Calculator to help determine the optimal time for mating
This calculator should only be used as a guide.
If your farrowing rate is good it is often best not to mess around too much. Mating on the day standing oestrus is first detected and then 24 hours later, works well on many farms around the world.
However, several producers would like to optimise their production especially with respect to litter size.
The yellow boxes can be customised. The difficult assessment is the length of standing oestrus (see guide at bottom)
We never really know when standing oestrus started. This model assumes a morning heat check. The more heat checks you carry out the more accurate your model will become.
What ever programme you pick - it is essential to have vital/live/active semen present at ovulation (Note ovulation also takes some time in the pig so it is impossible to determine the exact time of "ovulation" for all 30 or so eggs.
There is a guide at the bottom to help calculate the length of standing oestrus for each day post-weaning
Impact of breeding late - vulval discharges
It is essential to only mate sows when they are in excellent standing oestrus