Most inexperienced pig farmers and stock keepers are ignorant and not educated on the subject of farrowing.
Knowing how and when to detect when sow is about to farrow, in fact the entire farrowing process is crucial especially farmers who run farrow-to-finish Enterprise.
Lack of technical know-how in this matter can reduce sow productivity increase mortality rate in piglet.
Trust me, by the end of reading this post you'll be enlightened on when sow is about to Farrow and what to do, first let's discuss the length of pregnancy.
LENGTH OF PREGNANCY
The mean length in the sow is between 114 - 115 days with a range from 111-120.
Gilts tend to have a shorter pregnancy. The variation within the range is influenced by the herd, environment, breed, litter size (it tends to be shorter in larger litters and longer in smaller litters) and the time of year.
THE FARROWING PROCESS PROPER.
This can be considered in 3 stages,
1. Pre-farrowing period,
2. Farrowing process and
3. the immediate post-farrowing period when the afterbirth is expelled.
Stage 1️⃣ - The pre-farrowing period
The preparation for farrowing starts some 10 to 14 days prior to the actual date, with the development of the mammary glands and the swelling of the vulva. At the same time teat enlargement occurs and the veins supplying the udder stand out prominently.
The impending signs of farrowing include a reduced appetite and restlessness, the sow standing up and lying down and if bedding is available chewing and moving this around in her mouth. If she is loose-housed on straw she will make a bed.
Within 12 hours of actual delivery of piglets, milk is secreted into the mammary glands and with a gentle hand and finger massage it can be expressed from the teats. This is one of the most reliable signs of impending parturition. A slight mucous discharge may be seen on the lips of the vulva. If a small round pellet of faeces is seen in the mucous and the sow is distressed, farrowing has started and it is highly likely the first piglet is presented backwards. This small pellet is the meconium or first faeces coming from the rectum of the piglet inside. An internal examination is immediately required.
The final part of stage 1 is the opening of the cervix to allow the pigs to be pushed out of the uterus, through the vagina and into the world.
Stage 2️⃣. The farrowing process
This can range from 3 to 8 hours and piglets are usually delivered every 10 to 20 minutes but there is a wide variation. For example if a sow has had high stillbirth rates, monitor her more closely and take any necessary actions. There is often a gap between the first and second piglet of up to three quarters of an hour.
The majority of pigs are born head first but there are more pigs presented backwards towards the end of the farrowing period. Immediately prior to the presentation of a pig the sow lays on her side, often shivering and lifting the upper back leg. This is an important point to take note of because it may indicate the presence of a stillborn pig.
Twitching of the tail is seen just as a pig is about to be born.
Stage 3️⃣. Delivery of the placenta
This usually takes place over a period of 1 to 4 hours and is an indication that the sow has finished farrowing although some afterbirth will sometimes be passed during the process of farrowing. Once the sow has completed the farrowing process there are certain signs that should be observed.
She appears at peace, grunts and calls to the piglets.
The shivering and movement of the top hind leg ceases. If this is still occurring it is likely that a pig is still presented.
After the placenta has been delivered there will be a slight but sometimes heavy discharge for the next 3 to 5 days. Provided the udder is normal, the sow is normal and eating well ignore it, it is a natural post-farrowing process. Occasionally a pathogenic organism enters the uterus causing inflammation (endometritis). This may cause illness, requiring treatment
.
Knowing how and when to detect when sow is about to farrow, in fact the entire farrowing process is crucial especially farmers who run farrow-to-finish Enterprise.
Lack of technical know-how in this matter can reduce sow productivity increase mortality rate in piglet.
Trust me, by the end of reading this post you'll be enlightened on when sow is about to Farrow and what to do, first let's discuss the length of pregnancy.
LENGTH OF PREGNANCY
The mean length in the sow is between 114 - 115 days with a range from 111-120.
Gilts tend to have a shorter pregnancy. The variation within the range is influenced by the herd, environment, breed, litter size (it tends to be shorter in larger litters and longer in smaller litters) and the time of year.
THE FARROWING PROCESS PROPER.
This can be considered in 3 stages,
1. Pre-farrowing period,
2. Farrowing process and
3. the immediate post-farrowing period when the afterbirth is expelled.
Stage 1️⃣ - The pre-farrowing period
The preparation for farrowing starts some 10 to 14 days prior to the actual date, with the development of the mammary glands and the swelling of the vulva. At the same time teat enlargement occurs and the veins supplying the udder stand out prominently.
The impending signs of farrowing include a reduced appetite and restlessness, the sow standing up and lying down and if bedding is available chewing and moving this around in her mouth. If she is loose-housed on straw she will make a bed.
Within 12 hours of actual delivery of piglets, milk is secreted into the mammary glands and with a gentle hand and finger massage it can be expressed from the teats. This is one of the most reliable signs of impending parturition. A slight mucous discharge may be seen on the lips of the vulva. If a small round pellet of faeces is seen in the mucous and the sow is distressed, farrowing has started and it is highly likely the first piglet is presented backwards. This small pellet is the meconium or first faeces coming from the rectum of the piglet inside. An internal examination is immediately required.
The final part of stage 1 is the opening of the cervix to allow the pigs to be pushed out of the uterus, through the vagina and into the world.
Stage 2️⃣. The farrowing process
This can range from 3 to 8 hours and piglets are usually delivered every 10 to 20 minutes but there is a wide variation. For example if a sow has had high stillbirth rates, monitor her more closely and take any necessary actions. There is often a gap between the first and second piglet of up to three quarters of an hour.
The majority of pigs are born head first but there are more pigs presented backwards towards the end of the farrowing period. Immediately prior to the presentation of a pig the sow lays on her side, often shivering and lifting the upper back leg. This is an important point to take note of because it may indicate the presence of a stillborn pig.
Twitching of the tail is seen just as a pig is about to be born.
Stage 3️⃣. Delivery of the placenta
This usually takes place over a period of 1 to 4 hours and is an indication that the sow has finished farrowing although some afterbirth will sometimes be passed during the process of farrowing. Once the sow has completed the farrowing process there are certain signs that should be observed.
She appears at peace, grunts and calls to the piglets.
The shivering and movement of the top hind leg ceases. If this is still occurring it is likely that a pig is still presented.
After the placenta has been delivered there will be a slight but sometimes heavy discharge for the next 3 to 5 days. Provided the udder is normal, the sow is normal and eating well ignore it, it is a natural post-farrowing process. Occasionally a pathogenic organism enters the uterus causing inflammation (endometritis). This may cause illness, requiring treatment
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