Sows and gilts that are to be mated must be kept near the pen of a mature boar to assist in the onset of oestrus. This also enables easy access to the mating area for oestrus stimulation, oestrus checking and mating or artificial insemination. The sows and gilts should be 1-5 m from the boar pen, rather than next to it.
The pens should have non-slip floors - sawdust on concrete is often used. The pen should have no protrusions and be easily accessible for both people and pigs. Gates that open to block the laneway and pig boards help operators move the pigs safely.
Although there are variations in procedures between herds, mating pens are generally used for: stimulating puberty in gilts. This is usually done in groups with a maximum of 12 gilts to one mature boar, and with full physical contact rather than contact through the fence. This contact should occur for at least 15 to 20 minutes daily, preferably twice a day in 10-minute sessions. A mature boar is more than 10 months of age. A vasectomised boar may be used if he is not too heavy for the gilts. If possible, the boars can be rotated
- stimulating oestrus in weaned sows. These sows are given mature boar contact for five minutes a day from two days after weaning.
This should be head-to-head contact and both animals may be in the same pen for greater effectiveness. This process soon changes to checking for oestrus, as most weaned sows should be in oestrus by the sixth day after weaning
- oestrus checking. Oestrus checking should be done once a day, or twice daily for greater stimulation and better timing of mating. Oestrus checking is suitable for weaned sows, gilts and possible returns to oestrus
- mating and artificial insemination. Mating may take place in the boar’s pen if there is sufficient area; however, it is more common to have several pens in the dry sow shed set aside for mating. Sows may be artificially inseminated in a stall or pen adjacent to the boar so the boar has head-to-head contact with the sows.
The detection mating area (DMA)
The DMA is a mating area design that works efficiently for oestrus stimulation and detection. Gilts and weaned sows are introduced into the arena each day to stimulate oestrus. Oestrus detection using the back-pressure test is carried out in the arena, with the sow able to communicate with the boars through the fence. Both the gilt/sow and the boar are sexually stimulated by the boars surrounding the arena. This design achieved an extra 1.2 piglets per gilt litter in research and commercial conditions.
