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Report no. 614

Abstract

High human stimulation of sows during heat control and insemination has previously been seen to increase the level of the hormone oxytocin in the bloodstream of the sows and thereby improve semen transport at artificial insemination (AI).

In this trial, the effect of high human stimulation on the reproduction results was studied in six commercial herds. High human stimulation of sows during heat control and insemination (trial) was compared with low human stimulation (control). The sows in both groups had snout contact with a boar, and the boar was present constantly during the sows’ stay in the service section.

There was a difference in farrowing percentage of approx. 6% in favour of the trial group (89.3 versus 83.4), but there were no differences in the total number of piglets born per litter. It can thus be concluded that high human stimulation during heat control and insemination of sows, as applied in this trial, does affect the farrowing percentage positively by approx. 6% compared with the sows receiving low human stimulation.

It is therefore recommended to use high human stimulation during heat control and insemination of sows.

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