Pregnancy in the sow lasts for about 116 days (3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days). Eight to ten piglets are usually born. At this stage, the sows wii be transferred from the gestation crate to farrowing crate.
Sows nurse piglets until they are weaned at about 21 days of age,At this point, piglets weigh 13 to 15 pounds.The piglets are then transferred to a nursery crate.
The piglets are weaned at 35 days (in modern piggeries even at 21 days). The sow comes on heat about 4 to 6 days after weaning and must then be served by a boar at least twice over a 12-to-24-hour period for effective reproduction. If the sow has not conceived during that time, she must again be served after 21 days.
Oestrus is promoted by bringing her into contact with the boar. Young sows are usually served for the first time at about 7 to 8 months (about 100 kg and at the time of the second oestrus cycle). Boars are also used for the first time at this age. One boar is used for 12 sows. It is important that the boar should be fertile and skilled at mating.This stage is completed again in the gestation crate .
Under normal circumstances, each sow can rear 2,2 litters per year. This represents about 20 piglets per sow per year.
