At what stage should a gilt be mated?
The aim should be to have gilts ready to mate, weighing 120–130 kg liveweight at around 28 weeks of age, with a backfat reading of at least 18–20 mm. They should be in good condition but not overfat.
How long is a gilt in standing heat?
two days
Standing heat can last two days and breeding can occur every 12 hours during this time. With proper heat detection two or three matings are possible.
What is the breeding weight of gilts?
Expectations for gilt fertility Gilt maturity is recognized when targeted age, weight and cycle maturity are reached. Reproductive performance and longevity are optimal when gilt breeding occurs near 230 days of age, 300 pounds (136 kilograms), with adequate backfat and at second or third estrus.
What do you feed breeding gilts?
In a trial, gilts were fed one of three different treatments: corn-soybean meal diet formulated to 0.95% lysine, corn-soybean meal diet with 5% added fat formulated to 0.60% lysine (fed from 150 to 250 lb.), or a high-protein diet restricted to 4 lb./day intake.
How do you manage gilts?
Recommended management at puberty
- Record pubertal gilts’ ID using existing tag/spray mark.
- Change spray marker colour every week, for a period of three weeks.
- Enter number of gilts available into projected service week to assist with culling decisions.
- Mix into weekly groups if possible to simplify their feeding programme.
What is the difference between a barrow and a gilt?
After breeding or having a litter, she is called a sow. Gilts not selected for breeding usually are used for meat. Barrows are kept primarily for meat production. They gain weight quickly and can be slaughtered as young as four to six months old for pork, or as late as 8 to 10 months old for bacon.
How do you feed gilts?
If gilts are moved directly from the developer barn to the gestation barn, they can be fed the regular gestation diet for a period of time at 4 to 4.5 lb./day, and then flushed by feeding 6 lb./day from 190 days of age to breeding.
