Sow problem. Long question

dmiller

Member
Lot's of book/college knowledge. low on personal experience.
Had a sow farrow last night. Pushed first one out fine (5 lbs according to the old spring scale I have. Went almost 2 hours with nothing but contractions, reached in and pulled out a 2nd one (6 lbs). Piglets seem just too big to me (AI from show stock I think is the problem) This one was trying to stop breathing, wife got it going and seemed alright. ALmost immediately sow pushed out the afterbirth (only gave 3 last time wanted to give her one more chance, looks like she just isn't very fertile and will go down the road). Watched her for about a half hour, she seemed to relaxe and go to sleep. Went to bed and came out this morning to find one more (stillborn) in the pen. She seemed to still be pushing so I reached in, couldn't find anything. She hardly got up all day, only ate if I laid it near her mouth but wouldn't go to the feeder. Seems to be nursing, but not talking to her piglets. It was about 95 here, I'm hoping she was just exhausted and hot. (on dirt in a shed, can get to a wet spot if she wants to)
Is there a chance there's something else still in there??? Tips or input??? Is a bout of penecillin a good idea??
 
yeah, hot weather and farrowing don't mix well. when a sow started farrowing, i always gave them a shot of something that relaxed them, can't think of the name now. find out and use that next time. how much afterbirth came out? assuming it's all out i would say she is fine. antibiotics probably not a bad idea just because you was all up in her. so many varibles with farrowing it's hard to give advice this way. experience is definitly your friend in farrowing. goodluck
 
Those piglets are a little on the big side. How large are your arms??? I always had trouble getting up far enough to really do a good check. My first wife had much smaller arms and she had much better luck than me. If your wife is willing have her give it a try.

I would try and check to see if she is trying to push a stuck piglet out.

Next time I would not breed to farrow in the heat of the summer. I always bread them to furrow in Mar-Apr and Sept-Oct. You will have far fewer troubles.

Old way to remember sow gestation length.

3 months + 3 weeks + 3 days = 114 days
 
oxytocin was the drug i injected. you might want to explore that option next time. relaxed the proper muscles and helped with the milk i was told.
 
Yes- it is oxytocin- a muscle relaxant- same when given to a dairy cow...called the milk letdown hormone, cuz it relaxes the globules in the udder, releasing the milk. On sows, should not be given at start of labor....wait until one piglet has passed the birth canal. Other issue with sow might be mastitis and fever...could use some penicillin for that. Beer is a good relaxant for unruly (often mastitic) sows. Used to take three bottles out with me....one for the sow, one for me, and the third one for whoever needed it most to relax. Never had one bite through the bottle. Pulled enough piglets too, but really hard having large hands when working with a gilt.
 
Thanks to all for the advice. I should probably have some oxcytocin on hand. I know about it but can only get it through a vet from what I gather. I know a vet would probably get me some, I need to do that for next time.
 

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