The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Draygor on December 23, 2017, 08:45:26 pm

Title: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on December 23, 2017, 08:45:26 pm
Hi all, I haven't been on here in quite some time unfortunately.

I have 2 Large black gilts :pig: that are sisters and haven't been seperated since birth. A few months ago I bought a large black boar and he has successfully served both (hopefully - although 6 weeks apart).

I am very hands on with both gilts and tend to them every day. I'm sure Bertha is in pig as she has changed in both shape and temperament. Her farrowing date is 31/12, and I have 2 questions.

1) Would she be better feeding adlib after farrowing, or a structured feeding pattern?
2) Is it better to seperate both gilts (out of sight) during farrowing and after, or would it ok for the second gilt to be visible through an iron gate. (I have read this could be comforting), but I'm looking for any experienced breeders who can offer help on this.

Many thanks

Tim
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on December 24, 2017, 09:20:50 am
There should be a very obvious difference between the two gilts. The first looking heavier, much more enlarged vulva and swollen teats.


No problem with them seeing each other from a distance but not able to meet at the gate or piglets able to get out of gate through bars. To be honest your first gilt will have enough to occupy her and the other can stay with the boar for now.


Get them separated now so the first gilt can settle.


At farrowing keep an eye but leave her to get on with it. Gilts can be skitty and people going in and out or just being too close can upset them. Generally LB's are super Mums and lots of milk.


She may not eat much for the first couple of days but she needs to have a gradual increase of her normal ration as the piglets grow so she will be eating the most just before weaning. A start is normal ration to begin with increasing so by the end of lactation she is getting normal plus a pound per piglet. Obviously, you have to adjust as necessary  and split feeds as the feed increases.


Let us know how you get on.



Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Marches Farmer on December 24, 2017, 11:21:18 am
Some gilts don't look pregnant at all, apart from a slightly enlarged vulva.  I've found increasing the feed by an extra kilo a day, split between two feeds, in the last two weeks produces good size, very vigorous, piglets and a good milk supply from Day 1.  At that stage in the pregnancy extra feed will go into the piglets, not into the sow.  Gilts sometimes take several days longer than "scheduled" to farrow.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on December 24, 2017, 02:46:20 pm
I have never had a large black gilt that didn't look pregnant or actually any gilt of any breed by this stage of a pregnancy. I have always found them very milky pigs.


The main reasons for not increasing feed is that an increased ration has been linked to farrowing fever and that the pig and piglets don't need it. 


I am not disagreeing with Marches Farmer as you find things work for you and your stock as you go along but it isn't the norm.



Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Marches Farmer on December 24, 2017, 05:01:10 pm
Changing the feed regime was initially an experiment, based on our feed regime for sheep where feed goes into the lambs through the last six weeks of pregnancy, not the ewe.  The increased vigour of newborn piglets since this change has been notable.  There may be other factors at work, of course, including the boar's bloodline, but we keep only one of the most rare female bloodlines so that's not likely to be a major influence.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on December 27, 2017, 02:03:53 pm
Hi all, thanks for the replies - I think I've got the feeding regime covered  :thumbsup:

The farrowing gilt will have a lovely room all to herself in the barn - plenty of straw bedding, heat lamp for the piglets etc.

Should I let her out of this room to eat - or put the feed in there with her? How often and for how long should I let her out to exercise (piglets can go under heat lamp).

I'm still unsure whether to put her sister in the neighbouring room in the barn. They will be seperated by a very strong iron gate, but could effectively touch snouts through the grill (is this advisable or not). They have not been seperated since birth.

I am going to move the farrowing gilt into her new surroundings on Friday morning - should I take her sister too?

Thanks for all the help.

Tim
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on December 27, 2017, 06:43:15 pm
Too much straw and piglets get stuck in it or bury under it and risk squashing. Don't over do it. Feed her in there - she won't be happy leaving piglets at the beginning. She wont want to leave them for exercise either and as long as she is getting up and going to the loo she she will be fine. Her job is to feed and protect. Don't assume the piglets will eat and then go under the lamp. It can take them a couple of days to do that, others do it straight away. Sometimes the sow keeps the litter with her and they don't use the lamp at all. You will find they are amazing active very quickly and will be everywhere.


She needs peace and quiet not a nosy sibling looking on and potentially causing her stress. Get her moved asap. Just because you have her down to farrow on the 31st and mine usually go to the day, she may not have read the book. She needs time to adjust and settle into her surroundings.



Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Marches Farmer on December 27, 2017, 07:18:02 pm
I generally put down a good 15cm of straw then trample it down to make a mattress that will insulate but not bury the piglets.  I move my sows into their farrowing quarters three weeks before they're due, so they're properly settled in.  I agree that peace and quiet is best - a gilt will have quite enough on her plate with her first litter.  Be aware, too, that she may be very defensive within a few hours of the last piglet arriving and, if a piglet squeals, will turn on the nearest predator (you) to protect it. 
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on December 27, 2017, 07:24:49 pm
I actually like to farrow on shavings then add straw.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on December 29, 2017, 11:00:12 pm
Thanks all for the advice - I think I have everything covered now, and she's in her new pen.

She seemed to settle in really quickly. Her sister remains in the original pen outside. (I think they're both thankful for a bit of piece and quiet and no food sharing).

First time farrowing for her and us - fingers crossed!!

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on December 30, 2017, 10:00:21 am
Let us know how you get on  :fc: :love: :love: :love:
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on December 30, 2017, 09:51:03 pm
Will do Harmony - many thanks.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on January 02, 2018, 11:45:57 pm
Well, Bertha still hasn't farrowed.

She did seem more restless than usual today though. I'm not sure I'd call it 'nesting', but she has pulled a lot of hay into a pile in the centre of her pen.

Could this be the start?
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on January 03, 2018, 08:04:05 am
Could be. Some make a nest several days before. Mine tend to nest and get on with it.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 03, 2018, 08:55:55 am
Mine generally start farrowing within six hours of building the nest.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on January 05, 2018, 11:56:50 pm
Hi all,

Bertha farrowed this afternoon. She had 8 piglets which were all delivered between 4pm and about 5.15 today.

Unfortunately, number 2 to be born was very small in size, and although holding her to the teat repeatedly, she found it very difficult to keep latched on while her brothers and sisters were all moving around. We left her sleeping peacefully, but don't expect her to be alive tomorrow. All other piglets are feeding off Bertha extremely well.

She really is only half the size of the others - quite strange we thought - although I expect those of you with much more experience than us have seen it many times.

We did contemplate hand feeding her, but everything we read and a phone call to a nearby farmer who used to breed pigs said even if you put in a lot of effort to that 1 piglet, it still may perish.

Survival of the fittest springs to mind.

Apart from keeping a regular eye on everything going forward, is there anything else we should be doing?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: harmony on January 06, 2018, 08:41:59 am
 :thumbsup:   A nice size litter for a gilt. You may well find your little one does just fine. They don't take much filling up at this stage.


Mum will need plenty of water. Feed away from bed area and often they get up to eat and will then pee. Keep an eye when she gets up and down - when there is more chance of piglets being stepped on or squished - after a few days they will learn to get out of the way.
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Draygor on January 07, 2018, 09:58:23 pm
Unfortunately the little one didn't make it, and in addition we lost 1 more. I think it got squashed under Bertha.

The remaining 6 are all really healthy and very active. Bertha looks like she's being a real good mum, and none the worse for her ordeal.

Thanks for all the advice
Title: Re: Farrowing
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 08, 2018, 10:01:12 am
I generally feed 1.3 to 1.8kg per sow (depending on condition) plus 500g per piglet at each of two daily feeds.  Farrowing at this time of year is challenging as the sow and piglets need to use calories to keep warm as well as produce milk or grow.  If you can get the piglets through the first 24 hours they're generally fine.