Pregnancy lasts for 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days.
A well fed sow will produce at least 10 piglets (litter) from each pregnancy and may have 2 litters each year.
6. Care of the pregnant sow:
If the sow shows no sign of being in heat 3 weeks after mating she is pregnant. The pregnancy will last about 3 months 3 weeks and 3 days. During the pregnancy the sow will need plenty of feed high in nutrients and will especially need more feed towards the end of the pregnancy. She should be given some feed high in nutrients e.g. grain and greenstuffs every day. Giving the sow access to clean soil or grass with roots from land where no pigs have been kept will allow her to get the minerals she needs.
6.1Signs that the pig is ready to farrow:
The sow becomes restless and starts to make a nest within 24 hours of giving birth. The teat will produce milk when gently squeezed.
Blood stained fluid may be passed from the vagina 1 to 2 hours before birth begins and if small greenish pellets appear the first piglet will appear within an hour.
Gently rubbing the udder will make the sow relax and lie on her side in the position to give birth.
6.2 Normal farrowing:
Farrowing is a natural process and the sow will usually need no help. Once the first piglet is born the others, and the afterbirth, will quickly follow. Farrowing should be completed within 2 to 3 hours. The navel cord will break (you do not need to cut it) and the piglet will immediately search for a teat and milk. If the navel bleeds,it should be tied it tightly with a clean string or cord.
7. Care of the sow and piglet:
A healthy well-fed sow will be able to rear at least 20 piglets each year. If the sow has too many piglets to feed, or if a sow dies, the young can be fostered or hand reared.
7.1 Fostering piglets:
It is essential for all piglets to take colostrums from the mother. They will take the first feed within 1 hour of being born.
If a sow dies during farrowing her lifter can be fostered to another. The orphans should be mixed in with the sow's own litter so that she will accept them. However the foster mother will not be able to feed both lifters at the same time and it will be necessary to use several foster mothers to feed the orphans.
7.12 Care of Piglets:
The following measures of care may be observed strictly :
01. Take care of new born piglets by providing guard rails.
02.Treat / disinfect the navel cord with tincture of iodine as soon as it is cut with a sharp knife.
03.Feed on mothers’ milk for first 6-8 weeks along with creep feed.
04.Protect the piglets against extreme weather conditions, particularly during the first two months.
05.Needle teeth should be clipped shortly after birth.
06.Vaccinate the piglets as per recommended vaccination schedule.
07.Supplementation of Iron to prevent piglet anemia is necessary.
08.The piglets meant for sale as breeder stock must be reared properly.
09.Male piglets not selected for breeding should be castrated preferably at the age of 3-4 weeks which will prevent the boar odour in the cooked meat thus it enables production of quality meat.
10.Additional feed requirements of lactating sow must be ensured for proper nursing of all the piglets born.
11.Hand rearing piglets
(i) A sow may die and there is no foster mother available. The litter can be reared by hand feeding. To hand rear a litter the following will be needed:
(ii) Feeding bottles and teats (nipples) which are thoroughly cleaned between each feeding.
(iii) A clean dry box containing clean bedding for the newborn piglets which can be kept in a warm place.
(iv) Regular feeds must be given at intervals of 1 to 2 hours.
(v) Cow's colostrum is the best substitute for the sow's colostrum and after 3 to 4 days the piglets can be given milk.
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