SHS

TVL – AFA (Animal Production -

Swine)
Activity Sheet - Quarter 1 – Competency 3
Prepare and Train Boar for Breeding

REGION VI – WESTERN VISAYAS

TVL - AFA (Animal Production – Swine)
Activity Sheet No. 3
First Edition, 2021

Published in the Philippines

By the Department of Education
Region 6 – Western Visayas

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This Learning Activity Sheet is developed by DepEd Region 6 – Western

Visayas.

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or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical without written
permission from the DepEd Regional Office 6 – Western Visayas.

Development Team of TVL – AFA (Animal Production - Swine)

Activity Sheet

Writer: Olnahmae D. Bagumbayan

Illustrators: Olnahmae D. Bagumbayan
Editors: Judy Ann B. Nonato
Layout Artists: Julius V. Tolimao

Schools Division Quality Assurance Team:

Severino O. Abelay Jr.

Raulito D. Dinaga
Othelo M. Beating
Elizer B. Pineda
Judy Ann B. Nonato
Division of Negros Occidental Management Team:
Marsette D. Sabbaluca
Lynee A. Peñaflor
Salvacion J. Senayo
Zaldy H. Reliquias
Severino O. Abelay Jr.,
Regional Management Team:
Ramir B. Uytico
Pedro T. Escobarte Jr.
Elena P. Gonzaga,
Donald T. Genine,
April C. Velez
Rolando B. Jamora
Introductory Message

Welcome to TVL - AFA (Animal Production- Swine) !

The Learning Activity Sheet is a product of the collaborative efforts of the

Schools Division of Negros Occidental and DepEd Regional Office VI - Western Visayas
through the Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD). This is developed
to guide the learning facilitators (teachers, parents and responsible adults) in helping the
learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum.

The Learning Activity Sheet is self-directed instructional materials aimed to

guide the learners in accomplishing activities at their own pace and time using the
contextualized resources in the community. This will also assist the learners in acquiring
the lifelong learning skills, knowledge and attitudes for productivity and employment.

For learning facilitator:

The TVL - AFA (Animal Production- Swine) Activity Sheet will help you facilitate
the teaching-learning activities specified in each Most Essential Learning Competency
(MELC) with minimal or no face-to-face encounter between you and learner. This will be
made available to the learners with the references/links to ease the independent
learning.

For the learner:

The TVL - AFA (Animal Production- Swine) Activity Sheet is developed to help
you continue learning even if you are not in school. This learning material provides you
with meaningful and engaging activities for independent learning. Being an active
learner, carefully read and understand the instructions then perform the activities and
answer the assessments. This will be returned to your facilitator on the agreed schedule.
 Quarter -1 Week 3

Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) No. 3

Name of Learner:______________________________________________________
Grade and Section:__________________________________Date: ______________

TVL - AFA (Animal Production- Swine) ACTIVITY SHEET

Prepare and train boar for breeding (TLE_AFAAPS9-12HBR-IIj-IIIb-c-15)

I. Learning Competency with Code

Prepare and train boar for breeding (TLE_AFAAPS9-12HBR-IIj-IIIb-c-15)
 Train boar to mount a female or a dummy sow
 Give boar prescribed vaccine and medication
 Determine ideal weight and age according industry standard
 Observe optimum boar-to-sow ratio following standard monitoring scheme

II. Background Information for Learners

Training of Boar
Training of boars normally starts at around 6 1/2 – 7 months of age. Younger than this
age, boars are quite difficult to train. Boars for training are housed individually. A
dummy is brought inside the pen, and it is a common practice that boars are trained in
the same place. If there is a collecting pen, it is wise own pen when semen collection is
done. In case a movable dummy will be necessary.

Remember the following;

 Boars differ in characteristics and attitude.
 Always check the semen quality and quantity.
 Check for any abnormalities, like small testicles and insufficient erection.

Training Boar

Boar Age. The percentage of boars successfully trained to mount a dummy sow varies
by age of boar. An English study indicated that 92 percent of boars less than 10 months
of age mounted a dummy sow, whereas only 0 percent of 8-10 month olds boars were
successfully trained to mount a dummy.

The majority of boars can be trained to mount a dummy sow within one to seven days.
A few boars will mount the dummy sow at their first exposure, but others require
coaxing. It is usually easier to train a boar that has had n sexual contact with females
than one that has mated females. Some of boars probably never can be trained to
mount a dummy, although these are infrequent. Such boars are likely the “shy-breeder”
type.
Dummy Height. The proper height of the dummy sow is important. when boar mounts
the dummy sow, his sheath should be below the back of the dummy sow (figure 5). This
is important because a boar can ejaculate himself if he extends his penis and lays on
top of it. That is why it is so important to make the dummy sow height adjustable.

Training Procedure. Training a boar for collection of semen requires patience when
handing the boar. When a training a boar to mount a dummy sow, always handle him
quietly and with patience. A boar soon learns to anticipate his treatment in a certain
location and situation. A boar mistreated in th collection area is not likely to respond to
the dummy.

Every boar being trained to mount a dummy sow needs to e sexually stimulated before
exposure to the dummy sow. The following technique is suggeste:

 Pour urine,semen, or preputial fluid from a strange,mature boar on the rear of the
dummy so a boar can csmell it when he appoaches the dummy. This technique
will be necessary only unl boars have been trained to mount.
 Stimulate the boar by exposing hi to a strange boar or ilt adjacent to the
collection area. When a stimulator boar or ilt is removed from the siht of the
trainee boar, they should exit in a manner which leads the boar to the dummy
sow.
 If the boar does not mount the dummy, he should be allowed to mount but not
breed an estrous sow in the area of the dummy. After he has become stimulated
by mountin, remove the sow from the area. Remember to have the sow exit next
to the dummy.
 If the boar does not mount the dummy, and there is a boar already trained to
mount the dummy, set up a procedure the following day where the trainee can
observe another boar being collected from the dummy.
 Expose he trainee boar immediately to the dummy after collection from the
trained boar.
 If the trainee does not mount, he should be stimulated and exposed to the
dummy every day for three to four days.
 If the young trainee still does not mount, he may need to be trained to assocaite
ejaculation with mounting. Collect the trainee from a sow standing adjacent sow
and placed on the dummy after ejaculating 1 ½ to two minutes.
 If the boar still does not mount, try placing the dummy into the boar’s home pen.
Stimulate the boar after placing the dummy into his pen.
 Once a collection has been made from the boar off of he dummy, the boar should
be collected daily for one week, and then once or twice per week for a month.
This procedure heipls the boar associate the dummy with ejaculation. Once a
boais well-trained, one or two collections per month is probably suffecient.
Semen Evaluation
Immediately after collection, the sperm-rich portion of the semen is taken to the
laboratory for evaluation. The semen is evaluated in terms of physical and microscopic
parameters.

Physical
 Volume – A mature boar should produce 75-150 ml sperm-rich semen per
ejaculation.
 Appearance – The sperm-rich fraction of the semen should be thick and opaque-
white. A reddish color indicates possible infection or injury of urethra or the glans
penis.
 Smell/Odor – A clean ejaculate has little odor. An ejaculate that has been
contaminated with preputial fluid has a very distinctive odor.

Microscopic
 Concentration – The sperm concentration should be at least 3 B spz/dose (100
ml). A concentration of 6 b spz is recommended during the summer months to
compensate for lower production due to heat stress.
 Motility – At least 70% of the sperm cells should exhibit progressive movement.
 Morphology – The semen should contain at least 75% normal sperm cells.
Sperm cell abnormalities such as the presence of cytoplasmic droplet, curled or
 coiled tail, etc., may be present, but should not exceed 25% of the total sperm
count.

Management of the Boar

a. Feeding. Feed boar with the same ration used for pregnant gilts or sows. Avoid
sudden changes in the kind and amount of ration, feeding materials, and ingredients
just before or during a heavy breeding schedule. Such changes may cause digestive
upset serious enough to throw the boar “off-feed.” Also, avoid overfeeding your boar.
Overfeeding is not only wasteful but will even cause over-fatness and sluggishness.
Feed boar just enough to maintain the desired condition prior to or during the breeding
season. A daily feed allowance of 2.5 kilos of a balanced ration is sufficient for a boar
(110 to 150 kg live weight), and 2 kilos for an adult boar (150 to 250 kg live weight) with
minimum breeding load. But remember to increase the feed allowance by 30 to 50
percent during period of heavy breeding work.

b. Blood test. Regardless of prior history or origin, a boar before it is introduced in a

farm, should be tested for brucellosis and leptospirosis by a competent veterinarian.
Both diseases, which are chiefly spread by the boar are commonly associated with
abortion and the birth of weak or dead pigs. If a boar is found positive for any or both of
the tests, he must not be used as sire of the herd.

c. Fertility check. Always check the fertility of a new boar before using him for
breeding. Do this by examining the color, concentration, motility, and volume of the
semen. Unless a boar can produce or generate a volume of semen with desirable
sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, his fertility is subject to question.
Knowing the quality of semen alone is not sufficient to predict the fertility of the boar
with complete accuracy. A boar’s actual breeding performance is a better measure of
his fertility and breeding efficiency. You can obtain this by allowing the boar to serve 4
to 6 sows due for slaughter, but with excellent reproductive performance record. If one
or more of the sows return to heat within 21 days, on the average, after mating, the
fertility of the boar is questionable. Also, examine thoroughly the anatomy and
development of the reproductive organs of the boar and observe the ability to produce
normal erection and protrusion of the penis. It is also important to check his offspring for
deformities, unsoundness, meat-type, and productivity in terms of growth rate and
efficiency in feed utilization. A desirable boar is one with excellent fertility and good
transmitting ability.

d. Breeding load. Some boars reach the age of maturity at 110 to 147 days, or about 5
months, but they are still too young to serve as sire of the herd. A boar below
8 months frequently produces semen that is low in quantity and quality. For this reason,
use him sparingly or only in cases when you want to check his breeding performance.
The breeding load of a boar must be regulated properly so as to cope with his
physiological capacity to produce an adequate supply of highly viable sperm cells
Excessive use will lead to partial sterility or complete lack of fertility due to insufficient
number of fully-aged sperm cells. Likewise, too little breeding work is also dangerous
because of the build-up of stale semen that inhibits production of fresh semen and
results in a very low fertility level. It is difficult to establish a normal breeding load for
boars because of the large variation in the condition, aggressiveness, and capacity of
individual boars. But generally, young boars must be given lighter breeding load than
older ones.
e. Assisting the boar. The first service is a very crucial point in a young boar’s life. It is
important that the first mating should be with a suitable female. A quiet, cooperative,
and strongly in heat sow is preferred. A young boar mated to a female who already
knows the rudiments of mating will have little or no difficulty to mount. If the boar had
difficulty to mount, for example, a female who is nervous, shaky and elusive, the service
will likely be a failure. When the first service is a failure, the boar usually becomes
frustrated and depressed. Remember that a successful first service will give him
satisfaction and self-confidence.

Table 1. Recommended breeding load of boars at different ages

Close supervision, especially of the first service, is necessary. Always guide the boar in
his first attempt because if he is unable to penetrate correctly he becomes excitable,
then exhausted, and finally upset.

f. Boar to sow ratio. The number of boars needed in a herd depends on the number of
productive sows, including replacement gilts, age of the boar, size of the females, and
the frequency of mating in a single heat period. With a multiple farrowing program, the
following number of boars is recommended.

1. two services per sow per head

15 sows or less - one boar, if boar is 15 months or older
15-25 sows - two boars
2. one service per heat period
20 sows or less - one boar, if young boar and young gilts
30 sows or less - one boar, if boar is 15 months or older

Checking the Boar’s Fertility before the Breeding Season

Sexual maturity or puberty is a gradual process. Some boars reach sexual maturity as
early as four months of age but they are not ready for service. It is recommended that
boars be seven to eight months old before they are first used in a breeding herd.

A fertility check should be made at least 30 days before the boar is used in the breeding
herd. A common practice is to mate the young boar to several market gilts and check to
see if they settle. While the boar is being test-mated to market gilts, he should be
carefully observed to determine his libido, or sex drive, and his ability to perform a
satisfactory service.

The boar should be given a physical examination prior to the breeding season.
The following points should be checked:
1. General appearance. The boar should be active, alert, and aggressive during his
feed.

2. Temperature. Low-level infections can cause an increase in body temperature that

may reduce the number of normal sperms, produced. A temperature in excess of 102.5
degrees Fahrenheit should justify additional treatment by a veterinarian.

3. Soundness of feet and legs. The boar must be sound in his feet and legs if he is to be
an effective breeder. Check for lameness and soreness in the joints.

4. Condition. Check to see if the boar is too fat or too thin.

5. Testicles. Check to see if there is an enlargement, inflammation, or soreness in either

testicle.

III. Accompanying DepEd Textbook and Educational Sites

Competency-Based Learning Material Third Year-Module No. 4 –SWINE BREEDING

AND MANAGEMENT STOCKS page 10-11 “Training Boar”

TESDA TR-NANIMAL PRODUCTION (SWINE) NCII page 42-44

HANDLE BREEDERS – page 35-41

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF SWINE page 7-8

Donald G. Levis, Extension swine specialist
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30,
1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Keneth R. Rolen, Director
of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraskan Institute of Agriculture and Natural
Resources

IV. Activity Proper

Activity 1.
Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and write FALSE if the statement is
wrong.

1. Training of boars normally starts at around 6 1/2 – 7 months of age.

2. The majority of boars can be trained to mount a dummy sow within 1 to 7 months.
3. It is usually easily to train a boar with no sexual contact to female than one that has
mated females.
4. Training a boar for collection of semen requires patience when handling the boar.
5. When training a boar to mount a dummy sow, always handle him quietly and with
patience
Activity 2:
Directions: Complete the table by supplying the recommended breeding load of boars at
different ages:
2. Guide Questions

1. What is the ideal age for a boar normally starts to undergo training?
2. What are some techniques in training a boar to mount a dummy sow?
3. Give the boar to sow ratio.

V. Reflection

1. How should you handle a training boar correctly?

2. Why should we consider the readiness of a boar in breeding you sow or
gilt?

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VI. Answer Key (Upside Down)