before insemination, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic essence of the process and its advantages.This technique becomes relevant when there are too many individuals on the farm. Thanks to artificial insemination, it is possible to inseminate a large number of females in a short time. When carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to use high-quality genetic materials from young boars. The sperm of one male will be enough to fertilize about five hundred females in a year. This is considered the main advantage of using artificial insemination. Another advantage is the simplicity of the procedure.
The use of the technique allows the same sperm to be used to fertilize several farms. This is possible due to the fact that seminal fluid can be transported without problems. People who will be involved in breeding work will be able to carefully select genetic material.
This process is simple and does not require the use of specialized equipment.
Among the advantages of manual insemination is that during the fertilization process you do not have to take into account the weight of the animal. Since there is no mating itself, this factor cannot influence anything. However, in normal breeding, the farmer should not allow the boar to be much heavier than the female.
Insemination without direct contact between male and female reduces the likelihood of contracting certain infectious diseases. Also, artificial insemination allows you to fertilize a group of animals at once. Thanks to this, it will be much easier for the farmer to care for newborn pigs in the future, since all females will farrow within 5-10 days of each other.
Types and methods of artificial insemination
There are two types of procedures, the features of which need to be familiarized.
Use of diluted sperm
If insemination is carried out using diluted sperm, a little concentrated sperm is added to the liquid. However, their quantity should not exceed 150 milliliters. It is also necessary to decide on the amount of biomaterial that will be poured into the female. For every kilogram of live weight, one milliliter of seed mixture is consumed.
Before using this type of fertilization, it is necessary to prepare special tools that may be needed. A plastic or glass flask is prepared in advance, which can be hermetically sealed. Then two catheters are prepared through which the liquid will be poured. After preparing all the instruments, the transfusion of the biomaterial begins.
Fractional method
Some farmers prefer to use this method. Its main feature is that it is carried out in two successive stages. First, the female is fertilized with diluted biomaterial, which should penetrate the upper half of the uterus. The sperm is first diluted with a special liquid made from purified water, glucose and sodium. Then the procedure is carried out a second time to achieve the necessary microflora.
Rules for choosing a pig
Before impregnating sows, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the features of choosing a pig. It is important that the pig is sexually mature. Puberty ends at the age of five months. However, only nine-month-old females can bear offspring. It is recommended to fertilize females when they begin the heat period. There are signs by which you can choose the appropriate period for insemination:
- Females become too active, restless and almost never sit in one place.
- During the hunting period, animals' appetite worsens, which is why they eat much less.
- The pigs' genitals become red and slightly swollen. Sometimes liquid begins to leak out of them.
- When you press on the back of the ridge, the pig begins to arch its back and make characteristic squeals.
- If you let a male pig approach, she will stand still without displaying aggressive behavior.
In order not to miss the hunting period, it is necessary to regularly examine the animal. It is recommended to do this in the evening during the feeding period. Individuals selected for fertilization must be separated from other animals.
How to artificially inseminate a pig
The insemination process is carried out in several successive stages, which you need to familiarize yourself with in more detail.
Sperm collection
First you need to start collecting sperm. First, they are sent to the usual mating with females, after which they are accustomed to a doll in the form of a pig. After some time, the animals develop a reflex, thanks to which they mount the doll. To properly collect sperm, you must familiarize yourself with the following recommendations:
- The stuffed animal for mating must be carefully secured. A rubberized mat is placed behind it to prevent slipping.
- The hole in the doll needs to be securely fixed, which imitates the female genitals. It is advisable to install an electric heater inside to maintain a comfortable temperature.
- The male's genital organ must be carefully guided into the hole. To complete the process faster, you can lightly grasp it to improve stimulation.
Preparation for the process
Before you begin fertilization, you need to do some preparatory work.To begin with, prepare the room in which the procedure will be carried out. It is thoroughly cleaned and, if necessary, the floors are washed. You also need to prepare gloves and tools. They must be sterile so that infection cannot enter the genitals. If this happens, the number of embryos will decrease and the pregnancy of the mumps may be disrupted.
The pig is driven into a prepared barn and securely restrained so that it cannot move. Then the female’s genitals are washed with a rag soaked in warm water. After this, they are treated with furatsilin and wiped with a dry towel.
The female needs to be stroked on the sides so that she calms down and is ready for insemination. Also, such stroking helps to increase the amount of oxytocin, which is needed to improve the acceptance of the seed mixture.
Fertilization technique
To properly fertilize a pig at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the technique of the procedure. First, you need to place a catheter into the genital opening of the pig and gently push it in until there is slight resistance. Then it is turned to the left and the seminal fluid is gradually squeezed out inside. When the entire mass is poured inside, the catheter is carefully removed. To make it easier to remove, it is scrolled to the right.
Possible mistakes
People who have never engaged in artificial insemination of piglets before often make mistakes. The most common ones include the following:
- Intensive feeding of females. Before insemination, gilts should not be overfed, as this will negatively affect the fertilization results.
- Poor preparation of the pig.If you do not first prepare and calm the female, she will behave aggressively due to stress.
- Choosing the wrong period for fertilization. Fertilization should be carried out only during the period of sexual heat.
Conclusion
Many farmers use artificial insemination when raising piglets. However, before proceeding with fertilization, it is necessary to understand the features of such a procedure.
