Instructions
Listen for unusual noises or excessive grunting from your feeder hog. As estrus approaches, many females will become more vocal in an effort to attract attention.
Watch the carriage of the ears for signs of estrus. Female hogs in heat will move their ears very little, and carry them nearly erect. In floppy-eared breeds such as Durocs, the ears will twitch back and forth quickly and frequently. This exaggerated ear placement is known as ear popping, and occurs in nearly all breeds of hogs.
Examine her vulva for swelling or discharge. A light coating of mucus is present in many females in heat, and the vulva will be puffy and deep pink to red in color. You may not see the discharge, but excessive amounts of bedding will stick to her rear end during heat cycles.
Press down on the feeder hog's back to check for standing heat. Standing heat designates the time when feeder hogs are most receptive to mating, with the female standing absolutely still when weight is placed on her loins. If she moves forward or turns away as you touch her, she is not yet in heat.
Introduce a mature boar to the female through a strong fence. Female feeder hogs in heat will nuzzle and sniff the male, turning their hindquarters towards the fence to allow the male to sniff them. Receptive females should be turned out with boars and allowed to mate as soon as standing heat is identified.
How to Know If a Feeder Hog Is in Heat
People breed many types of hogs, with feeder hogs being one of the most common. Feeder hogs are specifically bred and raised to be slaughtered, providing pork products for consumers around the globe. Feeder hogs produce large litters, often giving birth to more than 10 piglets at a time. Knowing when your feeder hog is in heat is the first step to producing healthy piglets.