The key to successful boar breeding and management lies in ensuring that boars produce high-quality semen and maintain strong reproductive performance. The conception rate and litter size of sows are not only influenced by the sow itself but also by the quality of the boar’s semen. Therefore, effective breeding and management of breeding boars should focus on three main aspects: nutrition, scientific management, and reasonable usage.
First, meeting the nutritional needs of boars is essential. Although China has established guidelines for boar feeding, many pig farms still follow the same feeding standards as pregnant sows, which may not be optimal. In contrast, the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) treats boars and sows as separate categories. According to NRC recommendations, each kilogram of feed should provide around 3,210 kcal of metabolizable energy and 12% crude protein. However, China's standard is slightly lower at 2,880 kcal/kg. Based on NRC guidelines, a boar should receive about 1.9 kg of feed per day, while Chinese standards suggest 2.3 kg during the breeding period, increasing to 2.5–2.8 kg in winter. Feeding amounts should be adjusted flexibly based on these guidelines to maintain an ideal body condition—neither too fat nor too thin. During breeding seasons, adding eggs or duck eggs to the diet can help boost the boar’s libido and improve semen quality.
Second, implementing scientific management practices is crucial. Boars should be housed individually in clean, dry, and well-ventilated pens. Temperature control is important—cool in summer and warm in winter. Their daily routines, including feeding, watering, exercise, rest, breeding, brushing, and bathing, should be regular and structured. Breeding should ideally take place before or after feeding. It’s best to bring the sow to the boar’s area rather than moving the boar to the sow, which helps reduce stress and ensures better breeding efficiency.
Third, it’s important to use boars reasonably. Lean boars should not be bred before 240 days of age and should weigh at least 100 kg. Boar usage can be categorized into high-intensity and moderate-intensity. High-intensity breeding involves two matings per day, with an 8–10 hour gap, followed by one day of rest every two days. Younger boars should have shorter intervals. Overuse can lead to reduced semen volume and quality, which negatively affects the sow’s fertility and litter size, potentially leading to early culling of the boar. It’s best to avoid exceeding recommended usage limits to ensure long-term breeding performance.
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