[nelson]

Hi
Our berkshire piglets (11) are 10 days old today. By chance we were showing some folk the piglets and mum was about to feed them. Piglets responded to mums call and gradually left the creep until there were two remaining. One got up and nudged the other who didn't respond. We were looking from the stable door and decided to intervene. I gently poked the piglet but it didn't move so I picked it up and it was warm, eyes open but limp looking dead without obvious injury. I gave it to my husband and he put his finger in its mouth and it gasped and came back to normality and went on to feed with the others. Was it in a deep sleep? I have never come across this before. Scary moment  - has anyone encountered this before. Were we just lucky to be there? Anyway piglet perfect tonight.

[doganjo]

I'm only guessing but would it's heart be normal?  Could be an extra slow heart beat and might have got cold and died if you hadn't found it.  I'd keep an eye on it if you can identify it in some way.

[nelson]

Hi thanks for that - well exactly the same thing happened today same time. The piglet was lying with the rest of them - she looked like she was breathing - well I picked her up and she had her eyes open but was completely limp - she was quicker to respond this time - maybe I am being over anxious. She is the smallest. As you suggested all we can do is keep an eye on her. Other than that she is a lively piglet when not playing dead..

[Hilarysmum]

I've never heard of this before. 

[nelson]

New to us too  we have had many litters - we have had a few runts where there is difficulty getting to mum and we have had to give them a nudge but this is different. Will get the vet to take a look at her. She is a pretty little piglet.

[robert waddell]

pigs have a habit of going into a trance or coma that is what they do when you tummy rub them even some succumb to this scratching there head
are they lying in a pile or cuddled together
are they under a heat lamp

[nelson]

Hi Lillian - A trance is what it looks like! and she is in a pile alternating between heat lamp and pile in the corner.  the plan is to get them all into the spring sunshine tomorrow, regardless.

[Hilarysmum]

P h o  t  o  s                      please     

[nelson]

here they are now out in the sunshine and all thriving.

[doganjo]

Beautiful eyelashes! 

[Hilarysmum]

They really do have the ooooo factor in spades 

[nelson]

Well this is the limp piglet that caused us worry - pictured here with me today - delivered to her new home in the Dordogne. I am going to miss her :'(she went with 3 of her siblings).

[Tudful Tamworths]

Thanks for posting this. Good to hear the end of the story!

[lill]

Hi nelson,
you have lovely piglets, can I ask, are they pedigree. If they are pedigree they should be notched, personally I do not agree with this and it is barbaric, but we have to stick to the rules until the BPA can change the system.

[nelson]

Hi lill 

Thank you.  I do have a pedigree Berkshire herd. This litter was sired by my purebred berkshire boar "Lucky" - Dam is pedigree. So not notched and unfortunately not able to birth notify.