Abstract
In this study, the effects of artificial boar stimuli on oestrus expression in sows were compared to that of a boar. During consecutive cycles, 12 gilts and 38 sows were subjected to one of the three treatments. A Back-Pressure-Test (BPT) was carried out twice daily in the presence of a robot boar (R) with: (1) olfactory and auditory stimuli (R + O + A), (2) auditory stimuli (R + A) or (3) without additional stimuli (R). As a reference, a BPT was carried out in the presence of a mature boar 30 min after the robot procedure. With the boar, detection rate was higher (100% versus 66% (R + O + A), 81% (R + A), and 75% (R); P < 0.01) and the duration of oestrus was longer (56 ± 7 h versus 33 ± 4 h (R + O + A), 54 ± 5 h versus 36 ± 5 h (R + A), and 60 ± 3 h versus 38 ± 3 h (R); P < 0.01) than with any combination of artificial boar stimuli. The different combinations of artificial stimuli did not differ in detection rate and duration of oestrus ( P > 0.10). Artificial, olfactory and auditory stimuli did not add to the visual stimuli. Furthermore, the presence of a boar results in better oestrus expression than a combination of all artificial stimuli.
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