Ever since pigs became popular, it sparked a curiosity among people and made them want to learn more about pigs.
How old does a pig have to be to breed? A young female pig (gilt) reaches sexual maturity at five or six months old. Male pigs usually reach sexual maturity at six months old but are often used for breeding around seven to eight months old. Most owners prefer breeding their pigs at 6 months old.
Note: Female pigs that haven’t given birth are called “gilts” while pigs that are already mothers are called “sows” and male pigs are called “boars”
There are also times when breed and genetics may affect the puberty stage. For example, Yorkshires and Landrace usually mature slightly earlier than Hampshire pigs or Duroc pigs.
Crossbreeding is said to advance puberty.
This may be or may not be a good thing for certain owners. If you do not prepare in time, it might be difficult for you to control pigs in “heat”. If you desired earlier pregnancy for your pigs, this may be good for you.
Depending on what you feed your pigs, it may also affect their puberty.
At times, it may cause a delay. Improper feeding could stunt their maturity.
The pig’s health is also important and must be considered before letting them breed.
Aside from reaching puberty stage, pigs may also show signs of readiness.
Make sure to observe your pigs carefully in order to fully determine if they are ready to mate or not. They may show these signs in a span of one to three days in a 21 day cycle.
To potentially increase the number of piglets to be born, research stated that pigs that mate during the third week of being in “heat” produce more piglets than those that mated for the first to two weeks.
As a new owner, it’s important to understand this point of event in your pig’s life. There are more things to learn and make note of.
SIGNS THAT A PIG HAS REACHED SEXUAL MATURITY
Breeding pigs require careful decisions before allowing the pigs to mate. We’ll be explaining in full details what are these signs to consider and how or why it affects the breeding period.
COMMON SIGNS FOR FEMALES PIGS
- Swelling or reddening of vulva – at times, you may even notice a bleeding discharge. The vulva is the private part and if you want to make sure, it’s advisable to see a veterinarian for your pig.
- Characteristic grunting – after owning a pig, you’ve probably heard them grunt once in a while. If they let out a somehow different grunt, it could be a sign of a “mating song” or “call“.
- Erected ears – this sign is most present in Yorkshire pigs.
- Standing still reflex – owners call this test the “standing still reflex” because when they apply “pressure” on a pig’s back, they will stay still or hold their ground as a sign of “heat”.
- Allowing mounting – this may only be effective if the female pig can see a male pig around. However, most of the time, a pig will not allow them to be mounted (ridden) but if they are in heat, they will stay still.
If your pig doesn’t show these signs, you may try to test them on a later hour or the following day. As a tip from other pig owners, you can also allow female pigs have contact with male pigs.
Observe the behavior of your pigs and see if they are “courting” each other. A female pig that has reached maturity should show clear signs of interest in male pigs.
For a guaranteed result, it’s important to know that male pigs need to be comfortable in the environment to approach female pigs with breeding intentions.
The tests require definite supervision, owners are advised to stay nearby.
Other signs may involve showing restlessness, irritable around other female pigs but shows comfort near male pigs, attempting to “ride” other pigs and more.
Male pigs may behave similarly, but the most important note to remember is they need to be at least 6 months old to be sexually matured and impregnate a female pig.
Preparation for breeding
As stated above, before breeding, it’s important to know several facts before letting your pigs mate.
- Male pigs will have more impact (stronger genes) than female pigs.
Breeders who know the purpose behind “careful” and “selective breeding” are capable of producing stronger piglets depending on what they are after.
This is also how the popular breed “mini pigs” came to life.
As an advice, you must consider the physique of your male pig. They need to have strong legs, sturdy body and doesn’t have physical complications as well as medical issues.
If these traits are considered before breeding, piglets that will be born after the mating will potentially be strong and healthy.
The costs of breeding
Just like people, any pregnant animal usually needs more food to consume in order to stay healthy and to provide nutrients for their offspring.
A pregnant pig will need to eat an additional extra amount once confirmed that they are pregnant.
After birth, they will still need the extra food in order to produce enough milk for their piglets.
If you’re planning to breed your pig, you must be prepared for the costs.
How to start the breeding program
There are effective methods to successfully breed pigs together. After choosing the right boar (male pig) for your pig, the next steps should be a lot easier.
Group the matured pigs together — In order to familiarize with each other, get comfortable and start showing interest, you must let the paired up pigs to spend time together.
Note: If there are multiple pigs selected for breeding, there might be fights and thus it is advised to keep 1 boar (male pig) and a few females rather than grouping with a lot of males.
Flushing method — this method is used to increase ovulation rate. Owners may increase pig feed by 50% at max 10 to 14 days before breeding.
The higher the ovulation rate, the higher chance of pregnancy.
However, after breeding, the flushing method needs to be stopped immediately.
Ovulation occurs around 36 to 40 hours after the “standing” heat begins.
How to tell if your pig is pregnant
After the mating period, the best way to determine if your female pig is finally pregnant is observing the “heat”. Pigs are capable of showing signs of pregnancy a few weeks after mating.
The success rate of pig pregnancy is at 75% up to 90% which is why tracking the mating dates can be helpful to determine the birthing period.
To confirm pregnancy, leave the female pig together with the boar (male pig) and check if she is still showing signs of “heat” that were mentioned earlier.
A pregnant pig will show no signs of heat and may not respond to the “Back pressure test” or “mounting test”. They will no longer “stand still” and would prefer to be left alone at times.
There are also easily spotted physical changes such as the direction of the clitoris. It should be pointed more upwards against the pig’s weight.
Later changes involve additional weight gain and a swollen and asymmetrical belly. You may also notice swollen breasts.
During late pregnancy, the female pig will also begin “nesting” which means she can be seen gathering straws or hay and other dry materials that can be used for her “nest”.
They may also grow restless, irritable and a bit territorial.
How long do pigs stay pregnant
Pregnancy usually lasts 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. In number of days, it could take 114 days up to 115 days or more.
Caring for pregnant pigs require additional feed, more water, modulated room temperature (avoid extreme conditions such as extreme cold or heat) and enough space for comfort.
How many piglets can be born
An average pregnant pig that was well-fed and properly taken care of could give birth to 10 piglets up to 12.
Larger breeds could either give birth to fewer piglets or to more.
Once, a pig was recorded to have given birth to 27 piglets. Female pigs can rarely give birth to 25 pigs, but is possible. The average number of piglets that can be born starts at 5 piglets up to 10 piglets.
Studies also say that depending on the cycle when the mating period began, pigs that mated during the 2nd to 3rd cycle are most likely capable of giving birth to more piglets.
RELATED QUESTIONS
- How much does it cost to raise a pig?
An estimated total could take up to $600 and more. It’s natural to wonder about the total costs after finding out about their needs, so here’s a helpful page that can explain all the costs in full detail for you.
Link: https://lovelivegrow.com/cost-to-raise-a-pig/
to explain further with more detail, the feed alone could get expensive. You must also consider the amount of water supply for drinking. Housing or bedding if they are indoor pets is necessary for comfort too. Medications and treatments should be added to your calculations and lastly, if it’s required, licensing may cost some money as well.
Please be reminded that prices may differ depending on your country or area therefore we can only provide an estimated amount.
- Is it legal to raise a pig?
The answer depends on where you live. Laws differ on every country especially regarding animal welfare. It’s highly recommended to check with your local officers to verify first before you adopt a pig.
If it requires a license, please register your pig for its safety and yours too. It might also come with various benefits, so it’s worth the cost.
We have a helpful guide on how to get a license for your pig. You may read that here.