I have an essex pig Charlotte, whom I breed once a year, She has had 5 previous litters with no problem but the piglets have always "eaten off her back" and so this time I was extremely careful she was in prime condition before she got in pig.
She looked BLOOMING. She was massive. She farrowed 6 weeks ago and had LOVELY piglets but the birth was a nightmare. She was a week late, she took an hour and a half to deliver the first piglet and then, despite labouring nothing was coming down the birth canal. I called my friend who runs the city farm he took felt up her. It ended up with my WONDERFUL vet, two doses of oxytoxin (which did nothing really) and basically the vet getting her arm right the way up the canal to grab and pull.
I was expecting a dead litter because from the first to the second piglet it was 5 hours. In fact they are the nicest litter she's had.
She is 5
My question is (yes, I got there eventually!) will the fact she had a poor delivery this time indicate she's likely to have a poor delivery again.
She picked up very well after and amazing had no infections (she had more hands in her than a boxing club gloves)
I am keeping one of her piglets as a replacement for when she retires.
I am very fond of her she is gentle a good mother and very easy to handle.
I put some piccies to show how large the piglets are... but they WEREN'T stuck
piglets mooching