author(s)
Dhrubajyoti Borpujari, Mohua Dasgupta and Himsikha Chakravarty

abstract
Air-borne chemical substances (“signals”) released in the urine or faeces of animals or secreted from cutaneous glands that are recognised by the olfactory system and that elicit both behavioural and endocrine responses in conspecifics are known as Pheromones. Different biological agents or hormones have been used for regulation of animal reproduction for improvement of production, but due to non-availability or low cost effectiveness of such agents and to harness the reproductive potential of various livestock, pheromones have a great role on bio stimulation. Pigs have many pheromones such as sexual pheromones, stress related pheromone, maternal and neonatal pheromone, aggressive and submissive pheromones etc. These pheromones were found to induce early puberty, influence reproductive processes such as sperm transport and ovulation processes, increase levels of pituitary FSH during lactation and render a calming effect on piglets. Various pheromones responsible for reproductive and behavioural stances in swine are and rostenone, and rostenol, quinoline, skatole and myristic acid which are secreted in their saliva, faeces and urine. Although an extensive study have been conducted on boar very less has been known about sow pheromone providing a wide zone for study in this area. This review attempts to update facts relating to pig pheromones.