An important event in the life of the pig farmer is farrowing animals. For this complex process, you need to carefully prepare yourself in advance so that the birth passes quickly and without complications. To do this, you must have at least a minimum of knowledge and the necessary skills.
Farrowing
Knowing the date of the pig’s coverage and estimated delivery dates, you need to take care in advance of the premises where farrowing will be carried out, inventory, and the call of a veterinarian.
As a rule, the animal is transferred to an individual dry and clean machine. It should have optimal artificial and natural lighting. If the pig suckles in the winter, the room must be additionally insulated (the temperature is considered to be 18-20 degrees optimal) and take care that there are no drafts.
Cooking room
The mother liquor should be prepared no later than 6 days before the start of farrowing, removing all unnecessary from there. In the room you need to perform the following types of work:
- To disinfect floors, walls, ceilings. This is necessary to exclude diseases of the uterus and offspring. A disinfectant is prepared at the rate of 100 grams of alkali per 500 grams of hot water. They wash everything inside them, then whitewashed walls and ceilings with slaked lime.
- Change litter. To provide the sow with optimal conditions for childbirth, it is necessary to cover the floor with dry straw.
- Prepare a place for offspring. In rooms that are not heated in winter, an insulated corner with a covered top is being constructed for future offspring. It is necessary to suspend a lamp in it (preferably infrared) - it will make up for the lack of heat for piglets. The nest must be covered with a thick layer of dry straw.
- It is advisable to put a drinker made of metal - it is more hygienic than wooden. Subsequently, do not forget to regularly change the water, it should be in abundance.
Toolkit Preparation
A veterinarian may not always be present when farrowing a pig in a personal compound. In order to prevent possible complications, you need to make sure that at the right time there are tools and other essential devices and at least a minimum of aseptic preparations at hand:
- dry diapers;
- iodine or brilliant green;
- gloves
- cord and scissors;
- hot water.
To help the sow get farrowed (rarely, but it happens that the animal itself cannot do this), you need to have special veterinary equipment for farrowing:
- universal forceps;
- hook;
- obstetric loop.
All listed instruments must be sterilized. You need to prepare boiled water, wash your hands to the elbows, wear rubber gloves. As soon as the first signs of labor appear, you need to wash the pig's lower abdomen with the nipples. All this will avoid infection.
Dates and duration of farrowing
The gestation of the offspring in a pig is about 4 months (an average of 114 days). In this case, a deviation from the average to a smaller or larger side by 1-1.5 weeks is considered normal.
The duration of pregnancy depends on the individual characteristics of the animal. For example, females who are farrowing for the first time often bring piglets 6-8 days later. The breed of the animal also affects the duration of pregnancy.
Sows that give birth not the first time often bring premature offspring.
The farrowing itself is directly affected by the physical condition of the animal. It can be on average:
- from 2 to 4 hours - in strong females with good attempts;
- up to 10 hours - in patients and weakened females.
Among the negative factors affecting the duration of labor in a pig, the most common are poor nutrition and lack of mobility. As a result, the pig is difficult to farrow due to weak attempts. It is desirable that a person is present to help the animal if necessary.
Signs of approaching farrowing
About a week before the planned farrowing day, it is necessary to observe the animal especially carefully so as not to miss the onset of labor. For ease of observation, the pregnant pig must be separated from the main herd.
Characteristic signs of an approaching farrow are:
- Anxiety. The animal begins to lie down, then abruptly stand up, grabbing straw with its mouth to make a nest, looking for a secluded place. Sometimes it shows aggression.
- An increase in the udder. It swells and begins to sag along the entire length of the body.
- Redness and enlargement of the loop (external genitalia).
- Lowering of the lower back. As a rule, it begins to sag 2-3 days before farrowing.
- Colostrum formation. This is observed a day before farrowing when trying to double the nipples.
- The appearance of mucus from the genitals.
Childbirth can begin regardless of the time of day, but most often farrowing occurs at night, especially if on the eve the signs of its approach were especially pronounced.
Feeding and walking a pig before farrowing is not recommended. Moreover, access to clean water should be unlimited.
Immediately before birth, the animal, choosing a suitable place, is laid on its side and is preparing to give birth to offspring.
Farrowing and human help in this process
How is farrowing going?
The uterus of an animal is two birth canals or “horns”. With each attempt, a pig appears and water leaves. Piglets are born in strict order: first from one horn, then from another. Typically paired connection of the aftermath.
Between the appearance of the first and second cubs a small period of time passes - only 5-7 minutes. Other piglets are born on average at a 20 minute interval. The last two little pigs are born the longest.
Help the primordial sow
The most difficult farrow in pigs, the offspring of the first time. Often a person has to assist them in this process.
When a piglet appears in the mother's genitals, it is necessary to take it and break the amniotic fluid, if it does not burst itself, otherwise the newborn can suffocate.
When in the shell for some time, cardiac arrest and breathing are possible. In this case, the following resuscitation is performed:
- Massage the chest. Also, with sharp, but not strong movements, they beat the piglet with his palm on the muzzle and sides. Perform these steps in two minutes.
- Artificial respiration. If the first option was unsuccessful, using the cloth folded in 2-3 layers, the mouth-to-mouth method is used.
- Water therapy. Piglet without signs of life is placed in water heated to 45 degrees, immediately removed and lowered into a bucket of water at room temperature.
If premature amniotic fluid discharge occurs, then the sow needs to inject artificially oily fluid into the birth canal. For these purposes, a decoction of flax seed or sunflower oil, which is first boiled and cooled, is suitable. With prolonged non-disclosure of the cervix, warm water is poured into the birth canal to accelerate the process.
A piglet that comes into the world must be wiped dry with a body, clean its nasal passages, and remove the remaining mucus from its mouth. You should also cut the umbilical cord about 5 centimeters from the body and be sure to treat the navel with brilliant green or iodine solution. Then, especially in cold weather, the newborn is heated with an infrared lamp.
After that, they ask that you need to attach it to the nipples of the mother. At the same time, weakened piglets are applied to those nipples that are at the beginning of the pig’s body - they are more filled with milk. Colostrum will protect newborns who do not yet have their immunity from infections and prevent diseases. Otherwise, they may die.
Help with prolonged labor
Due to the narrowness of the birth canal, the incorrect position of the fetus and many other factors, there may be a delay in farrowing. In this case, perform the following steps:
- drive the animal out of the farrowing room;
- do a massage of the abdomen;
- drink sweetened water.
With active attempts for 2-3 hours or more, when the pigs still continue to remain in the womb, human help is needed. Better if it is a veterinarian. To perform this procedure, gynecological gloves will be required to penetrate the uterus to the elbow. To avoid infection, gloves are lubricated with nitrofurazone or another special antibacterial agent. After farrowing, it is advisable to put an antibiotic injection for prevention.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- A glove oiled with petroleum jelly is put on.
- The birth canal is washed with a mild soap solution (it will improve glide).
- A hand is carefully inserted into the vagina.
- The piglet is groped, the reason for the impossibility of its exit outside is determined.
- An attempt is expected, after which a gradual and cautious begins, so as not to damage the uterus, the fetus moves to the exit.
As a rule, a single aid is enough. If necessary, the procedure is repeated.
Birth Aggression
Some sows become irritable and angry at birth. You need to be prepared for this. Animals at such moments are able not only to crush newborn babies, but also to nibble them. In this case, you will need control over the sow throughout the birth, and piglets after birth should be isolated in a box or a separate paddock.
What measures should be taken if aggression in the animal has not passed after farrowing? As a rule, nervousness is not constant and after some time (this can last several hours), it goes away, the pig calms down. To identify the reaction of the animal, you should try to carefully bring one piglet to the sipples of the sows.
In the future, if cases of aggressive behavior occur, it is advisable to no longer use such a sow for breeding.
Big offspring
As a rule, a healthy and not too well-fed animal, bringing the norm of piglets, does not need outside help. The optimal number for a primogenous sow is 7 goals (plus or minus one calf), for the rest, especially mature queens, this figure averages 12 piglets.
Sometimes pigs of large white breeds bring even greater offspring. This is a deviation from the norm, since usually a pig has 12 nipples, designed to fully feed just such a number of babies. In such a situation or when milk is lost, it is necessary to switch to feeding piglets artificially.
Pig care after farrowing
Each pig in this period needs an individual approach, which depends on the physiological state and other characteristics of the animal. At the same time, general recommendations should be adhered to - they will ensure the safety of piglets and have a positive effect on the health of the sow:
- The animal must be provided with high-quality water, because after childbirth it needs regular thirst quenching. The lack of water can not only adversely affect milk production, but also lead to piglets being eaten.
- To establish the digestion of the sow and not to overload her stomach with rough food, it is necessary to give the first food - a liquid mash-up after 12 hours after giving birth.
- In order not to decrease milk production, you need to transfer the animal to a complete diet a day after birth.
- Pay special attention to thin uterus with a large litter. Their diet should contain a large number of combined feeds and foods high in fat.
- Lactating sows should always be kept under control. If the animal is mainly lying, you need to carefully raise it at least 2-3 times a day. On the fourth day after farrowing, it is advisable to carry out short-term walking.
Compliance with these recommendations will help stimulate appetite, improve the digestive system and the general condition of the sow.
Possible problems after farrowing
It is necessary to observe the pig for some time, because childbirth is a complex process, and various complications can arise that are immediately invisible. An important point is the exit of the afterbirth. If everything is normal, the sow’s attempts are over, she gradually comes to her senses, begins to take care of the litter.
The placenta immediately after exit should be removed from the box. Otherwise, the pig can eat not only her, but also piglets.
As a rule, the placenta does not come out immediately, but after 4-7 hours. If during this time the placenta has not come out, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian.
The pig isolates lochia during the first 4 days after birth. At first they are reddish in color, then brown, at the end of the term they acquire a transparent color. They should not emit a putrid odor, otherwise a specialist consultation will be required.
Often sows after farrowing are constipated. In this case, it is necessary after 6-8 hours to give her a little liquid oat and bran talkers. It is advisable to transfer the animal to a full diet later in order to prevent abundant lactation and mastitis.
Mastitis also often happens in the first hours after farrowing. They treat it with antimicrobial agents and also apply cold clay with vinegar (3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) for 3-4 hours, regularly wetting the nipples with cold water.
If there is a swelling of the mammary gland, piglets are allowed to the nipples every 3 hours, after having lubricated the gland with paraffin oil, lard or ointment from mastitis.
Sometimes the sow refuses food after farrowing. We must offer her high-energy, well-digestible food, because she experienced stress, exhausted, lost strength. For this, sugar diluted with water is suitable. If the animal cannot stand on its own, help it to rise. Otherwise, contact your veterinarian.
Farrowing in pigs is an exciting process for both the animal and its owner. To minimize possible complications, the owner should know and take into account not only the feeding of the pregnant pig, the duration of pregnancy, the timing of farrowing, care before and after birth, but also be able to provide assistance immediately at the time of farrowing. Then you can hope for a healthy viable offspring.