21/01/2025
PREGNANCY AND FARROWING IN PIGS
Pregnancy in pigs lasts for 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days. A well-managed and fed sow will produce at least 10 piglets (litter) from each pregnancy and may have 2 litters each year.
- If the sow shows no sign of being on heat 21days after mating, she must be pregnant. (Those advanced, they do not wait for 21days. They use pregnancy tests machines)
During pregnancy, the sow will need plenty of feed high in nutrients and will especially need more feed towards the end of the pregnancy. She should be given some feed high in nutrients. Administer: farrowsure (to gilts at 24weeks and booster at 27 weeks before mating and for sows after weaning and litterguard (100th day into pregnancy).
- Wash and give the sow plenty of clean bedding when birth is close.
- before birth begins and if small greenish pellets appear the first piglet will appear within an hour.
- Gently rubbing the udder will make the sow relax and lie on her side in the position to give birth.
- Farrowing is a natural process and the sow will usually need no help. Once the first piglet is born the others, and the afterbirth, will quickly follow.
- The navel cord will break (you do not need to cut it) and the piglet will immediately search for a teat and milk. If the navel bleeds, tie it tightly with a clean string or cord.
If the sow shows all the signs of farrowing but she has not produced a piglet and is pawing with a hind leg, or if 45 minutes has passed since the first piglet appeared and there is no sign of the second, you will have to help the sow:
- Wash your hands and arms with warm water and soap and scrub under your finger nails.
- Wash the region of the v***a.
Make your hands oily with olive or sunflower oil. Insert your hand into the va**na and feel for the piglet or matter causing the blockage and try to remove it.
Clear the piglet's mouth and nose of mucous and if it is not breathing you can slap it to encourage it to breath. Gently rub the piglet dry and put its mouth on a teat to benefit from colostrum (the first milk that provides them with the needed immune system).
(KEEP THEM IN A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT. THEY ARE CLEAN ANIMALS).
Cozi Farms, we take great pride in our specialization of raising a diverse range of livestock, carefully selected for their excellent genetics and temperaments.
