Typically artificial insemination (AI) gives poorer reproductive performance than natural insemination due to backflow and sperm death. If the time of ovulation was reliably known, then a single dose using fewer sperm would be able to ensure fertilization. Sows that have a wean-to-estrus length greater than 5 days have decreased reproductive performance for the next litter, so gonadotrophins can be used on sows with records showing a longer length. However, breeding management should be altered to include a day 3 breeding. Regumate can also be added to feed for 7 days post-weaning to control estrus, and increase farrowing rate and litter size. Trans-cervical insemination will decrease the number of sperm requires for fertilization. In the past this has only been achieved by a surgical or endoscopic procedure, but a new catheter design is expected to be on the market shortly to allow this. The timing of insemination is critical to ensure fertilization. Sows with a short wean-to-estrus interval have longer estrus, and tend to be late ovulators. Long wean-to-estrus will usually result in a shorter estrus and earlier ovulation. Gonadotrophin treatments can be used to synchronize estrus, but will make ovulation timing harder to predict. Porcine luteinizing hormone can help make ovulation timing more predictable. Artificial insemination can become more successful and use fewer doses of semen with less sperm if the ovulation timing can be accurately predicted in sows.