TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING

Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 1 -
Introduction

Four keys to AI success are 1) insemination timing, 2)
heat detection, 3) semen quality and, 4) trained and
knowledgable staff. During recent years, many
studies have been conducted and published that
examine these key factors.

What we know:
1. Optimal insemination-to-ovulation interval is
between 0 and 24 hours before ovulation
(Soede et al., 1995).
2. The variation in ovulation time as % of estrus
between individual sows is quite large
(between 39% and 133%) but on average,
ovulation occurs approximately occurs 64-
83% of estrus duration (Kemp et al., 1998)
3. Estrus duration is negatively correlated to
weaning to estrus interval (WEI) (Kemp et al.,
1998; Patterson et al., 2002). For example,
sows with a short WEI tend to have longer
estrus durations than sows with long WEI.
4. Ideally, semen should be < 2 days (48 h) old.
Waberski et al. (1994) showed that liquid
storage of semen (BTS, 17
o
C) for 48 to 87 h
resulted in a significant reduction, in
fertilization rate (from 80 to 54%) even in
sows that were inseminated between 12 and 24
h before ovulation.
5. Because long heat indicates late ovulation,
sows should be inseminated if they are still
exhibiting a strong standing reflex.
6. Good stockmanship is the key to success and
the selection of personnel and comprehensive
training is essential (Burke, 1999).

Experimental Outline

In a recent experiment conducted at the Swine
Research & Technology Centre, University of Alberta,
32 Genex Hybrid F1 (LWxLR) primiparous females
were allocated to trial. After weaning, sows were
housed individually and from d 3 after weaning sows
were allowed 5 minutes of fenceline contact twice
daily (approximately 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.) with
mature boars, resulting in an 8 and 16 hour period
between checks. The onset of standing heat was
recorded as the first time the sow exhibited the
standing reflex in response to back pressure applied by
a technician, in the presence of a boar. Sows continued
to be heat checked until the end of standing heat to
determine duration of estrus. If heat was first detected
in the p.m., A.I. occurred at 16, 40 and 64 h after the
detection of estrus. Conversely, if heat was first
detected in the a.m., A.I. occurred at 8, 32 and 56 h
after the detection of estrus. Sows were bred as long as
they were exhibiting a strong standing reflex. Sows
were not bred if standing heat was not strong and the
previous breeding was completed with a strong
standing reflex.
Figure 1. Fertilization rate (%) of stored liquid boar
semen based on different intervals between A.I. and
ovulation and age of stored semen (Waberski et al.,
1994). Typical risk group could be sows with poor
A.I. timing, due to poor heat detection and bred with 4
or 5 day old semen.

Duration of estrus was recorded as half the time
between the last detection of estrus and the previous
time where estrus was not detected and the last time of
strong estrus and the subsequent time where estrus was
not detected.

Transcutaneous ultrasound (Pie Medical Scanner 200,
model 31380, Can Medical, Kingston, Ontario,
Canada), using a 5.0 multiple scan transducer of the
right ovary, was carried out every 8 h beginning 24 h
after the onset of estrus, until ovulation was detected.
Time of ovulation was recorded as half the time
between the last detection of follicles and their
subsequent disappearance.

Results

Results from this experiment confirm previous results
from other experiments (Soede et al., 1995; Patterson
et al., 2002); 1) with a negative relationship between
weaning-to-estrus interval and duration of estrus
0
Z0
40
0
0
100
-1Z >1Z-Z4 >Z4
7 - 11 h
4 - 7 h
0 - 4 h
IntervuI AI to ovuIution (h)
F
e
r
t
i
I
i
z
u
t
i
o
n

R
u
t
e

(
%
)

Semen
Storuqe (h)
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING
Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 2 -
(Figure 2), and 2) a positive relationship between
duration of estrus and time of ovulation (Figure 3).
Figure 2. Relationship of weaning to estrus interval
and duration of estrus. Duration of estrus = -4.96x +
76.21; R
2
= .16.
Figure 3. Relationship of estrus duration and time of
ovulation after onset of estrus. Time of ovulation =
.42x + 22.69; R
2
= .26.

Figure 4 illustrates the actual data collected during the
study (see Legend for figure descriptions). Duration of
estrus varied from 26 to 72 hours and ovulation
occurred between 52 to 129% of the way through the
heat period. Delaying only 8 or 16 hours after first
detection of estrus, when heat detection occurred twice
a day, resulted in the first A.I. being outside the
preferred period for A.I. (24 hours before ovulation) in
nearly all cases. Our first recommendation is
therefore that 1
st
insemination is delayed in these
sows.

Figure 4. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, and
time of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked twice
daily. Legend.

00
Z00
400
00
00
3 b 7 9
Weuninq to estrus IntervuI
D
u
r
u
t
i
o
n

o
f

e
s
t
r
u
s

(
h
)
00
100
Z00
300
400
b00
00
700
00 Z00 400 00 00
Estrus Durution (h)
T
i
m
e

o
f

O
v
u
I
u
t
i
o
n

u
f
t
e
r

O
n
s
e
t

o
f

E
s
t
r
u
s

(
h
)
hr
Time of A. I. Time of heof defecfion
Period of "opfimoI" ferfiIify (0 fo -IZ h)
Period of qood ferfiIify (-IZ fo -Z4 h)
Time of ovuIofion
Leqend
Durofion of defecfed esfrus
Durofion of defecfed esfrus
3b hr
b34 hr
b7 hr
3b hr
b34 hr
b7 hr
Twice-u-duy Heut-checkinq (000 & 100 h)
Detected PM
AI 1, 40, 4 hr
Detected AM
AI , 3Z, b hr
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING
Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 3 -
A.I. Protocols

Using the data accumulated from this experiment, we
have predicted duration of estrus, the time of ovulation
and period of optimal and good fertility under a
number of different heat detection/A.I. protocols. The
following options for heat detection/A.I. timings will
be discussed:

1. Option 1: Heat detection twice-a-day
(a.m./p.m); After detection of estrus delay A.I.
24 h, then breed every a.m./p.m. until estrus is
not detected (Figure 5).

2. Option 2: Heat detection twice-a-day
(a.m./p.m); After detection of estrus delay A.I.
24 h, then breed every 24 h until estrus is not
detected (Figure 6).

3. Option 3: Heat detection once-a-day (a.m.); At
detection of estrus A.I. (0 h), then breed every
a.m. (24 h intervals) until estrus is not detected
(Figure 7).

Option 3b: Heat detection a.m., A.I. p.m.;
After detection of estrus delay A.I. until p.m.
(8 h), then breed every p.m. (24 h intervals)
until estrus is not detected (Figure 8).

4. Option 4: Heat detection once-a-day (a.m.);
After detection of estrus, delay A.I. until next
a.m. (24 h), then breed every a.m. (24 h
intervals) until estrus is not detected (Figure
9).

Option 4b: Heat detection p.m.; A.I. next a.m.;
After detection of estrus in p.m. delay A.I.
until next (a.m.), then breed every a.m. (24 h
intervals) until estrus is not detected (Figure
10).

For duration of estrus, because in our trial, heat-
checking was completed at least twice a day, we can
predict if/when sows would have been in estrus based
on the heat detection schedule outlined in the options.
For example, if we determined a sow to be in heat at
1600 based on twice-a-day heat checking, in a once-a-
day heat checking protocol, the sow would have been
detected in estrus at the following a.m. (0800 the next
day).


Time of ovulation, illustrated as a single black line,
was predicted using the regression equation in Figure 1
(Time of ovulation = .42x + 22.69; R
2
= .26; r = .51).
This provided only an approximation of ovulation
time, and time of ovulation varied between sows
(Figure 1); to illustrate this in the following figures, a
solid black bar indicates the variation of time of
ovulation (predicted time of ovulation 12.5 h).

Soede et al. (1995) indicated that the optimal
insemination-to-ovulation interval is between 0 and 24
hours before ovulation, as indicated by the light and
dark blue bars. However, because sow factors such as
parity and breed, and semen factors such as quality and
number of sperm cells (Waberski et al. 1994), storage
time of semen, preservation method (liquid vs frozen)
and type of extender of semen used may shorten the
optimal period for insemination relative to ovulation,
we have indicated the optimal period of fertilization
to be 12 hours before ovulation, as indicated by the
dark blue bar.

Option 1

As shown in Figure 5, when heat checking is
completed twice a day, delaying 24 h is acceptable, and
avoids early inseminations that occur when delaying
only 8 and 16 h as illustrated in Figure 4. Also, A.I. at
8 and 16-hour intervals (a.m. and p.m.) is unnecessary
because either the previous or next insemination will
be sufficient to ensure the sow was inseminated in the
24-hour window. Thus inseminations shown as in
Figure 5 would be seen as redundant. One caution: if
duration of estrus is 24 hours or less, delaying A.I. 24
hours after insemination would result in the sow not
being bred. This is a particular concern with sows with
longer WEI intervals (see Figure 3), for which a
revised protocol would be needed.

Option 2

The outcome when redundant inseminations are
avoided by inseminating every 24 h is shown in Figure
6. When heat checking is competed twice a day, A.I.
24, 48 and 72 hours after the detection of estrus
ensures that the majority of sows are bred within in the
optimal interval of insemination. As in Figure 5, a
small proportion of sows not in standing heat at 24
hours would not be bred.
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING
Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 4 -
Figure 5. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, time
of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked twice daily.
Figure 6. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, time
of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked twice daily.

Option 3

To optimize use of labor, heat checking and A.I. once
per day may be desirable. As shown in Figure 7 heat
checking once per day, and inseminating at detection
of estrus (0 hrs), and every 24 hours as long as the sow
is exhibiting the standing reflex, may be acceptable. It
is important to note that the apparent estrus detected
will be shorter when heat checking occurs once per day
compared to twice per day. This occurs because the
interval between heat checks increases. However,
because the good insemination-ovulation interval is 24
hours, each sow should be bred during the optimal
interval.

Option 3b

If detection a.m. was combined with A.I. at the next
p.m. and then every 24 hours, the timing of A.I. would
appear to be even better (Figure 8). The benefits to
this protocol are: 1) because heat-checking and A.I. are
separated, stockpersons can be focused on one task at a
time (i.e. a.m. heat-checks, p.m. breeding); 2) after
a.m. heat-checks, stockpersons can accurately prepare
for p.m. breedings (time allocation, number of bottles
of semen required), and 3) delaying 8 h until the first
A.I. may result, particularly in sows with short estrus,
in A.I. falling in the good to optimal breeding period.
Z40 hr
4b7 hr
7 hr
Option Z
Twice-u-duy Heut-checkinq (000 & 100)
Detected AM OR PM
AI Z4, 4, 7Z
Z40 hr
34 hr
4 hr
4 hr
7Z hr
Z40 hr
34 hr
4 hr
4 hr
7Z hr
Twice-u-duy Heut-checkinq (000 & 100)
Detected PM
Detected AM
Option 1
AI Z4, 3,4, 0
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING
Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 5 -
Figure 7. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, time
of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked once daily.
Figure 8. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, time
of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked once daily.

Option 4

As shown in Figure 9, it is undesirable to delay A.I. 24
hours when heat checking is completed once per day.
A large proportion of sows would not be bred because
the detected duration of estrus would only be 24
hours, consequently the sow would not be in standing
heat to be bred.
Figure 9. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, time
of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked once daily

Option 4b

However, it is possible to further refine Option 4. If
once per day heat-checking p.m. was combined with
A.I. the next a.m. and then every 24 hours as long as
the sow is exhibiting the standing reflex, a nearly ideal
protocol emerges (Figure 10). Again, the benefits
would be 1) a separation between heat-checking and
A.I., stockpersons can be focused on one task at a time;
2) after p.m. heat-checks, stockpersons can accurately
prepare for a.m. breedings, 3) delaying 16 h until the
first A.I. may result, particularly in sows with short
estrus, in A.I. falling in the good to optimal breeding
period, and 4) it would reduce the number of sows that
do not receive any inseminations due to short heat
compared to Option 4. However, a proportion of sows
would still not be bred because the detected duration
of estrus would be less than 24 hours, consequently
some sows may not be in standing heat to be bred. A
revised protocol could be used for these sows.



Detected AM
Z40 hr
4 hr
7Z hr
Once-u-duy Heut-checkinq (um)
AI 0, Z4, 4, 7Z
Option 3
Detected AM
Z40 hr
4 hr
7Z hr
AI , 3Z, b
Option 3b
Once-u-duy Heut-checkinq (um)
Detected AM
Z40 hr
4 hr
7Z hr
Option 4
Once-u-duy Heut-checkinq (um)
AI Z4, 4, 7Z
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING
Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 6 -
Figure 10. Duration of estrus, time of ovulation, time
of A.I. for first parity sows heat-checked once daily.

Comparison of Breeding Strategies

Table 1 compares the different strategies of heat-
detection and A.I. timing and the consequences on
WEI and estrus duration. WEI tends to increase for
breeding strategies that involve once-a-day heat
detection compared to twice-a-day heat detection. This
occurs because once-a-day heat detection is less
accurate, with a 24-h interval between heat checks.
For the same reason, the apparent estrus duration
detected decreases for once-a-day heat checking
compared to twice-a-day heat checking.

Table 2 compares the different strategies of heat-
detection and A.I. timing and the consequences on the
average number of A.I.s and the number of sows
receiving 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 A.Is. In our study, when heat
detection occurred twice daily and the first A.I.
occurred 12 h after the detection of estrus, all sows
received at least one A.I. (22%). However, when heat
detection occurred twice daily and the first A.I. was
delayed until 24 h after the detection of estrus, 6% of
sows would not have been bred. Comparing Options
3 and 4 show that heat detection/A.I. once per day is
acceptable only if sows are bred immediately upon
detection of estrus and every 24 hours. Delaying 24
hours (Option 4) would have resulted in 22% of sows
not being bred. Although Option 3b does not differ
from Option 3 in terms of the average number of
A.I.s, more sows are bred within the optimal period of
A.I. Option 4b is superior to Option 4 because it
drastically reduces the percentage of sows that do not
receive at least one A.I. (22 to 3%), and it may increase
the number of sows bred with in the good to optimal
period of A.I.

Table 1. Comparison of different breeding strategies
for frequency of heat detection, WEI and estrus
duration.
Protocol
Heat
Detection
WEI
Estrus
Duration
Study Twice 5.1 51.1
Option 1 Twice 5.5 50.5
Option 2 Twice 5.5 50.5
Option 3 Once 5.9 45.8
Option 4 Once 5.9 45.8

Table 2. Comparison of different breeding strategies
for number of A.I.s each sow received.
# (percentage) of A.I./sow Protocol #
A.I. 0x 1x 2x 3x 4x
0 7 21 4 0
Study 1.9
- (22) (66) (13) -
2 5 16 5 4
Option 1 2.1
(6) (16) (50) (16) (13)
2 21 9 0 0
Option 2 1.2
(6) (66) (28) - -
0 7 21 4 0
Option 3 1.9
- (22) (66) (13) -
0 7 21 4 0 Option
3b
1.9
- (22) (66) (13) -
7 21 4 0 0
Option 4 0.9
(22) (66) (13) - -
1 16 14 1 0 Option
4b
1.4
(3) (50) (44) (3) -

Conclusions

Note: The heat detection/A.I. protocols outlined are
only a prediction of what would happen based on
previous data collected. These protocols have not been
tested on-farm.

Through examination of the various heat detection/A.I.
protocols, in our opinion, we feel that either options 3b
or 4b may prove most effective. The individual farm
Detected PM: AI AM
Z40 hr
4 hr
7Z hr
Once-u-duy Heut-checkinq (pm)
AI 1, 40, 4
Option 4b
TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED -- OPTIMAL TIME OF MATING
Jennifer Patterson and George Foxcroft, Swine Research and Technology Centre, University of Alberta
E-mail: jennifer.patterson@ualberta.ca and george.foxcroft@ualberta.ca
Draft Version 3 - 7 -
needs and circumstances must be taken into
consideration when choosing a protocol to implement.
Some important points to bear in mind are:

1) One must be cautioned, in order for any
protocol to work and to achieve the optimal
fertilization rate, pregnancy rates and litter
size, the following points are essential and
must be adhered to:
good heat detection is absolutely
necessary
good stockmanship is the key
age of semen is critical (see Figure 1)
sows must be bred as long they show a
strong standing heat.
2) All sows should be inseminated as long as they
are still exhibiting a strong standing reflex; an
A.I. protocol should not stipulate a maximum
number of A.I.s (i.e. 2). For example, in
Option 4b, if a sow is still standing 24 hours
after the second A.I. she should receive a third
A.I., because long heat indicates late ovulation
the third A.I. may be necessary for optimal
timing of insemination.
3) Conversely, if a sow is not standing strong at
second A.I. after receiving only 1 A.I., she
should not be forced to receive another A.I.
Because short heat indicates early ovulation,
the first A.I. likely will fall within the optimal
time for insemination.
4) Timing of A.I. is completely dependent on the
heat detection schedule adopted on farm.
Insemination at detection of estrus is necessary
when heat detection and A.I. occur at the same
time once-a-day (Option 3). However, if
Option 3b or 4b were adopted it may not be
necessary to A.I. at first detection of estrus.
5) Even if a particular A.I. protocol is adopted
on-farm, with experience, stockpersons should
tailor the protocol to meet the individual
requirements of the sow. For example, we
know that sows with an extended WEI > 6
days will likely have a short duration of estrus,
therefore a modified protocol may be adopted,
any sow with a WEI greater than or equal to 6
days will be inseminated immediately on
detection of estrus.
6) For these different protocols we do not have an
estimate of farrowing rate or litter size. But
because we know that farrowing rate,
conception rate, and litter size are maximized
by inseminating during the optimal period and
through the use of < 2 day old semen, we can
anticipate maximized farrowing rate and litter
size. This is assuming that the other factors
that contribute to farrowing rate and litter size
are satisfactory (i.e. lactation length, genetics,
environment, etc.).

References

Burke, P. 1999. The successful introduction of A.I. In:
Advances in Pork Production. Banff Pork Seminar.
Vol 10 p. 56. Univeristy of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta.

Dial, G. D., J. R. Roker, and B. W. Freking. 2001. The
application of improved gilt pool management: an
industry perspective. In: Advances in Pork Production.
Banff Pork Seminar. Vol. 12 p.181. University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

Kemp, B., D.W.B Steverink, N. Soede. 1998. Estrus
and Timing of Ovulation in Pigs: Consequences for
Insemination Strategies. Advances in Pork Production,
Banff Pork Seminar. Vol. 9 p.13. University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

Patterson, J.P., H.J. Willis, R.N. Kirkwood, G.R.
Foxcroft. 2002. Impact of boar exposure on puberty
attainment and breeding outcomes in gilts,
Theriogenology, Volume 57: 2015-2025

Soede, N.M., C. C. H. Wetzels, W. Zondag, M. A. I. de
Koning, and B. Kemp. 1995. Effect of time of
insemination relative to ovulation, as determined by
ultrasonography, on fertilization rate and accessory
sperm count in sows. J. Reprod. Fertil. 104:99-106.

Waberski, D., K.F. Weitze, C. Lietmann, W. Lbbert
zur Lage, F.P. Bortolozzo, T. Willmen and R. Petzoldt.
1994. The initial fertilizing capacity of long term
stored liquid semen following pre- and postovulatory
insemination. Theriogenology 41: 1367-1377.