The Rural Voice, 1980-10, Page 20"PIG TALES"
Vie Check history at farrowing time
BY CHUCK ROBBINS, D.V.M.
In an earlier article we discussed care and management of the
pregnant sow. This article is primarily concerned with the
farrowing process itself, and problems that may be encountered
at this time. This is a very crucial period in any swine operation,
and there are several things that can be done to reduce losses.
Death losses can be as high as 20 percent from birth to weaning,
with the majority of these occurring in the first few days of life.
To help control and reduce problems, you should be well
prepared in advance of the farrowing day.
The farrowing area itself should be clean, dry and free of
draughts. It should be emphasized that the piglet at birth
experiences a sudden and often severe shock. While developing
in the uterus of the sow, the piglet is protected from the
extremes of its surroundings. However, at birth the piglet
undergoes a change where it must be able to survive marked
differences in its environment. You must take steps to reduce the
severity of these differences. Another important factor is
keeping the farrowing area quiet. Noises distract and upset the
sow, and can delay an otherwise normal farrowing.
I feel that it is important that you be present at farrowing time.
Statistics indicate that you will save one pig per litter on the
average, by being in attendance at farrowing time. However, I
realize that it is not always possible to be there. There is a drug
available that gives you some control over the time of farrowing.
This drug, prostaglandin, when given three days before the
projected farrowing date, will induce a normal farrowing
approximately 30 hours later. In the future, 1 feel that this sort of
management tool will become very popular.
You must be prepared to manually assist a sow if required.
Therefore, you should have plastic shoulder -length gloves, a
lubricant, and oxytocin on hand. As to when a sow requires
assistance, there are many different opinions. Generally
speaking, you will be able to tell quite easily if a sow is in need of
help. If a sow has been pressing for more than two hours without
results, she should be examined to determine if there is a
problem.
It is very important that a sow be examined internally before
you administer oxytocin.If there is a piglet blocking the birth
canal and you give oxytocin, you can do more harm than good.
Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, and if there is a
blockage you may cause a rupture of the uterus. To examine a
sow internally, you should always wear a glove to protect both
yourself and the sow. Throughly clean off the vulva of the sow
and use a lubricating disinfectant on the glove. Gently work your
arm into the sow. Remove any piglets that are obstructing the
birth canal. If there are no obstructions you should be able to
safely administer oxytocin. The dosage for oxytocin that I
recommend is 2 c.c. every hour for 3 treatments. The most
convenient site for injection of oxytocin is under the skin just
above the udder line.
You should also be prepared to assist the newborn piglets if
required. Quite often you will see newborn piglets that are
having trouble breathing. There are several ways of trying to
stimulate the breathing reflex in these piglets. They include
sudden changes in temperature, vigorous rubbing of the skin,
gentle thoracic massage, and mouth to mouth resuscitation. In
many cases very little effort on your part will produce very
dramatic and rewarding results.
While not all that common, the cannibalistic sow is something
you should be prepared to handle. Such a sow can be quite
vicious and next to impossible to control. In some cases these
sows will devour their piglets one by one as they are born. To
treat such cases you should have a tranquilizing agent on hand.
Your veterinarian can best advise you as to which drug you
should have available. Another name for this condition is sow
hysteria.
It should be pointed out that the vast majority of sows farrow
and deliver their piglets without assistance. However, you can do
a great deal to prevent problems by being aware of, and
prepared for, complications before they occur.
4
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Back FM 10.5 m.m. 161 Days 136 Index
•
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For further information contact:
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R.R.6, Woodstock, Ontario N48 7W1
619-655-2942 or 482-2704
RICHARD AND WARREN STEIN
PG. 18 THE RURAL VOICE/OCTOBER 1980