Raising Pigs 1: Farrowing

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- There are unique challenges for litter-bearing species.

For the sow, giving birth to a litter of pigs takes a lot of work and preparation.

As pig farmers, having some background knowledge on gestation and farrowing preparation can help you monitor the farrowing process and assist the sow in caring for her piglets.

Before farrowing starts, there are several milestones during the gestation of a litter that span from embryonic attachment to the farrowing itself.

These milestones can have a great impact on how the litter grows in the longterm.

Here, you can see that there are some specific milestones of pig development in the almost four months of gestation.

Let's focus on the period of late gestation from day 77 to farrowing.

During this stage, most pig weight gain and mammary development happen.

This period can have a big impact on piglet survival.

Piglet weight in late gestation can also influence when a sow will farrow.

Most sows will farrow between 110 and 117 days.

However, weight of piglets and the number of piglets in the litter influence the timing.

As sows with smaller litters tend to have larger piglets and also tend to give birth earlier, between 113 and 115 days.

Additionally, the modern genetics of highly prolific sows tend to have larger litters with smaller pigs and farrowing can be delayed from 115 to 120 days.

Late gestation is also the time of mammary growth.

During this time, the mammary gland will visually grow in size.

Many people refer to this as bagging up.

This period of bagging up is our sign that the time to farrow is approaching.

So be on the lookout for certain changes in behavior.

When farrowing day finally arrives, the sow will exhibit some behaviors that show she is getting ready to farrow.

These signs might include restlessness, such as frequent changes in position, nesting behavior, such as pawing the ground and rooting.

Then as contractions start, the sow's breathing will quicken and muscle tremors are often observed in the flank or tail.

Fluid will discharge and will often be observed from the vulva.

Many of these signs will occur in just a couple of hours to minutes directly before farrowing begins with little warning.

Often these signs are also subtle and only noticeable by the experienced stock person.

Because of this, sows are commonly moved to specific farrowing pens or stalls up to 10 days prior to their predicted due date.

This allows for special care of the sows in the days leading up to farrowing, such as individual attention, a clean living space, and additional feed.

Producers are then ready to assist when the sow does start to farrow.

Farrowing begins with some biological communication between the sow and the piglets.

Pressure and hormones from the piglets and the placenta tell the uterus that the maximum capacity has been reached and it is time to bring the piglets into the world.

The sow usually starts farrowing by lying down.

Once lying down, contractions from the uterus and some pushing from the sow bring a piglet to the birth canal.

One final push and a very slippery pig will make its entrance into the world.

In a smooth farrowing, the sow needs little help and piglets arrive about every 15 to 30 minutes.

However things can go wrong, especially with gilts or a young, first-time farrowing sow.

Being present will help you catch any potential issues and allow you to step in when help is needed in the event of a dystocia or a problem of offspring presentation in the birth canal, which causes delivery issues.

In a normal presentation, the piglet will come out of the sow with front hooves or back hooves first.

In this picture, we see a normal presentation of the piglet with the front or back hooves aiming towards the vulva into a diving position.

In an abnormal presentation, the piglet may have legs tucked, be sideways, or have their nose stuck behind the birth canal.

Depending on the size of the piglets, abnormal presentations may cause dystocia or might have no impact on farrowing at all.

This is why attendance on farrowing day is important.

The sooner you can assist with a stuck pig, the less likely piglets are to die in the birth canal.

Once the piglets arrive, it is necessary to turn your attention to them as soon as possible after birth.

This is because piglets are born wet, hungry, and clumsy.

Sometimes piglets will not make it.

And a few of the reasons for newborn piglet mortality are getting chilled, not getting enough colostrum, getting stepped or laid on, in exhaustion from struggles exiting the birth canal.

In these instances, those attending farrowings should be sure to dry piglets as soon as they are born, use non-sow sources of heat, such as a heat lamp, a warming box, or heated pad, get every pig their share of the colostrum.

Regardless of how you manage your operation, these aspects of newborn pig care are critical for a successful farrowing and to give pigs a good start in life.

Farrowing is a complex process in pig production.

Many factors influence the success of the farrowing event, but the biggest single one is the farmer.

Diligent pig farmers work to make sure that every farrowing is attended and that every pig gets the best chance at survival.

In the end, a little knowledge about what is happening to the sow biologically and visually can go a long way to assisting the new stock person.

Knowing your stock and plenty of firsthand experience are of greater value during farrowing than any gadget or device in giving sows the best farrowing support and the piglets the best care after birth.

For more information on farrowing pigs, contact the PennState Extension swine specialist or your local county educator.

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