Improved parity distribution may be biggest benefit of adopting skip-a-heat

In modern pork production, most sows are bred at their first heat (estrus) after weaning. However, some herds may benefit from allowing all first parity (P1) sows to rest for one estrous cycle (~21 days) before rebreeding, a practice commonly known as “skip-a-heat.” Research presented at the 2025 Al Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, suggests that this strategy can improve second parity (P2) reproductive performance. According to Paul Thomas (AMVC), a field study demonstr