Optimal timing of boar exposure relative to parturition for stimulation of lactation oestrus

This study evaluated the effect of full physical boar exposure at different stages of lactation on the incidence of lactation oestrus in both primiparous and multiparous sows. A total of 38 primiparous (PP) and 80 multiparous (MP) sows (parity 2-6; 3.1±0.18) of Large White×Landrace genetics were individually housed in conventional farrowing crates from 1 week before expected farrowing until weaning on day 27.5±0.08 post-parturition. The experiment was designed as a 2×4 factorial, incorporating the two sow parity groups, and boar exposure commencing on one of four days post-farrowing (days 10, 14 and 18 of lactation and weaning). The eight treatments were as follows: PP sows, boar exposure starting on day 10 (n=10), day 14 (n=9), day 18 (n=9) and weaning (n=10); MP sows boar exposure starting on day 10 (n=20), day 14 (n=20), day 18 (n=20) and weaning (n=20). According to treatment, sows were taken daily to a detection mating area where they received 20 min of boar exposure and were artificially inseminated at the first observed oestrus. A significant effect of replicate on the incidence of lactation oestrus was found; specifically, the proportion of sows expressing a lactation oestrus was lower in replicate 4 (autumn) than in the other three replicates (winter/spring; 0.15 versus 0.51; P<0.01). In replicate 1-3, a significantly higher proportion of MP compared to PP sows experienced a lactation oestrus (0.63 versus 0.36; P<0.05). Lactation oestrus expression was lower for MP sows starting boar exposure on day 14 compared to day 18 post-partum (0.38 versus 0.79, respectively; P<0.05), but was similar for days 10 and 18 of lactation (0.69 versus 0.79, respectively; P<0.05). Commencing boar exposure on day 18 as opposed to day 10 post-partum significantly reduced the interval from boar exposure to lactation oestrus expression (4.5±0.8 versus 7.7±0.8 days, respectively; P<0.05). Therefore, full physical boar exposure stimulated a high proportion of lactation oestrus in multiparous sows; however, season impacted this expression, and first parity sows are less likely than multiparous sows to express a lactation oestrus. In conclusion, there appears to be no benefit in commencing boar exposure before day 18 post-partum to stimulate a lactation oestrus.