How to Breed Hogs

Breeding hogs can be very lucrative. The breeding process can produce sizable litters and does not require much time for the owner. Hogs can breed at any time of the year, but births peak in spring and fall. The gestation period for hogs is 114 days, and a sow can have as many as a dozen piglets or as few as one. Once a boar and several sows have been purchased, the breeding process can begin. One boar can mate with up to 40 pastured sows or up to 50 stalled sows.

Things You'll Need

  • Feed
  • Iodine
  • Spray for parasites and lice
  • Immunization against erysipelas
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Instructions

    • 1

      Research and purchase your first hogs. Find a local hog breeder with the most fertile sows that produce the largest litters. Buy at least one boar and as many sows as you can afford.

    • 2

      Mate your hogs. A female hog, called a gilt, can begin breeding as soon as five months of age, and boars as soon as eight months. The gilt goes into heat for two or three days every 21-day cycle. A swollen vulva or mucus-like vaginal discharge indicates estrus. Try and mate the boar with the sow during the first day of estrus and then again 24 hours later. Boars simply need access to the sows in their stalls or in the pasture for impregnation to occur. Boars at age eight months to one year can mate with up to 12 pastured sows or 24 stalled sows. Boars over one year of age can mate with up to 40 pastured sows or 50 stalled sows.

    • 3

      Feed the sow correctly during the gestation period for best results. Different amounts of feed at different times during gestation has positive effects for longer-living sows that produce more pigs. During the first 21 days, sows should be fed 4 lbs. to 4 1/2 lbs. of feed each day. Between days 21 and 75, sows should be fed 4 lbs. to 8 lbs. of feed each day. Between day 75 and 90, sows should be fed 4 lbs. to 5 lbs. of feed each day. After day 90 to birthing, sows should be fed 4 1/2 lbs. to 6 lbs. of feed each day.

    • 4

      Protect the sows from other aggressive sows during gestation. Sows can become aggressive during mating and gestation. Including a boar in the pen helps reduce aggression. The boar acts as a leader and inhibits aggressive sows during feeding. Partition walls can also help reduce aggression by separating violent sows.

    • 5

      Prepare the sows for birthing. Two weeks before giving birth, spray each pregnant sow for parasites and lice. Wash and move each pregnant sow into a clean farrowing pen a few days before the birth. Immunization against erysipelas is also recommended.