<%@LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.3"%> Swine Production Management - Artificial Insemination - Collection
   
Swine Production Management - Artificial Insemination

Useful advice pertaining to the male:


Collection

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

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Topics:

Training AI Boars:

  1. House young boar in pre-training/acclimatisation pen for isolation period of 30 days.

  2. Proceed with any necessary health checks.

  3. Introduce collection stool to boar?s own pen.

  4. Leave in the pen and allow the boar to investigate the collection stool by himself, although keep an eye on him.

  5. If the boar mounts the collection stool, slowly enter the area and talk to the boar.

  6. Stimulate his sides, testes and prepuce and try to collect from the boar, talk and give encouragement all the time (see collection instructions).

  7. Do not leave an uninterested boar with the collection stool for more than 20 minutes

  8. If he has not worked do not treat with food, however, provide vocal support.

  9. If the boar has worked, treat with food and vocal support.

  10. Repeat from #4, four times a week until the boar readily allows you to collect semen.

  11. If the boar is reluctant to mount the collection stool allow him to watch another boar being worked.

  12. When a boar has allowed a collection, collect the next day and then rest for the rest of that week.

  13. Work boar once weekly for 4 weeks, then place on standard work rotation (minimum rest 4 days, maximum rest 14 days).

A mobile stool used for training. Note these tend to be smaller and lower than the stool used in the collection area.

Training Boars (general notes)

  • Training of boars is probably the most frustrating part of running an AI center. If possible obtain trained boars from the breeding company.
  • Ideally start with boars which are less than 8 months old. Training can take 3-4 weeks and occasionally some boars are never trained. Personally I find that it is easier to train boars which have not be group housed at puberty or boars which have served naturally. Leaving boars older than 10 months old before first training has also caused difficulties.
  • It is imperative to get the boar to associated the collection room and process with a pleasurable experience. Boars that experience pain will be very difficult to collect and can be potentially very dangerous. It is critical to avoid any rough handling and even raised voices can put boars completely off.
  • There is no easy way to train a boar.
  • Avoid sudden movements and remain calm and collected. This can be very difficult.
  • Ideally I prefer the boar to train himself by leaving him alone (under discrete observations) and let him mount the collection stool himself. If the collection stool and collection area/own pen is well constructed without sharp points he is unlikely to come to any harm.
  • If the boar shows no interest in the collection stool encourage by gently but firmly nudging his head towards the collection stool. Rub and pat the collection stool. Try sitting on the collection stool. Talk to the boar all the time.
  • Once the boar mounts he will usually start thrusting movements. At this stage gently, but firmly rub the prepuce with a gloved hand. The boar may express some surprise the first time and stop trusting. Persevere. Be sensitive, but in control. The boar will gain more confidence in the procedures.
  • If the boar dismounts when attempting to collect allow his to dismount. Allow him to resettle and remount and start again. Talk and reassure him. Be his friend.
  • If the boar repeatedly dismounts when attempting to collect him from the side. Allow him to mount and stand directly behind him and reach forward to massage the sheath and apply pressure with your legs to his rear. Allow the penis to erect and continue massage. Once the erect is more secure, then move slowly around the side and continue collecting without causing the boar to dismount.
  • It is not imperative to collect the semen in difficult boars it is more important to achieve a comfortable secure erection and ejaculation.
  • If the boar shows no interest in mounting see section on failure to mount.

Boars Which Fail To Mount

There are times when boars fail to mount either young boars or boars which quite suddenly lose all interest. Initially, try to ease the animal and regain its confidence in the collection procedure. However, there are times when this does not work.

It is possible to chemically stimulate the boars reproductive behavior.

Using Lutalyse or Dinolytic:

  • This is a natural PGF2a product. The artificial products do not work as well. It creates an overriding sexual behavior response in the male. Inject the boar in the neck with 5 ml Lutalyse and wait 20 minutes. Normal dose for a female is 2 ml.
  • After 20 minutes introduce the collection stool into the boar pen and encourage him to mount and collect. It is imperative to talk and reassure the boar. Do not rush his collection and ensure he enjoys the experience.
  • Failure to respond to Lutalyse is common and no more than 3 injections is advised.

Using PG600:

  • PG600 is a mixed female hormone. It creates a overriding sexual behavior as described above. Give a double dose in the neck and observe the boar over the next 20 minutes.
  • After 20 minutes introduce the collection stool into the boar pen and encourage him to mount and collect. It is imperative to talk and reassure the boar. Do not rush his collection and ensure he enjoys the experience.
  • Failure to respond to PG600 is common and no more than 3 injections is advised.