Heat detection

• Use a boar to aid detection; they know better than you do.
• Start detection from delivery in gilts, three days after weaning in sows and check twice daily.
• Introduce the boar to the front of the sow/gilt.
• House around 1 m away from boars, but allow sight, sound and smell. Fifteen minutes each day of exposure to the boar is enough to induce oestrus.
• Detection is easier if the female has no boar contact (sight, sound, smell or touch) for about one hour prior to checking.
• Allow the boar into the gilt pen – but if a gilt is obviously on heat and not to be served do not allow him in.
• Only mix females of equal size if mixing has to be done.
• Swap boars around so that females do not become used to a particular male.
• Use your ears to detect a calling female.
• Use your eyes to detect restless behaviour.
• Use touch to test for back pressure and any sign of clear discharge from the vulva.
• Be quiet and patient when observing animals, make time to watch for behavioural changes.