Length of Estrous Cycle and Gestation in European Wild Hogs

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Abstract
A vasectomized European wild hog (Sus scrofa) boar was placed daily with pen-reared sows and the length of estrous cycle and heat period recorded. Thirty-four estrous cycles recorded for sows under crowded conditions averaged 23.8 days in length, 53% lasting between 21 and 23 days. Eleven estrous cycles recorded for sows individually housed averaged 21.8 days; 64% were 21 to 23 days in length. The normal length of the estrous cycle is therefore 21 to 23 days, but irregular cycles are common. Of 82 heat periods recorded, 44 were 2 days, 29 were 1 day, and 9 were 3 days in length. Thustheheat period is approximately 43 hr. Fertile boars were placed with captive sows and the breeding dates and litter birth dates were recorded. Two of 43 recorded gestational periods were discarded; the remaining 41 averaged 115.2[plus or minus]2.3 days. The most frequent gestational length recorded was also 115 days, comparable to that of domestic hogs, and averaged only 1 day longer. The range of 108-120 was not as great as for domestic hogs, 80% of the observations falling between 114 and 118 days.

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