Content
- 1 Signs of pregnancy in a sow
- 2 How to find out if a pig is pregnant or not
- 2.1 How to determine if a pig is pregnant early
- 2.2 How to tell if pigs are pregnant by their bellies
- 2.3 How to tell if a pig is pregnant using the rectal method
- 2.4 How to determine whether a pig is covered or not by the presence or absence of hunting
- 2.5 How to find out if a pig is pregnant using the Burkina test method
- 2.6 How to find out if a pig is pregnant by laboratory tests
- 2.7 Ultrasonography
- 3 False pregnancy in pigs
- 4 How long does pregnancy last in pigs?
- 5 Conclusion
Determining the pregnancy of a pig at home is not an easy task, however, knowing some techniques and tricks in this area, you can cope with it without resorting to laboratory methods, as well as ultrasound examination.
Signs of pregnancy in a sow
It is possible to determine that a pig is pregnant a few days after conception has occurred: experienced farmers cope with this task quite quickly.
The main signs of pregnancy in a sow are:
- rapid weight gain in animals;
- apathetic behavior: the animal mainly lies or sleeps, it exhibits signs of so-called toxicosis, interest in food decreases or, conversely, appetite increases sharply and poor sleep is observed;
- a secretion of a curd consistency occurs from the genital organs of the pig;
- in a pig you can observe a sharp increase in size and swelling of the nipples: thereby its body is preparing for feeding future offspring;
- in the prescribed period of time (after about 3 - 3.5 weeks), the period of sexual heat does not return.
How quickly the pregnancy of a pig is determined will determine how soon the animal will be transferred to special conditions of detention, the basic principles of its nutrition will be changed and vitamins and minerals will be added to the diet. All these actions will directly affect both the intrauterine state of the cubs and the determination of the sow’s milk production indicators.
How to find out if a pig is pregnant or not
There are several basic ways by which you can find out whether a pig is pregnant or not at home. All these techniques can be conditionally divided into 2 large subgroups.
Methods for home pregnancy detection (those that do not require special knowledge and skills and are carried out without specialized equipment):
- palpation method;
- rectal method;
- reflexology method (a method for checking the presence or absence of sexual heat in a pig).
Specialized methods (usually carried out in laboratory conditions using special tools):
- Burkina method (from sow urine);
- laboratory research method (vaginal biopsy or blood test to determine the content of the pregnancy hormone - progesterone);
- Ultrasound.
How to determine if a pig is pregnant early
Already on the 5th day after conception, it is possible to find out at home by certain signs that the pig is pregnant.
If you carefully observe the pig, you can identify the main signs at an early stage. The following features will help you find out whether a pig is pregnant or not:
- a sharp change in the pig’s behavior and the onset of a period of “indifference” to everything around him;
- poor sleep - typical specifically for early pregnancy;
- lack of interest in the food offered, or, on the contrary, increased interest in food;
- curd discharge from the genitals of an animal.
The ability to determine the pregnancy of a pig at an early stage will allow the farmer to correctly respond to the “special situation” of the animal and place it in special conditions (for example, change the diet for subsequent high milk production in the sow). This is necessary because the very first days of a pig’s pregnancy are the most dangerous due to the threat of miscarriage and loss of offspring.
How to tell if pigs are pregnant by their bellies
The palpation method is quite reliable, but its big drawback is that it can only be applied from the 3rd month of the animal’s pregnancy. By this time, breeders usually already know what condition the pig is in and have determined this in other ways. However, this method has its place, and its essence lies in the following actions:
- The animal is placed on its left side.
- The pig is calmed down (by scratching and stroking its tummy).
- Feeling (palpation) is carried out in the area of the last two nipples in the lower abdomen.
How to tell if a pig is pregnant using the rectal method
Rectal examination can only be used 30 days after mating. Only a veterinarian or other person with special knowledge and skills should carry out this procedure and determine the pregnancy of a pig in this way. The research methodology is as follows:
- The sow must be securely restrained.
- The veterinarian inserts a gloved hand, lubricated with Vaseline or oil, into the individual’s rectum and palpates 3 arteries: aerial; uterine; genitourinary
Moreover, if the middle uterine artery vibrates and is enlarged in size, we can safely state that the pig is pregnant.
An experienced veterinarian, conducting a rectal examination, can not only determine that a pig is pregnant, but also determine the due date. In this case, an important rule should be observed: if the veterinarian was unable to detect vibration of the middle uterine artery, then a repeat examination can be carried out no earlier than after 3 weeks.
How to determine whether a pig is covered or not by the presence or absence of hunting
Using this method to determine the pregnancy of a pig, one cannot be 100% sure of the veracity of its results. But its big advantage, nevertheless, is that it can be used to try to find out about the pregnancy of an individual already 3 weeks after the mating.
The essence of this technique is that a male is brought to the sow, which was supposedly inseminated about 20 days ago, every couple of hours.
Depending on the pig’s reaction to the boar, a conclusion is drawn about its position:
- if the female shows interest in the inseminator, becomes animated when he appears and is ready to mate, she is not pregnant;
- if the female does not pay attention to the male individual or is quite hostile towards him, with a 95% probability we can talk about conception having occurred.
How to find out if a pig is pregnant using the Burkina test method
The method is quite complex in its implementation in practice, but it guarantees the accuracy of the result obtained with a probability of 98%. The sequence of actions in this case should be as follows:
- The sow's urine is collected.
- The collected liquid is then filtered.
- A couple of drops of hydrochloric acid, an aqueous solution of phenylhydrazyl hydrochloride, and 3% hydrogen peroxide are added to the urine.
- All ingredients are boiled and then cooled.
If the pig is pregnant, then its urine will turn brown-red, and if the pig is not pregnant, then the urine will remain yellow and will not change color.
How to find out if a pig is pregnant by laboratory tests
It is not possible to determine the pregnancy of a pig at home with 100% probability, no matter how realistic all the methods look in photos and videos. Of course, there are various laboratory tests that can be used to establish the fact of fertilization, but their use is not always possible due to:
- their inaccessibility (not all settlements in our country have such an opportunity);
- high price category (this type of service is provided on a paid basis and is very expensive);
- large time costs.
The main laboratory methods for determining the pregnancy of animals are:
- Serological method. This means that blood is taken from the sow and the concentration of the pregnancy hormone, progesterone, is determined in its composition. The test should be carried out 22 days after the expected fertilization. In this case, the analysis guarantees the veracity of the obtained result with 100% probability;
- Vaginal biopsy. This method involves taking a sample of secretions and tissue from the pig's genitals. In the laboratory, these biomaterials are examined under a microscope and a conclusion is drawn about the presence or absence of an “interesting position” in the individual.
Ultrasonography
An ultrasound will help you find out whether a pig is pregnant or not. This method of determining gestation can most often be found in large pig breeding complexes. It is recommended to carry it out no earlier than 20 days after mating. Moreover, if you follow all the rules for conducting such a study during pregnancy more than 30 days, then ultrasound guarantees the reliability of the result with a probability of 95%.
Depending on the equipment used, ultrasound determines the pregnancy of an individual:
- by fetal heartbeat;
- by the presence of fluid in the uterus.
During the study, the animal can stand or lie down: the main thing is that its posture is motionless.
False pregnancy in pigs
In pigs, like in some other animals, a physiological phenomenon such as false pregnancy can be observed.It can occur due to a number of factors, ranging from hormonal imbalance in the functioning of the female body to improper living conditions. At the same time, the signs of false pregnancy in pigs almost completely coincide with the signs of real pregnancy:
- cessation of estrus;
- weight gain;
- decreased appetite.
The easiest way to understand whether an animal has a false pregnancy or not is to bring a boar to the sow and observe her behavior: a pregnant female will not allow the inseminator to approach her.
How long does pregnancy last in pigs?
Every experienced pig breeder and farmer will say that pregnancy in a pig most often lasts 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days (i.e., on average, approximately 114 - 116 days). However, in practice this is not always the case, and the duration of pregnancy depends on a number of related factors:
- Season of the year. If farrowing occurs in the winter season, then, as a rule, it will occur a little earlier than the due date, and if it occurs in the summer, then the pregnant sow will most likely exceed the due date;
- Age of the individual. In young individuals, the gestation period lasts slightly less than in adults;
- Number of cubs in the litter. The fewer piglets a sow carries, the longer she will walk with them;
- Animal breed. For example, a Vietnamese breed pig will give birth faster than all other species. Her gestation period lasts 110 days.
Conclusion
Determining the pregnancy of a pig at home is quite a difficult task, but not only the course of the pregnancy itself, but also the health of the animal as a whole depends on how well and in a timely manner it is performed.Pregnancy of an individual can be determined by a number of signs, using several different methods. In this case, it will be important to follow all recommendations for their use so as not to harm the sow and unborn offspring.
