Skip-a-Heat Breeding
Skipping an estrus increases embryo/fetal survival (& sometimes ovulation rate) resulting in a .8 to 1.2 pig BA increase in SLS (Pay, 1973; Morrow et al., 1989).
Moody et al., 1969 All Ps 1.2 BA, 1.5 TB
Love, 1979 P1s 1.0 BA, 1.3 TB
Clowes et al., 1994 P1s & P2s .8 BA, 2.3 TB
Economically feasible?
- 22 P/S/Y / 365 d = .060 P/S/D
- .060 P/S/D ? 21 d estrous cycle = 1.26 pigs
- Feed costs; NPD are about $2.30 / day