Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
have plenty of light to see what is going on. Emergencies will require quick action on your
part. Easy access to the pen is essential.
Signs of labor
Pig breeders are able to make a close estimate as to when piglets are due, but at times, the sow
can deliver early or late. Here are some of the signs to look for:
•
Restless movement:
At the onset of labor, the sow becomes restless. She cannot seem to
find a comfortable position. She frequently will alternate between lying down, standing,
and pacing the pen.
•
Swollen teats:
The mammary glands will swell as they fill with milk to feed the piglets.
•
Nest-building behaviors:
Itwillseemasifsheistryingtopreparetheareaforthepiglets.
This involves moving the straw, scratching at the floor, and circling.
•
Vaginal discharge:
There will be a slight amount of vaginal discharge during hard labor.
If it has a strong, putrid odor, contact your veterinarian.
•
Slightly elevated temperature:
Use of a rectal thermometer will confirm if the temperat-
ure has gone up. A slight fever is normal during delivery. The normal temperature for a
pig is 101.5 to 102.5 F.
•
Circling and sniffing:
Increased amounts of circling in the pen and sniffing at her back-
side are strong indicators that birth is imminent.
Remove and wipe down the piglets as she delivers them. Place them near the teat once she has
settled down to avoid injuring the piglet. Check the temperature after farrowing. If the tem-
perature remains elevated to 104 degrees or higher, you will need to contact the veterinarian.
Signs of trouble in labor
The normal time for delivery of piglets is one every 20 minutes. Gilts take slightly longer be-
cause they are less experienced with giving birth. Prolonged labor tires the female. All of the
following problems will require some type of intervention:
1. Three or four hours of labor with no results when it has become obvious the sow is ex-
periencing a great deal of pain or pushing. This most likely indicates there is a piglet in
breech position or a dead piglet blocking the birth canal.
