Double and Triple Matings Associated with Reproductive Performance in First-Serviced and Reserviced Female Pigs in Commercial Herds

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate associations of the number of matings and services with reproductive performance in high-performing and ordinary herds. The data included 113,265 service and 92,248 farrowing records in 117 herds. A service included single or more matings of a female pig (female) during a 10-day estrus period. Two herd groups were built on the basis of the upper 25th percentile of pigs weaned per mated female per year: high-performing (> or = 22.8 pigs) and ordinary herds. Mixed-effects models were used to analyze reproductive performance. Relative frequencies (%) of single, double and triple or more matings were 3.4, 27.4, and 69.2% in high-performing herds, respectively, and were 4.6, 59.3 and 36.1% in ordinary herds, respectively. Percentages of reserviced females in high-performing and ordinary herds were 7.3 and 13.0%, respectively. Triple or more-mated (TM) gilts had 3.5% higher farrowing rates than double-mated (DM) gilts (P<0.01), but similar pigs born alive (PBA) to DM gilts in the first service group in both the herd groups. In the first service group, TM sows had 0.8% higher farrowing rates and 0.2 more PBA than DM sows in high-performing herds (P<0.01). In the reservice group, TM gilts and TM sows had farrowing rate similar to DM gilts and DM sows in high-performing herds. In conclusion, performing triple matings was a better practice for first-serviced females than performing double matings. Double matings may be sufficient for reserviced females.