My third litter in 2 weeks has arrived tonight.
A perfect, by the book, farrowing. A lovely gilt's first litter and she has been a star......12 piglets, all a good size and I've left them feeding happily.
Makes a pleasant change from the previous 2 litters in the last fortnight. The first was a gilt who farrowed 10 days early, she had 12 piglets too, but she hasn't been the best of Mum's up to date. We've lost 5 from squishing, and her not being the most attentive. Luckily she seems to have settled into motherhood now and the 7 remaining are doing really nicely.
The other litter was from a rare bloodline gilt that I bought in. Unfortunately when she arrived she was covered in lice, infested with worms and had pneumonia! And this from one of the country's so called best breeders. Anyway she farrowed but needed a lot of assistance, including a visit from the vet. She eventually had 5 piglets, 4 survived and fortunately Mum and piglets are doing well.
So after the last 2 litters this evening's easy farrowing came as a huge relief
Breeding is wonderful when it all goes according to plan - but it doesn't always go smoothly
Topic: Piglets (Read 3412 times)
