THE EFFECT OF HOUSING FACILITIES AND BOAR EXPOSURE AFTER WEANING ON THE INCIDENCE OF POSTLACTATIONAL ANESTRUS IN PRIMIPAROUS SOWS

Abstract

Two studies were carried out to determine the effect of the type of housing and exposure to mature boars after weaning on the incidence of postlactational anestrus in primiparous Lacombe sows. The incidence of anestrus was higher in sows housed in pairs in confinement as compared to housing in groups in outside lots (64.0 vs. 39.5%, respectively; P < 0.10). Exposure of sows to mature boars after weaning had no effect on the incidence of anestrus, but the duration of estrus was shorter (P < 0.01) for sows with constant boar exposure as compared to minimum boar exposure. Key words: Sows, anestrus, boar exposure, housing