Selection of Breeding Gilt For Breeding.

 
Selection of Breeding Gilt
It is extremely important to select a good boar since it contributes half the quality of the herd.

Areas to be consider while selecting breeding Gilt:
i. Gilts selected to have at least 12 teats so as to accommodate a large litter
ii. Gilts to be selected from sows, which wean 9 -10 or more piglets per litter and are known to be good mothers and first farrowing at one year of age and farrowing interval of seven month.
iii. Select breeding gilts at weaning period, further selection should be done 5-6 months of age.
iv. Select fast growing weaners. These will likely consume less feed per unit live weight gain. Thus less costly to keep.
v. Select gilts which have developed hams and comparatively light heads.
vi. The selected gilts should have good body confirmation i.e. strong legs, sound feet etc.
vii. Gilt should not select for breeding purpose having supernumerary and inverted teats, and fat deposited at the base of the teats
viii. Guilt must be at least 8 months old at first service.



Summarized Feature to look out for in a selected gilt
Age to breed gilts-----------------------------8 months
Weight of breed gilts-------------------------100-120 kg
Length of heat period-------------------------2-3 days
Best time to breed in heat period------------Gilts – first day and Sows- Second day
Number of services per sow------------------2 services at an interval of 12-14 hours
Period of oestrous cycle----------------------18-24 days (Average 21 days)
Occurrence of heat after weaning------------2-10 days
Gestation period------------------------------114 days