[dixie]

Do any of you guys clip your piglets teeth? I noticed a few scratches on their ears, and also on the sows nipple, should I or shouldn't I?

[Higgins11]

No I would not. For the simple reason you are cutting that pig and allowing bacteria into that area plus it makes their mouth soar and could cause them to go off feed and weaken their immune system. It has been proven that needle teeth will not hurt the sows underline. As far as the scratchs on the ear....that is their way of showing establishing a pecking order. Once that is set they will not fight as much and you will be fine

[VSS]

By law you are only allowed to clip their teeth at less than a week old and if there is a welfare reason for doing so.

The difficulty with this is that you often don't know that there is a welfare problem until they are older than this. We had one litter a year or so back, when then piglets cut each others faces to shreds and one of them was blinded in one eye. They were fine when they were a week old.

Having said that, some litters, it is not a problem.

[Hilarysmum]

In nature they would not have their tails docked nor their teeth clipped.  Its only elevages where pigs are kept in conditions that are far less than natural that this barbaric practice is necessary.  We are totalling nearly 50 litters born here over the past few years, we have never had any problems like Higgins 11 we have had a few scratched ears, for which a quick spray of the purple stuff is sufficient.

HM

[pigsatlesrues]

A horrible unnecessary barbaric practice. Our litter numbers don't quite add up to HM's but at no time would the question even come up. The odd scratch and a quick spray - no problem!

Kate 

[sausagesandcash]

Whats the name of that 'purple', I presume antiseptic spray?

Morgan 

[jameslindsay]

"Terramycin" is what the vet supplied us with and that is a blue/purple antiseptic spray.

[Hilarysmum]

Sorry have just run out so did not have any to hand, also ours is in French, we buy it from the local farm suppliers.  I think many horse tack shops used to have it over there.  Although it may have changed now.

[sausagesandcash]

'Over there' you mean over here! Lol. Reminds me of a joke . Two neighbours from Cavan were on a shopping trip to Dublin. Purely by coincidence they found themselves on opposite sides of the river Liffey, and started waving at each other. 'John' one shouted, 'How do I get over to the other side?'. 'Jesus Christ', the other replied, 'Are you stupid or something, you're already there!' 

[Hilarysmum]

S&C Desolee (sp??)

[gavo]

Morgan,

Over here : ) .....there is Alamycin, it's a blue antibiotic & antiseptic spray (made by Norbrook). Great for any battle scars on the pigs. We also use it to treat scald on our goats when they get it.


Cheers

Gavin

[Pigtails]

I wouldn't either, it's against nature.

[sausagesandcash]

Thanks gavin, Haven't needed it as yet, but i'm sure it's only a matter of time! See you on our around the 29th April.

Regards,

Morgan

[Pentre1230]

Yes cut the "needle" teeth within 48 hours, yes they do hurt the sows underline, the clue is in the name "needle teeth" The teeth can cause a variety of problems namely "ripping/scoring" your sows teats thus causing an infection and leading to mastitis very painful for all and leading to the sow losing the infected teats for future breeding, therefore reducing the number of working teats, or the worst sceniaro losing the sow all together.   

To get some idea what it feels like for the sow, ask all the ladies on the site who have raised and breast fed children how they would have felt if there child/children was/where born with a full set of needle teeth!! I think you know the answer!!!

[Higgins11]

TO tell you how rediculous cutting needle teeth is............even the major (ie corperate) hog farms in the US have admited that cutting needle teeth hurts the baby pigs performance and is cruel

This coming from a "Factory" farm