My sow was bought on 8 March this year and this was her first mating. This boar was borrowed from a neighbour. In Mờn village, there are a few households who are willing to lend their boars for mating. After the sow had been in oestrus for two days, I asked for a boar. But the sow refused to mate. She kept biting the boar, so they brought the boar home after 20 minutes. If the mating is not successful, I will call them to bring the boar again next time the sow is in oestrus. I have to pay when the mating succeeds, at 200,000 dong each time (9 US dollars).
Because this sow is young, I tired direct mating. If it fails, I will buy an insemination tube to inseminate her myself. I have tried artificial mating for two households, including mine, and all were successful. Insemination tools are not available in the village, but they can be bought in Cò Nòi market, which is eight kilometres from here. When I asked for semen, I was told that it was from a white pig and it cost 50,000 dong per dose (2 US dollars).
Narrator and photographer: Lường Thị Thân (Thai ethnicity, 26 years old)