Veterinary Physiology-III

SOW

• Restlessness
• Mounting on other animals- the most definitive behavioral sign of estrus is standing to be mounted by the boar
• Lordosis - s ows in estrus will often assume this rigid stance, called the “lordosis reflex”, when pressure is applied on the rump ("back-pressure") by the herdsman.
• Vulvar swelling
• Pink red colour of vulva
• Mucus discharge occasionally
• High-pitched grunting
• Onset of frequent tail-wagging at the onset of estrus
• The group -housed sow actively seeks out the boar.
• Other signs of estrus: depressed appetite, alertness, pacing, and gnawing of the jaws.
• Back pressure test or riding test or lordosis test is the most efficient and practical method for estrus detection in sows

Lordosis in sow