Farrowing pigs for the first time: calendar for determining dates, table, signs of farrowing, birth of piglets, care and feeding of the sow

Any pig breeder will sooner or later want to breed offspring from his charges. And the viability of the offspring and the future fate of the sow depend on how correctly the pigs are cared for during pregnancy and how competently the farrowing process itself goes. Farrowing pigs for the first time is especially important because it lays the foundation for their entire future as sows.

Preparing a pig for its first pregnancy

When preparing a pig for its first pregnancy, it is very important to understand:

which individuals are best suited for reproduction;
When do animals go through puberty?
how to determine that pregnancy has occurred.

Not every pig is capable of producing healthy and high-quality offspring. First of all, only zoned breeds should be bred; they are more hardy and unpretentious. Particular attention should be paid to the constitution and body structure of the pig:

the body must be strong and healthy;
the animal must have a powerful skeleton with a wide rear part;
the abdomen should not sag;
the pig’s udder must contain at least 12 well-formed teats, located at a decent distance from each other;
The lower teats should not be blocked by the upper ones so that all piglets have free access to them.

It is also very important that the pig intended for breeding has a calm and docile character. At the same time, she showed healthy activity, an excellent appetite and moved a lot.

Attention! Good qualities are inherited, so it is important that the mothers of future sows are fertile and able to reproduce healthy piglets.

It should be realized that young pigs already at a fairly early age (5-6 months) experience a craving for mating. But a serious pig breeder should not allow his pigs to mate at this age. Otherwise, the offspring may turn out to be very weak or completely lifeless. It is better to wait until young pigs are 9-10 months old. Usually at this age they reach a weight of 100 kg and their body is already more prepared to bear piglets. In some late-ripening breeds, the time for the first mating occurs after a year.

Since pigs come into heat after puberty throughout the year, through certain cycles of 18-24 days, the time for the first mating must be selected as most convenient for the owner. It is best to do this in such a way that farrowing occurs not in the coldest, nor in the hottest months of the year.

Signs of heat or heat are as follows:

pigs refuse food for no reason;
their behavior becomes restless, they begin to jump on other animals;
the genitals become swollen and red, and mucus begins to secrete from them;
When a boar appears, the pigs first seem to fall into a stupor, and then behave quite actively.

Estrus usually lasts from 2 to 4 days. But the boar must be allowed near the pig in the first two days, otherwise mating may not work out.

When a pig is pregnant, its behavior usually changes dramatically.

animals express calmness and indifference to the outside world and even lose interest in food;
despite some indifference to food, the weight of the pig begins to increase;
cheesy formations are discharged from the genitals;
the pig's nipples begin to redden and swell in preparation for feeding;
During the next hunt, all signs completely disappear.

True, there is such a thing as false pregnancy in pigs, in which all of the above signs also occur.

There are also several simple folk ways to determine whether a pig is pregnant or not.

Method 1 – the pig farmer calms the animal and, in a standing position, strokes its back from the shoulder blades to the back. In its normal state, the pig will definitely bend, but a pregnant female will stand straight and calm.This method guarantees a pregnancy rate of 80 to 90%.

Method 2 is based on the fact that during the next hunting period (that is, after about 20 days), a boar is again introduced to the pig. A pregnant animal will not pay any attention to him, while an ordinary female will behave quite actively with him.

However, if after 2-3 weeks the signs of early pregnancy in the pig have not disappeared, then most likely the process has begun to actively develop.

How long does pregnancy last in pigs?

It is estimated that the average gestation period in pigs lasts 3 months + 3 weeks + 3 days. Which together is exactly 114 days after mating. But this rule just makes it easy to remember the numbers. In fact, the gestation period of pigs can easily fall between 110 and 125 days. According to statistics, only 25% of sows will give birth to piglets after exactly 114 days. 30% of animals produce offspring at an earlier date, and 45% at a later date.

It is only important that the gestation period is at least 110 days. If farrowing earlier than this period, the life of newborn piglets is at risk.

How many days a pig carries piglets depends on several factors:

Age of sows. The gestation period before the first or even second farrowing may increase by 5-7 days. Conversely, mature pigs are able to farrow 7-10 days earlier than the statistical average.
Climatic conditions and time of year. In summer, the gestation period is slightly longer than in winter.
Number of piglets gestated. Oddly enough, the larger number of offspring obtained requires shorter periods of gestation.
Breed of animals. Typically, the smaller the animals, the shorter their gestation period.For example, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs carry their young for 114 to 118 days, while large white sows gestate for 114 to 122 days.
Housing conditions also have an impact; the better they are, the longer the pig can carry her cubs.

Sow farrowing chart

To more accurately determine the timing of farrowing of a sow, experienced farmers advise using a special calendar.

It is usually created in the form of a table that allows you to determine the earliest date from which you need to be ready to farrow at any time.

This table-based pig farrowing calendar is quite easy to use.

In the first vertical column you need to find the number when the pig actually mated, and in the topmost horizontal line is the month when this event occurred. In the box where the found row and column intersect, the date is written, starting from which you need to expect farrowing every day.

How many times does a pig give birth per year?

Most domestic animals give birth only once a year or even less often. But the peculiarity of the sow is the fact that, given favorable conditions, she is quite capable of farrowing twice in a year. At the same time, bring completely healthy and viable offspring.

How many piglets can a pig produce at a time?

It is not for nothing that a pig is considered a prolific animal - it is capable of producing about a dozen or more piglets at a time.

It is quite difficult to determine their exact number in advance. The fact is that the number of piglets in a litter is influenced by several factors:

breed of pig;
her age;
number of previous farrows;
health status;
nutrition;
hereditary productivity.

During the first farrowing of pigs, the number of babies usually does not exceed 6-8 pieces. In subsequent years, a good sow should gradually increase the number of piglets with each farrowing. A mature pig at the age of 2-3 years can already give birth to 10-12 piglets. The most fertile individuals give birth to 15 to 20 young.

The breed of the animal determines a lot. If Chinese pigs on average are capable of producing about 20 piglets, then representatives of the ordinary large white breed are only about 12-14 piglets.

Attention! Throughout the history of pig breeding, several cases of the maximum number of cubs in a litter per litter have been recorded - 27 and 34 heads. And the unsurpassed record holder in this regard remains the Chinese Taihu pig, which gave birth to 42 piglets at one time, and all of them survived.

Preparing for farrowing

Only with the help of a properly organized process of feeding and caring for pigs during pregnancy is it possible to avoid most problems during farrowing at home, especially for the first time. There is a difference in feeding during gestation of young (primiparous) and mature sows

Young pigs are still growing and developing intensively, so they need a lot of protein feed. Over the entire period of pregnancy, a primiparous pig should gain 45-55 kg of live weight.

Older pigs no longer need as much protein food, since they only need to maintain their own weight to bear piglets. Their weight is carefully monitored throughout pregnancy. They should not gain more than 40-45 kg.

The last month is especially important, during which the pig can gain two-thirds of its total weight.In the last weeks before giving birth, the pig is fed high-quality hay, liquid bran and flaxseed meal. To prevent constipation, you should regularly add beet pulp to your meals.

Feed must be fed 3 times a day. And fresh drinking water should be available in drinking bowls around the clock.

Pregnant pigs are prohibited from including in their diet:

hard cake;
chaff;
sunflower husk;
frozen and rotten feed.

Important! A week before farrowing, pigs are treated against worms and mange to reduce anxiety during and after birth and to keep newborns safe.

Signs of impending farrowing

In order not to miss the exciting moment of childbirth, when pigs may need additional human assistance, every pig breeder should have an idea of the main signs of the upcoming event.

The signs of farrowing in a sow giving birth for the first time are practically no different from those of a mature pig, except that they are a little less pronounced.

About 4-5 days before farrowing, the sow's vulva or loop, which is located at the prenatal opening, turns distinctly pink and begins to swell. If this has not been done before, from now on the pig must be placed separately, in a special farrowing pen. This is necessary so that during farrowing and in the future, a voluminous and massive animal has less opportunity to accidentally crush its newborn babies.

About 2 days before farrowing, a pig's udder can become loose, as the process of producing colostrum begins. The belly also sags quite a lot and the spine bends.

A day before the expected birth, the pig’s behavior changes: it behaves restlessly, often jumps up, lies down, grabs the bedding with its mouth, and makes a nest for itself. You need to make sure that she has a sufficient amount of sawdust, quality straw or corn husks in her pen. After some time, colostrum may appear from the nipples when pressed, and mucus begins to be released from the genitals. By these signs you can easily find out that the pig will farrow soon.

It should be understood that the first birth is usually the most difficult and may well occur with some delay. This is completely normal. Just before labor begins, the pig usually calms down and lies down on its side in some secluded corner. The beginning of contractions and wagging of the tail indicate the first contractions.

Preparing the machine, tools and disinfectants

All walls of the room in which farrowing will take place are whitened with slaked lime. The machine itself is also treated with a disinfectant solution (100 g of alkali per 0.5 liter of hot water). The litter is completely changed to fresh.

For piglets, you need to prepare a separate warm corner with a fixed infrared lamp. The room should be free of drafts, but should not be too hot. The optimal temperature is about + 18-20 °C. If farrowing occurs in the summer, on hot days it is necessary to spray the woman in labor with cool water.

The pig itself is washed with soapy water a few days before farrowing, and then treated with an antimicrobial substance (1% creolin solution). Be sure to place a drinking bowl, preferably a metal one, in which the water is changed at least 2-3 times a day. One pig should consume at least 25-30 liters of water per day.

A bag with tools and materials to assist in childbirth should be ready:

scissors for cutting the umbilical cord;
strong thread for tying it;
5% iodine or brilliant green for treating the umbilical cord;
clean soft diapers that are used to wipe piglets;
disposable sterile gloves;
freshly prepared solution of potassium permanganate.

A container of warm water and soap should also be prepared.

Farrowing pigs at home

For sows who are giving birth for the first time, it is especially important to create a calm atmosphere during birth. Unfamiliar noises and the presence of strangers are undesirable. It will be good if a person who cares for them is always with the young pigs. On average, depending on the strength of the pushing, farrowing in pigs giving birth for the first time lasts about 6 hours. With a favorable outcome, everything can be completed in 2-4 hours, and if the attempts turn out to be weak, then farrowing can last up to 9 hours.

With an interval of 4 minutes between attempts, the amniotic fluid usually begins to leak. Most often, the first piglet is the largest and therefore takes the longest to emerge. Other piglets are usually born every 20-25 minutes.

Before labor begins, the pig's nipples are wiped with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Newborn piglets are wiped with a clean diaper, and if necessary, the airways are cleared.

Attention! After birth, the piglet may end up inside the amniotic sac. In this case, so that he does not suffocate, he is urgently removed from it. And then, dipping in warm water, rub with a clean towel.

Having measured about 5 cm from the baby’s body, the umbilical cord is cut, and the cut site is treated with brilliant green or iodine.In cold weather, piglets must be dried under an infrared lamp. The piglets are then applied to their mother's teats.

Pig colostrum contains the most valuable substances for the still unformed immunity of babies, so it is vital for them in the first hour of their life. If this is not done, the piglets most likely will not survive. The teats located closer to the sow's head are usually fuller. It is to them that the weakest piglets should be applied, so that it is easier for them to suck out the portion of colostrum they need.

Before each birth of the next piglet, the pig's back leg begins to twitch and its tail wags. If all these movements stop, then, most likely, the birth process is completed.

But after the birth of piglets, after 3-6 hours, the placenta usually comes out. It is very important to wait until it comes out and remove it immediately so that the pig does not have the opportunity to eat it. If 8 hours after the end of farrowing the placenta has not come out, you should urgently call a veterinarian.

After the birth is over, the back of the pig’s body is washed with warm water and the old bedding is completely replaced with a new one.

Feeding the sow after farrowing is allowed no earlier than 2 hours after the end of the process. But water with sugar can be given immediately to restore strength. It is better if, after the placenta is released, the pig stands up on its own and drinks, and even eats a little.

Complicated farrowing

The first thing that may alert you during farrowing is if contractions are weak or occur rarely. In this case, you can try to force the pig to stand up and move around, give it a belly massage, or give it sweet water to drink.

In case of premature loss of amniotic fluid, a decoction of flaxseed or pre-boiled and cooled sunflower oil can be injected into the pig's birth canal.

If the cervix is not dilated for a long time, hot (+ 45 °C) boiled water can be poured into the birth canal.

What to do if a pig cannot farrow

In the case of the first farrowing, the birth canal may be too narrow, and the process itself may be painful for the pig. In this case, you can use an antispasmodic for the uterus with the main active ingredient Vetrabutinhydrochlorid. This drug is injected into the pig's uterus, resulting in relaxation and pain relief. The use of oxytocin can stimulate labor, and calcium can support contractions of the pig’s uterus.

If the fetus is positioned incorrectly or is too large, the farrowing process may also be delayed. And if there is no veterinarian nearby, you will have to act on your own.

To do this, it is necessary that the examiner's hand be small and narrow. A glove lubricated with a special gel or Vaseline is put on the hand and inserted into the sow’s vagina. If the position is incorrect, they try to turn the piglet. If the cub is large, they try to grab it by the legs and at the time of the next contraction they pull it out.

To prevent contractions from weakening during farrowing, already born piglets are applied to the nipples. Because sucking stimulates labor.

If after birth the piglet does not breathe, then you can try giving him a heart massage or performing artificial respiration.

Rules for care after farrowing

After successful farrowing, it is important that the pig is able to fully feed and raise all the born piglets.

What to feed a sow to produce more milk

12 hours after farrowing, the pig can be given a liquid mixture of oat bran to produce milk. It is not recommended to feed corn and rye, as they lead to a decrease in milk supply.

For the first 2 weeks, the sow's feed should be predominantly liquid. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3.

One pig per day should receive:

1.5 kg of hay or fresh grass;
10 kg of succulent feed;
4 kg of concentrated feed.

How to care for a sow and piglets

Within 5 days after farrowing, the pig may experience bloody discharge from the birth canal. Gradually they become lighter and more transparent, and then stop. If this does not happen, you should contact your veterinarian.

While feeding the babies, the pig may not allow them to approach the udder and lie down on its stomach. In this case, you need to examine the udder and if small wounds are found on it, then the piglets’ milk fangs are blunted by 2 mm using forceps.

Possible problems

Some of the possible problems have already been discussed in the chapter describing the farrowing process.

What to do if a pig is pacing

If a pig piglets for the first time, then a delay in birth is considered an almost normal process. The main thing is to provide the sow with at least some activity and a flow of fresh air.

Why does a pig eat its piglets?

If a pig is given the opportunity to swallow its placenta during farrowing, then it will be able to eat its piglets in the future. Therefore, this cannot be allowed.

What to do if the sow does not eat or get up after farrowing?

Often, especially in the case of long or complicated labor, excessive fatigue accumulates in the pig's body.In this case, she needs to be offered sweet water and helped to get up. If all attempts fail, then the problems may lie deeper. There may be inflammatory processes or problems with the gastrointestinal tract. In these cases, the pig needs urgent veterinary help.

After how many farrowings do they change the sow?

The period of use of a sow in a subsidiary farm depends on its characteristics of multiple births, milk production, as well as the safety of piglets during the suckling period. If all these characteristics are high, then the pig is kept for at least 4-5 years to produce at least 6-7 farrows. After all, maintaining a mature pig requires less feed than a young pig. In addition, sows usually demonstrate maximum productivity between the ages of 2 and 5 years.

Conclusion

Farrowing pigs for the first time can be a very important task, which, in the absence of the necessary knowledge and skills, may not end very satisfactorily. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate your strengths and, if necessary, be sure to call a specialist for help.

How many piglets does a pig bear?