We used AI on our Tamworth and Saddleback maiden gilts this year with semen from Deerpark, and it worked first time for both of them - both had litters of 10, no deaths or stillbirths. For each gilt we used the three doses, am/pm/am, or pm/am/pm, depending on when they first responded to back pressure AND a single spray of Boarmate. It is absolutely brilliant - when they are ready they will stand like a frozen statue for 10 minutes. If they are not ready they either ignore the spray or get faintly annoyed. The key thing as far as I am concerned is to know exactly what to expect, and what day, by closely recording all the miniscule signs of change in your pig's vulva three weeks earlier. With a black skinned pig the changes in the vulva when oestrus is happening are much less obvious, but they are there if you check very regularly, at least twice a day. Then you should get the timing right, which is critical, and an awful nuisance if you think they will be ready on a Monday morning. Do you order from Deerpark on Friday, and possibly get it a bit too early on Saturday, or order on Monday, and possibly get it too late on Tuesday? Deepark, by the way, are 100% efficient about despatch - even if you ask for some as late as midday it will definitely be sent out that same day and arrive without fail early the following morning. Good luck anyway - Tamsaddle