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Author Topic: Farrowing  (Read 5313 times)

Draygor

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Soar, Brecon, Powys
Re: Farrowing
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2018, 11:56:50 pm »
Hi all,

Bertha farrowed this afternoon. She had 8 piglets which were all delivered between 4pm and about 5.15 today.

Unfortunately, number 2 to be born was very small in size, and although holding her to the teat repeatedly, she found it very difficult to keep latched on while her brothers and sisters were all moving around. We left her sleeping peacefully, but don't expect her to be alive tomorrow. All other piglets are feeding off Bertha extremely well.

She really is only half the size of the others - quite strange we thought - although I expect those of you with much more experience than us have seen it many times.

We did contemplate hand feeding her, but everything we read and a phone call to a nearby farmer who used to breed pigs said even if you put in a lot of effort to that 1 piglet, it still may perish.

Survival of the fittest springs to mind.

Apart from keeping a regular eye on everything going forward, is there anything else we should be doing?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

harmony

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: Farrowing
« Reply #16 on: January 06, 2018, 08:41:59 am »
 :thumbsup:   A nice size litter for a gilt. You may well find your little one does just fine. They don't take much filling up at this stage.


Mum will need plenty of water. Feed away from bed area and often they get up to eat and will then pee. Keep an eye when she gets up and down - when there is more chance of piglets being stepped on or squished - after a few days they will learn to get out of the way.

Draygor

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Soar, Brecon, Powys
Re: Farrowing
« Reply #17 on: January 07, 2018, 09:58:23 pm »
Unfortunately the little one didn't make it, and in addition we lost 1 more. I think it got squashed under Bertha.

The remaining 6 are all really healthy and very active. Bertha looks like she's being a real good mum, and none the worse for her ordeal.

Thanks for all the advice

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Farrowing
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2018, 10:01:12 am »
I generally feed 1.3 to 1.8kg per sow (depending on condition) plus 500g per piglet at each of two daily feeds.  Farrowing at this time of year is challenging as the sow and piglets need to use calories to keep warm as well as produce milk or grow.  If you can get the piglets through the first 24 hours they're generally fine. 

 

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