Breeding, Gestation, & Farrowing

INTRODUCTION
Lesson Introduction
The Breeding, Gestation, & Farrowing lesson explains the
production practices associated with two phases of the
production cycle. This lesson will address the different types of
housing units, the artificial insemination process, gestation, and
the farrowing process.

Time Needed
Interest Approach:........................ 5 minutes
Content Delivery:.........................25 minutes
The AI Process:..............................5 minutes
Review Quiz:................................10 minutes

Standards
NM-NS.9-12.6 Personal
and Social Perspectives: As
a result of activities in
grades 9-12, all students
should develop an
understanding of: personal
and community health;
population growth; natural
resources; environmental
quality; natural and
human-induced hazards;
and science and techno
logy in local, national, and
global challenges.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
1.

Explain how individual housing units aid in the well-being

of breeding stock

2.

Discuss the farrowing process

3.

Discuss piglet care and handling

4.

Identify and discuss the reproductive anatomy of sows and gilts

5.

Describe the artificial insemination (AI) process and analyze how it mimics the natural
breeding process

MATERIALS:
1.

PowerPoint titled Breeding, Gestation, & Farrowing.

2.

LCD projector or overhead projector (if needed, the PowerPoint slides can be used as
transparency masters).

3.

Enough copies of the quiz and activity sheets for every student in the class.

VOCABULARY:
Artificial Insemination the deposition of spermatozoa in the female
reproductive tract by artificial rather than natural means
Castration rendering a male infertile by means of surgery
Catheter plastic tube used during AI that carries the semen to the cervix
Cervix narrow opening at the bottom of the uterus
Colostrum sows first milk that contains antibodies that build immunity to diseases
Conception Rate percentage of females serviced that conceive
Docking piglets tails are cut shorter to reduce tail biting
Estrus the period of time when a female with a certain hormonal profile will allow the
male to mount and breeding may occur
Mastitis inflammation of the mammary glands (udder); caused by bacteria
Ovaries the location where eggs (ova) mature and are released
Processing Piglets a series of procedures performed on piglets around three to five days
of age
Semen a fluid substance produced by the male reproductive system containing
spermatozoa suspended in secretions of the accessory glands
Uterus the area where the fetus develops, pigs have a two horned uterus
Vagina the muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body. It is also
known as the birth canal
Vulva external genitalia of the sow

INTEREST APPROACH:
Gather AI equipment such as a catheter, a magazine containing semen/breeding information, a
cooler, etc and place the entire set of items in the front of the classroom prior to the beginning of
class (this will foster discussion among the students about what these are and what todays lesson
will be). Once class begins, ask the students what they think these are items are used for. Go
through each item individually and discuss.

TEACHING CONTENT:
Objective 1: Explain how individual housing units aid in the well-being of breeding stock.

During the breeding and farrowing phases, sows, gilts, and boars are typically housed in
individual housing units, sometimes known as stalls, in environmentally-controlled
buildings.
Individual housing has animal management advantages and disadvantages. It is
often chosen over group housing in pens because animal management is
potentially enhanced as it occurs on an individual basis.
In group pens, females may fight for dominance which can lead to injuries. During
gestation, fighting among group-housed sows and gilts may lead to a reduction in litter
size, or the entire litter may be aborted. Group housing during gestation may also
increase competition for food and water. The lack of proper nutrition and/or water can
lead to reduced litter sizes, completed abortion, a reduction in sow health.
During farrowing, individual housing units help prevent females from lying on and
crushing or otherwise injuring piglets. Individual housing allows piglets to be provided a
separate diet from their mother, diets such as supplemental milk replacer and/or creep
feed. Additionally, such housing also allows the producer to provide the female with
increased individual care such as assistance during farrowing if it is required.
Disadvantages of individual housing are a decrease in normal social interaction and less
room to move.
The animals well-being is always a producers main priority as their livelihood can be
directly linked to herd health.
But more importantly, producers are committed to taken care of their animals
and following practices which are in their best interest.
Because of their concern for herd health and animal well-being, producers, along
with research scientists, are continually improving the management practices of
pigs.
Future management practices for breeding stock will include a combination of the open
pen/group housing concept and individual housing. These redefined management
practices may result in individual units for feeding, intensive management practices such
as breeding, and an open concept for socialization at other times

Objective 2: Discuss the farrowing process.

Suggested Teaching Method:
Draw a timeline on the board indicating the gestation period of a sow (3 months, 3 weeks, 3
days). On separate sheets of paper, list the key events associated with farrowing such as cleaning
and disinfecting farrowing stalls, changing respiration rates, milk appearing in teats,
observation, etc and distribute to class members. Have each person place their event along the
farrowing timeline. Do not adjust the events even if they are not in the correct order. Instead,
make the adjustments as the lesson is taught.

Farrowing is the process of giving birth to piglets. Three are three stages of farrowing.
Each phase requires special attention by producers to help maintain animal well-being.

Pre-farrowing Process (this can be described as the preparation process)

Clean and disinfect farrowing room including all stalls, equipment, etc.
The females should be moved to their stalls (individual housing units) several
days before their expected farrowing date(s)
These individual units are used to help the producer provide for the females wellbeing and to help protect each sow and her offspring
Ample water should be available at all times
Human and animal interaction occurs daily
Gestation Calendar
A gestation calendar helps producers establish the expected farrowing
date. This a management tool to help plan the three phases of farrowing.
On the chart, each of the two columns represents a date. The left side is
the date the sow or gilt was bred and the right side, which is directly
across, represents the date 112 days after breeding.
Although the actual farrowing date normally occurs 114 to 115 days after
breeding, day 112 flags producers as to when to begin the pre-farrowing
process. (Note: A complete gestation calendar is supplied in the
resources section of the curriculum.)
Farrowing
Producers can check for signs that farrowing will occur by observing for:
Change in respiration rates
Milk in the teats
Presence of blood-stained fluid around the vulva
During farrowing, a caretaker checks on the female a minimum of every 20
minutes. If the sow or gilt is having any problems, the caretaker can assist, as
needed.
Post-Farrowing Process
Normal sow behavior
Sows will lie on their sides, changing the side they are laying on often
Sows communicate with their piglets through grunting and other methods
Sows react to distractions and surprises such as the opening of the
farrowing room door
Feed is supplied at least twice a day; however, most sows do not eat during the
actual farrowing process
After farrowing, sows are slowly brought back onto feed with the goal of
attaining full feed within a few days
An ample, clean water supply is always available to sows as water is needed to
produce milk and maintain the sows necessary metabolic functions
Observations are made daily so human and pig interaction can occur and any sow
needs can be identified and addressed
During observations producers look for:
A decrease in food and water consumption, which could be a sign of
illness
A sows temperature is normally 100F to 101F and can rise during
farrowing

o
o

After farrowing, an increased temperature may be a sign of illness

A common post-farrowing illness is mastitis, an inflammation of
the mammary glands caused by bacteria

Objective 3: Discuss piglet care and handling.

Immediately after farrowing

Piglets stay near the sow to help regulate their body temperature
Producers may use a warming box, a box or tub with a heat lamp over the top, to
warm some piglets while other piglets nurse
Piglets receive colostrum from the sow during their first nursing. It is a yellow
substance, thicker than her regular milk, and contains maternal antibodies to
help protect piglets against disease
Nutrition
Piglets will nurse about once every hour and sleep immediately afterward
Well-nourished piglets appear to be playful and have a round, full abdomen with
tight skin and a shiny hair coat
Some operations may provide supplemental feed such as milk replacer or dry
creep feed
Processing
The following steps are performed to help protect the piglets and the sow
Tail docking within the first few days, the tail is docked to reduce
injuries due to tail biting
Injections soon after birth, many piglets are given vaccines, or
preventative medication, to help prevent potential diseases. The vaccines
given vary at each operation. Supplemental iron may also be provided via
injection or orally
Castration testicles are removed from male piglets between day 4 and
14, mainly to control reproduction in the herd. Most U.S. packers do not
accept intact boars (with one or both testicles still intact/in place); if
boars are accepted (partially or fully intact), producers will receive a much
lower price

Objective 4: Identify and discuss the reproductive anatomy of sows and gilts.
Suggested Teaching Method:
Begin this objective by having each student list the major reproductive parts of a mammalian
female. Once completed, ask the students what the major parts are and make a list on the
board (they may not get the complete list). Then, transition into the objective by explaining
that female reproductive anatomy for most mammalian species is very similar. Next, go
through the list on the board and discuss the major function(s) of each part (you may need to
add parts if they were not listed by the students). Using the PowerPoint, have a student label
the parts by moving a text box to the appropriate part (the PowerPoint needs to be in normal
view for this to work correctly). Continue until all parts are labeled. (Note: A blank outline of
a sows reproductive parts is available in the resource section of the curriculum.)

Discuss sow/gilt reproductive anatomy

Vagina the muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the
body. It is also known as the birth canal
Vulva external genitalia of the female
Cervix narrow opening at the bottom of the uterus
Uterus the area where the fetus develops
Ovaries the location where the eggs mature and are released

Objective 5: Describe the artificial insemination process and analyze how it is designed to
mimic the natural breeding process.
Suggested Teaching Method(s):
At the end of this section, use the activity titled The AI Process to reinforce the content.

Artificial insemination (AI) is the most common method used to breed pigs in the U.S.
The AI process is designed to mimic the natural breeding process
Females go into estrus, also known as heat, every 18 to 22 days
Estrus is the period of the estrous cycle just prior to when the female ovulates [releases
egg(s)] and she is receptive to a male
In gilts, ovulation occurs 30 to 36 hours after estrus begins
In sows, ovulation occurs 38 to 44 hours after estrus begins
Once estrus is detected, the AI process should take place
0 to 12 hours before ovulation in gilts
0 to 24 hours before ovulation in sows
The AI process should be performed twice, with each AI service being about 18 to 24
hours apart, to help increase the potential for conception
The artificial insemination process consist of five main steps:
1. Stimulate the female (from start of AI process to end)
2. Clean the vulva area
3. Prepare the catheter
4. Insert the catheter
5. Deposit the semen

THE AI PROCESS
Name: _______________________________
Directions
1.

Student Activity
Label each reproductive part.

2. Identify the AI process by writing the correct steps on the notebook in order of completion.
AI To Do List
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Directions
Use the questions below to facilitate a class discussion about the pork industry.
These questions will act as a review before the quiz is distributed. If you choose, you
can integrate the questions throughout the lesson to facilitate class discussion as
well.

Class Activity

1.

In what situations would artificial insemination be advantageous over the natural

breeding process?

2.

In what ways will the combination open pen/group housing concept and individual
housing units effect an operations management decisions?

3.

How does understanding a sows anatomy aid an AI technician?

4.

Why is it important for a producer to only assist a farrowing sow when needed instead of
aiding her throughout the entire process?

5.

What biosecurity measures could be introduced to reduce the instances of mastitis?

Breeding, Gestation &

Farrowing Quiz
Name: _______________________________
Directions: Answer the following questions by choosing the best answer.
Matching:
1. _____ Semen
2. _____ Mastitis

A. The sows first milk after farrowing,

contains antibodies

3. _____ Artificial Insemination (AI)

B. The area where fetal development

4. _____ Vulva

occurs

5. _____ Catheter

C. The deposition of spermatozoa in the

6. _____ Uterus

female genitalia by artificial rather than

natural means

7. _____ Cervix

D. Narrow opening at the bottom of the

8. _____ Estrus

uterus

9. _____ Ovaries

E. A fluid substance produced by the male

10. _____ Colostrum

reproductive system containing

spermatozoa suspended in secretions of
the accessory glands
F. The external genitalia of the sow
G. The location where eggs (ova) mature

and are released

H. Inflammation of the udder, caused by

bacteria
I.

A plastic tube used during AI that helps

move semen to the cervix

J. The period of time when a female with a

certain hormonal profile will allow the

male to mount and breeding may occur

Multiple Choice:
1. Which of the following is NOT a sign that farrowing will occur?
A. Change in the respiration rate
B. Milk in the teats
C. Blood stained fluid from the vulva
D. Eating feed
4. Which of the following procedures does NOT occur immediately after farrowing?
A. Place the piglet near the sow
B. Piglets receive colostrum from the sow
C. Use a warming box to warm some piglet while others nurse
D. Castrate the male piglets
5. Piglets will nurse about every ______ hour(s).
A. one-half

B. one
C. two
D. three
6. Housing sows in group pens can cause
A. An increase in fighting
B. Less injury to piglets
C. A decrease in competition for food and water
D. None of the above choices are correct
7. One of the main animal well-being procedures during the farrowing process is
A. A clean, ample supply of water
B. Access to food
C. A caretaker should check on the sow every 20 minutes during farrowing
D. All are conditions of animal well-being

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8. What is the first step in the artificial insemination process?

A. Stimulate the female
B. Deposit the semen
C. Insert the catheter
D. Clean the vulva area
9. Artificial insemination
A. Is less common than natural breeding
B. Is less successful than natural breeding
C. Mimics the natural breeding process
D. Has a much lower conception rate than natural breeding
10. Females go into heat/estrus every:
A. 14 to 18 days
B. 18 to 22 days
C. 22 to 26 days
D. 26 to 30 days
11. Breeding of a gilt should take place
A. 12 to 24 hours before ovulation
B. 0 to 12 hours before ovulation
C. 0 to 12 hours after ovulation
D. 12 to 24 hours after ovulation
12. A sows normal temperature should be:
A. 99 to 100F
B. 100 to 101F
C. 101 to 102F
D. 102 to 103F

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Quiz Answer Key

Matching:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Multiple Choice:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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