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Socializing at the feeding ground…

 

Having started at the end of November, in early December the mating of boars is in full swing . Early sexual maturity and a high fertility are characteristic of the wild boars.  Normally the sows come in heat for the first time at about 1,5- 2,5 years of age. There are generally 5-8 piglets in a litter. The sexual maturity of male boars comes a year later. In favourable conditions (mild winter, year-round feeding) even young sows can come into heat and be fertilized. This may happen when their weight has reached  25-30 kilos at the mating period.

 

If the age and sexual structure of a boar population has not been destroyed in the course of hunting, young males will not take part in the fertilization of the sows. They are driven off. The sows of a herd are in heat at the same time, so called oestrous  synchronization. A powerful male may mate with up to 8 sows. If in a particular forest there are no boars of five years or older, the piglets of the flock may have different fathers. As a rule the sows try to arrange matters so that the herd will be farrowing at the same time.

 

Physiologically wild boar are ready to mate all the year. They may do so if unfavourable circumstances coincide and the autumn matings cannot take place or if the first litter perishes.