[Kitchen Cottage]

Do both boar and sow determine litter size or just one, and if one which one?

[Stevie G]

Both, as if your boar is infertile or has a low sperm count then you will have a low litter or no litter.
And with your sow, bar her not being able to hold inpig, the factors that effect litter size are pure or cross, flush feeding and age and weight of your sow.

[HappyHippy]

  Helloooooo Stevie G - not seen you on for a while 
KC  - ditto Stevie - fertility/litter size can be affected by lots of different factors. Was it just a general question or do you have a concern?
Karen

[Kitchen Cottage]

No concern.  Joan of Arc's first litter with a very young boar was 11 which is a lot for an Essex/Saddleback

[hughesy]

I wouldn't describe 11 as a lot.   One of our saddleback sows is due today sow we're waiting with baited breath as she had 13 in her first litter then 16 last time. I'd be happy with a dozen though to be honest.

[nelson]

I haven't been on here for a long time either  but have been reading the posts - but I think 11 for a first litter is good and probably would never judge the size on first litter. But you were asking does the boar or sow determine the litter size - not sure


I have a Berkshire sow from a litter of 6/6 - and she always produces 12 in her litters.  I have come to think that you will have a good litter size depending on the circumstances of mating - fit gilts/sows - winter/spring/summer/husbandry etc


Looking forward to other posts on this.

[Fowgill Farm]

The only stupid question is one you regret not asking!

We have had litters as large as 17 (11 survivors) and litters as small as 5 from our GOS, the litter we have at the moment is 9.
I have heard it said that you get bigger litters if the sow goes back to the boar immediately after weaning but personally I have found the opposite to be true, they also say stress at time of conception can lead to smaller litters too. For my own part I prefer litters of 8 - 10 piglets as its easier for them to all have room to feed and its doesn't take so much out of the sow.
HTH
Mandy

[Tudful Tamworths]

Huge number of factors can influence the size of a litter - genetics, health and nutrition of both parents (including disease), environmental conditions (including weather), stress at crucial times. A bit of a lottery, but you can minimise risks. But there are no guarantees.

[Stevie G]

No concern.  Joan of Arc's first litter with a very young boar was 11 which is a lot for an Essex/Saddleback

No not been here for a long time as ain't doing pig farming at present, but Free Range chickens(won't say the size as it will get a reaction, but aleast they are FREE RANGE) instead, but ain't enthused with that, so will be going on to something else, possibly truck driving again if I can find one??

[Stevie G]

Stress is good for a sow at weaning and  putting her in a group straight away is also important, so that by the time she is mated her stress levels need to be low.
We served all our gilts at 130kg at 7 months of age and they were adlib feed 3 weeks before mating so their condition is good." Flush feeding" is then performed 3 to 4 days before they are mated, then dropped at last mating and they  are fed to condition for 6 weeks.
What really applies, whether you are commercial or smallholder is that the age and weight that she is mated as a gilt is critical. You serve your gilt to early and her litter may be low and too late it will have the same effect.
As mentioned hot/cold weather can play a massive part which is why a sow/gilt needs Shade and wallows in summer.
Someone also mention disease, such as Erysipelas and Parvovirus may cause problems, so vaccinations can also play a major  role.
So yes, there are many factors that effect litter size.

[shygirl]

We served all our gilts at 130kg at 7 months of age and they were adlib feed 3 weeks before mating so their condition is good." Flush feeding" is then performed 3 to 4 days before they are mated, then dropped at last mating and they  are fed to condition for 6 weeks.

how do you flush a sow who has been on adlib feed?
I thought "flushing" was restricting their feed for a period then increasing it again so they are on a rising plain of nutrition at time of mating, thanks 

[hughesy]

One of our Saddleback sows has just farrowed. This is her third litter. First time she had 13 and reared 9. Second time around she had 16 and reared 13. This time she's given birth to 19, all of whom were born alive and kicking, though we lost three over the next night, so she's now feeding 16. All of these were sired by our BS Golden Arrow boar, Monty. So his last three services have resulted in 48 piglets born.

[Stevie G]

We served all our gilts at 130kg at 7 months of age and they were adlib feed 3 weeks before mating so their condition is good." Flush feeding" is then performed 3 to 4 days before they are mated, then dropped at last mating and they  are fed to condition for 6 weeks.

how do you flush a sow who has been on adlib feed?
I thought "flushing" was restricting their feed for a period then increasing it again so they are on a rising plain of nutrition at time of mating, thanks 

Didn't fully explain, but as you say adlib feed to gain condition, drop feed, then flush feed.
Apologies for not explaining it properly and glad someone is on the ball.

[shygirl]

thanks steve - I thought id missed something there.