How Long Does Standing Estrus Last After Initial Boar Exposure When Heat Checking?

Authors

Donald G. Levis, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Paul H. Hemsworth, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

1995

Comments

Published in 1995 Nebraska Swine Report, edited by Duane Reese; published and copyright © 1995 Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Abstract

A series of experiments in Australia have clearly shown that the percentage of estrous gilts displaying the standing- response to the back-pressure test is reduced when gilts are housed adjacent to boars (Figure 1).

The decrease in efficiency of estrous detection is thought to occur because gilts become accustomed (habituated) to auditory and olfactory stimuli of the boar and are then less responsive to boar stimuli at the time of estrous detection. This result may occur because gilts are habituated or are refractory (females are in estrous but will not stand) to boar stimuli at the time of estrous detection.

The following experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that estrous gilts become refractory to boar stimuli after initially exhibiting standing estrus.