Anyone done AI?

[Alexz7272]

Hello,

We are looking into breeding our gilt and are interested in AI. We know the general information regarding it and the supplies we would need. But of course, we can read until our eyes swell shut but I know personal experience is always better. Any learned tips or tricks of the trade? We unfortunately do not have anyone near us that has done it before, so it'll just be us two amateurs trying, haha.

Thanks in advance!

 

[misfitmorgan]

Hello,

We are looking into breeding our gilt and are interested in AI. We know the general information regarding it and the supplies we would need. But of course, we can read until our eyes swell shut but I know personal experience is always better. Any learned tips or tricks of the trade? We unfortunately do not have anyone near us that has done it before, so it'll just be us two amateurs trying, haha.

Thanks in advance!

Make sure the gilt is in standing heat. Gilts generally have a short fast heat as soon as you notice heat coming on you should be ordering your semen. Videos and pics all over on how to confirm. Alternatively there are hormones you can use that will make the gilt go into heat within 72hrs...we do not use them but we have a boar on sight which goes a long way to checking heat.

Ai'ing pigs is pretty easy they are the easiest animals to AI just make sure you get Fresh Semen not Frozen. You will also need a pipette for semen application. I recommend one of the spiral types, they are pretty fool proof.

Lubricate the end of the pipette with a good OB lube or any sterile non-spermicidal lube. You want to make sure you wear sterile gloves and do not touch the spirl/foam end of the pipette with your hand(even with gloves on) make sure the pipette touches nothing other then the air and the pigs vulva/vaginal passage. We generally use the wrapper the pipetter comes in, cut the end of the baggies off that contains the pipette then use the wrapper to expose the end for lubrication.

Apply pressure to the gilt's back, if they are large enough and you are slight you can sit on their rump directly above their back legs. i will say this makes it slightly more difficult to insert and place the pipette. So one person can sit while the other does the pipette.

If you have properly stimulated the gilt she will have a thick secretion coming from her vulva. Look up "thumb checking" for pigs.

The oxytocin that the "getting her in the mood" actions create will also help with ovulation and a better settle result.

Pigs are not gentle so dont be scared your going to hurt her but dont just be ramming things in you know. Most everything should be done with moderate pressure where the vulva/cervix is concerned. Smacking, patting, leaning on, pulling etc to get her ready can be a bit more forceful, she has to be able to feel it. Boars will often actually use their noses to pick up the gilts rear ends just in front of the hind legs.

 

[Mini Horses]

OK -- THIS sounds like a LOT of fun!!!!

I've AI'd mini mares & collected the stallions to have fresh sperm but, looking at my pigs......nope! Not thinking I want to sit on one, pick it up, or any of that. Not saying the minis were fun but, well, less apt to be a muddy mess than that pig...and far more predictable actions/reactions.

Would a video be considered porn? I'd love to watch the fun.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

 

[misfitmorgan]

OK -- THIS sounds like a LOT of fun!!!!

I've AI'd mini mares & collected the stallions to have fresh sperm but, looking at my pigs......nope! Not thinking I want to sit on one, pick it up, or any of that. Not saying the minis were fun but, well, less apt to be a muddy mess than that pig...and far more predictable actions/reactions.

Would a video be considered porn? I'd love to watch the fun.

No, that is of course would be for educational purposes only

Really pigs are super easy and mine actually are very clean, i think the dirtiest part is their nose since they root around. we do not collect our own semen we buy it so i know nothing about that task. For the Gilt/Sow's part they just stand there pretty much frozen so its kinda like working on a mannequin except...its alive of course lol. It's really pretty darn interesting to see/watch in all honesty.

 

[Alexz7272]

OK -- THIS sounds like a LOT of fun!!!!

I've AI'd mini mares & collected the stallions to have fresh sperm but, looking at my pigs......nope! Not thinking I want to sit on one, pick it up, or any of that. Not saying the minis were fun but, well, less apt to be a muddy mess than that pig...and far more predictable actions/reactions.

Would a video be considered porn? I'd love to watch the fun.

I'm sure my family would love a video too!! I will keep you updated when we finally do it

 

[Alexz7272]

Make sure the gilt is in standing heat. Gilts generally have a short fast heat as soon as you notice heat coming on you should be ordering your semen. Videos and pics all over on how to confirm. Alternatively there are hormones you can use that will make the gilt go into heat within 72hrs...we do not use them but we have a boar on sight which goes a long way to checking heat.

Ai'ing pigs is pretty easy they are the easiest animals to AI just make sure you get Fresh Semen not Frozen. You will also need a pipette for semen application. I recommend one of the spiral types, they are pretty fool proof.

Lubricate the end of the pipette with a good OB lube or any sterile non-spermicidal lube. You want to make sure you wear sterile gloves and do not touch the spirl/foam end of the pipette with your hand(even with gloves on) make sure the pipette touches nothing other then the air and the pigs vulva/vaginal passage. We generally use the wrapper the pipetter comes in, cut the end of the baggies off that contains the pipette then use the wrapper to expose the end for lubrication.

Apply pressure to the gilt's back, if they are large enough and you are slight you can sit on their rump directly above their back legs. i will say this makes it slightly more difficult to insert and place the pipette. So one person can sit while the other does the pipette.

If you have properly stimulated the gilt she will have a thick secretion coming from her vulva. Look up "thumb checking" for pigs.

The oxytocin that the "getting her in the mood" actions create will also help with ovulation and a better settle result.

Pigs are not gentle so dont be scared your going to hurt her but dont just be ramming things in you know. Most everything should be done with moderate pressure where the vulva/cervix is concerned. Smacking, patting, leaning on, pulling etc to get her ready can be a bit more forceful, she has to be able to feel it. Boars will often actually use their noses to pick up the gilts rear ends just in front of the hind legs.

This was amazing, thank you so so so much! Luckily porkchop, as I named her, does not mind me in the pen at all or pushing on her back end as you suggested. I think the biggest challenge is going to calculate her heat but have looked into the hormones that can help with that. Thank you again, I will have this thread open when we finally get to do it! You're awesome

 

[misfitmorgan]

This was amazing, thank you so so so much! Luckily porkchop, as I named her, does not mind me in the pen at all or pushing on her back end as you suggested. I think the biggest challenge is going to calculate her heat but have looked into the hormones that can help with that. Thank you again, I will have this thread open when we finally get to do it! You're awesome

Thanks much glad i could help.

I forgot to mention heat cycle is every 18-22 days so every month she should be cycling until she is bred. For heat signs watch for her letting you push on her not just a little i mean really lean you weight on her rump and she if she locks up. Also watch for vulva swelling it should roughly double in size, sometimes turns a brighter pink(light color pig), any sort of goo from her vulva, sometimes they will go off their feed. If think she is in heat market the day and set a reminder in your phone for 18 days later and watch for a few days if she has the same signs come again. If she does order the semen, you have roughly 48hrs to get it in her so it is a narrow window. After she has a litter it will be slightly easier because her heat will last roughly 60hrs. Once you learn to tell they are in heat its gets pretty easy to tell on most pigs after that.

You likely want to go with cheaper semen for the first try or two that way your not out a lot of money while learning. Atm the summer prices are on and you can find Duroc for $25/dose as well as Berk, Hereford, Landrace for $35/dose...plus shippin on all those. Most places will be able to sell you pipettes at the same time, generally in a 5 pack for like $2-4.

 

[micah wotring]

So, I work for a show pig breeder and he AI's and it's like 250-750 per dose.
I know this is for some of the top show lines around and so I understand why it's that expensive.
But what I am wondering is where do you get semen for that cheap.
I know it will be cheaper the lower quality(according to showing which won't mater)boar but where would you find some like that.

 

[misfitmorgan]

So, I work for a show pig breeder and he AI's and it's like 250-750 per dose.
I know this is for some of the top show lines around and so I understand why it's that expensive.
But what I am wondering is where do you get semen for that cheap.
I know it will be cheaper the lower quality(according to showing which won't mater)boar but where would you find some like that.

Well some people over pay lol! I'm joking but this is semen from show pigs with off season pricing which is 50% off or more...in season most of these same boars are $75-175 a dose from one place we use and up to $350 from another place. Most of the boars are from show stock, or are the full brother of so and so, etc. Many bought from STC and many shown themselves, all registered.

One place with higher end prices is Prairie State Semen Inc.....we have no ordered from them yet.
Be Aware Prairie state stores semen for many other farms and top boars which you can often buy.

Hi Point Genetics $35-300 per dose
Sample boar
Sire: It's All Good
Dam: Walk this Way (Ch Hampshire $31,500 2014 WPX)
Stress: Negative
Bred by: Keith & Brian Lambright
$30,000 Class Winner STC

They are not all impressive on paper but they all have pics and look good and are registered. Even some of the $75/dose boars sold for 30k or more so you never know. Hi Point uses their overrun price as their summer price..
Keep an eye on parent stock when your semen shopping for example Hi Pointe has a Duroc Boar called "Hes the One" his dose price for summer is $150....his full blood brother "Rising Sun" $50/dose.

Shaffer's Goldrush price is $25-100 per dose
Sample Boar
Outlaw
Trouble Maker x Capital Investment x Sun Tea
Bred by: Steve Harvey, IN
Owned with: Delbert & Trevor Peters - Peters Hamps & Show Pigs & Steve Harvey & Family
Ear Notch: 27-3
Registration #485458003
Summer Pricing!
Full Price: $200 a dose
Summer Price: $75 a dose

Despite the low prices they have some dang good semen, from breeders like Tracey Lorensen, Rick Whitman, etc. They also run a bigger discount if your buying 6 or more doses.

Purple Power Boar Stud $25-150 per dose
Sample Boar
IGNITE
$100 • Summer Pricing: $50
Sire- Incentive
Dam- Lifeblood X Full Shift X Special Collection
EN 1-1 | Reg# 356758001
Bred by Blake Danner
IGNITE has us lit up here at Purple Power. This guy looks like a BIG TIME BARROW SIRE. When you study his pedigree it is no wonder why.His sire Incentive has 2 shots of Special Collection in him and Lifeblood was out of Line Em Up which was a special collection and the great grand dam of IGNITE was also out of Special. Full shift, Prenup and Totally Awesome all set in this guys pedigree

This place is slighly less "impressive" on big names but have good looking stock.

Shipley Swine Genetics $35-300
Sample Boar
Yorkshire: Not Even Close $200 / Dose
Sire: 6MSB3 Foot Print 21-5
Dam: WIU1 Shakin Hands 17-11
Bred By: Norman Bros. (IL)
Owned by: Shipley Swine Genetics
E.N.: 41-2 Reg #: 559622002
$145,000 Yorkshire Boar From 2014 STC

Not ordered from this place yet, so im not sure if the shown price is sumer price or not but summer prices are in effect. Again though the example boar is $200/dose...but they have two of his sons at $100/150 a dose. With overrun you could get any of them for $50-200 if your lucky.

I just randomly clicked on breeds and checked prices and picked some that listed their show records or sale price etc. They with anything are not all "holy poo" credentials but as i keep saying no matter what one you pick if your going for nice looking show pigs any of them work. Summer pricing is the best deal cause the prices double in season minimum and some even quadruple....nothing like getting that $250 boar semen for $50. Always check what they have for overrun semen and pricing before you order, you can find excellent deals on some of the $100-300 boars. There are probly more places these are just the ones i found when i was researching. DH knows way more about pigs them me, we dont even show pigs just sell them to the 4-h'ers and for feeders...hence cheap semen to get new genetics.