[Farmernick]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster, so first of all Hello! I'd like to ask anyone who may know more than I how long they think my sow has left to go. I tried uploading some photos to no avail, so will post a link instead.

I'm fairly new to keeping pigs and I haven't yet had a sow farrow here on the farm, but I bought Tilly, our GOS sow, in June who had been served in May. The dates got a bit muddled up on the breeder's end but we are certain it was the first half of May, meaning we're probably not too far off her due date now.

The first photo is from two days ago, and the two photos of her belly are from yesterday.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. She's now in the stable in the yard, so in between drying our wheat and barley & other post-harvest jobs, I'm popping in every hour or so to check on her. She still seems keen to eat, haven't noticed her nesting yet, but her teats have definitely changed and I can see movement in her belly. She is starting to seem a bit restless as well.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Nick

Link to photo 1: https://ibb.co/bOkyRk
Link to photo 2: https://ibb.co/d4fXmk
Link to photo 3: https://ibb.co/hDDGe5

[harmony]

Can't tell much from those pics I'm afraid except from that angle she doesn't look to have much of a milk bar. Need them of her standing up so we can see her teats properly and of her back end so see if her vulva is changing.

[Farmernick]

Thanks for the reply.

Here are two photos of her standing I took a few minutes ago.

Photo 1: https://ibb.co/dmLbCQ
Photo 2: https://ibb.co/hoODsQ

Thanks,
Nick

[harmony]

If she was served on the 15th of May she would be due on the 6th of September. She certainly doesn't look like she is going to farrrow next week. She has no milk. What date did you collect her in June? How old is she? Has she farrowed before?

[Farmernick]

If she was served on the 15th of May she would be due on the 6th of September. She certainly doesn't look like she is going to farrrow next week. She has no milk. What date did you collect her in June? How old is she? Has she farrowed before?

I can't remember the exact date but it was middle of the month. She had been with the boar since the 6th May, but the breeder said she wasn't on heat when she first went in with him. I know this could mean that it could've been another 3 weeks until her next cycle started, but that depends when the previous cycle finished. She's definitely in pig but I'm just trying to get a rough idea how far along. Thanks for the response. Perhaps I just have to play the waiting game haha!

EDIT: Yes she has farrowed before. She's just over two years old.

[harmony]

How do you know she is definitely in pig?


Did she stay in with the boar for three weeks after she was served? That's why I asked when you collected her. If she was served the middle of May and you know the date you collected her you can work out the latest possible date a litter could be due. Did she go straight from weaning to the boar? If she did you would expect her to come into season within 7 days of going in with the boar which would take her to the middle of the month but she does not look like a pig in her last week of pregnancy to me. If she was served again three weeks later around the 1st of June that would make her due around the 23rd of September.

[harmony]

I can't add pictures on here either and I am not good at taking pictures but I will PM you pictures of a sow due towards the end of September.  There is some change in her vulva but it will get much bigger. Looking at her from behind her back teats are hanging down and very pronounced, there is a definite change in the milk bar. The last picture is a sow served mid July so not due until November.


If I had a sow due next week I would have no doubt looking at her that she was in pig. I have doubts about yours. If yours didn't come in for three weeks after she went in with the boar because they missed her cycling she should look like my pictures.

[Farmernick]

Thanks for trying to send the photos.

If she didn't cycle for 3 weeks after being put with the boar, then that would make the service date around 27th May, so she may be due around 19-20th Sept.

She was kept with the boar from 6th May, until I purchased her (which I have now found out was the 17th June). So that's 7 weeks total time with the boar.

Would it be possible to tell now if she was in pig, assuming she could be due 19th-20th of Sept? I can definitely see change, and I'm certain I can see movement in her belly.

Thanks
Nick

[harmony]

If she was served towards the end of May that would put her close to my sow and she doesn't look anywhere near as advanced as mine does. Of course she may not be due until October if you picked her up mid June in which case she has a fair way to go.[size=78%] [/size]


Have you been checking to see if she has been cycling? If she went in to the boar at weaning and she has been breeding regularly then I would expect her to have held to that first service.

[Farmernick]

Have just put her out in the pen and taken some more photos. If you'd have a look that would be great.

Photo 1: https://ibb.co/kVCq6k
Photo 2: https://ibb.co/n5VtRk
Photo 3: https://ibb.co/nRBdsQ

As far as I'm aware she has been breeding regularly and the breeder told me she had been served in May she just forgets the date.

In my pictures, I see a big difference in her teats. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for all your advice.

[harmony]

I wouldn't rule out her being in pig but I wouldn't expect her to farrow next week. If the breeder is certain she was served in May then the latest that puts her is around the 22nd of September so she should change a lot over the next couple of weeks. 


Is she registered and in pig to Old Spot?

[Farmernick]

Fingers crossed then!

Yes she's registered, and the boar was also a GOS.

[harmony]

Hopefully you will get some good enough to register then. Keep us informed!

[Farmernick]

I've taken some photos this morning.

I can see a difference in her rear end, and her teats are hanging lower and are a lot more pink.

Photo 1: https://ibb.co/mjdOWv
Photo 2: https://ibb.co/cVasPF

[harmony]

I still don't think it will this week but fingers crossed she took to a later service date