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Typical Danish Farrowing penChapter nr 7

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What to do the days before farrowing? Remember vaccination against Clostridium and Rose rash. Clean and disinfect the farrowing pen (dry for at least 48 hours

before moving the sow to the farrowing pen). Transfer the sow to the farrowing pen at least 1 week before

expected farrowing. Reduce feed rate to about 2 FEsv/day (feed units). Daily control of udder for mastitis. Daily control for stomach problems (eventually ½ liter rape oil

can help.

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The normal farrowing (page 92 )

Lenght of uterus horns are about 1½ - 2½ meter. The umbilical cord is up to 80 centimeter in length. The optimal duration time for farrowing is 2½ - 3 hours, but can

vithout problems go up to 5 hours. Often problems if duration time for farrowing is longer than 8

hours The last placenta are expelled not later than 1 hour after birth of

the last piglet.

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Inspection with farrowing

About 70% of all farrowings happens betwen 11 pm

and 7 am - therefore

- Most farrowings are taking place without inspection from people.

- Problems often observed to late. - If you are expecting problems with a farrowing there should be inspection even that nigthtime.

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Risk of Farrowing difficulties (page 93)

Farrowing take more than 5 hours Oxytocin production decrease. The sow is stressed. The sow’s energi reserves are used. Too much disturbances around the sow. Bends in the uterus The last borned pig is dry (more than 1 hour after birth)

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How can you prevent farrowing difficulties?(practical experiences)

Reduce feeding rate 1-2 days before expected farrowing to empty the stomach and the intestine channel as much as possible.

Extra supply with energi (glucose) just before expected farrowing.

Extra supply with oil (rapeoil or soyaoil). Extra supply with rooting material (straw). Motion to the sow (if possible). Eventually laxative (for expelling of faeces).

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Obstetric assistance – only if neccesary(page 94) First let the sow take a walk around in the farrowing unit.

In case this does not help Wash your hands, arms than necesary tools. Use long gloves lubricated with uterus mucus. Wash carefully the genital opening on the sow. Put your arm into the genital opening without using power. Grasp head or backend of piglet and carefully pull it out. If neccesary – use a birth sling. Only people with small hands make obstetric assistance. Remember oxytocin is not alloved as ’farrowing aid’.

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Caesarean operation (page 94)

You can call ’the vet’ and let she/he do it (costly)

or

You can do it yourself by

killing the sow with your captive bolt pistol and neckcutting. Cut the sow and take out the piglets not later than 1½ - 2 minutes after

shooting.

afterwards The piglets to be placed together with a colostrum producing mothersow.

You can ’be lucky’ and save some of the piglets

But caesarean is normally done to late

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MMA – the most common diseases after farrowing (page 95)

MastitisMetritisAgalactia

Mastitis : infection in the udder Metritis : Infection in the

intestinal channel - Agalactia : Milkproduction to

small or stopped

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How can you reduce the risk for MMA?(page 95) Reduce feed rate 1-2 days before expected farrowing. Excercise the sow before farrowing (if possible). Mov the sow from gestation unit to farrowing unit not later than

one week before expected farrowing. Check the sow’s temperature after farrowing every 12 hours. If

temperature is higher than 39,5 use antibiotics. Provide straw to the sow (for eating). If constipation use sodium sulphate and linseed daily. Clean trough 20 minutes after feeding. After farrowing increase feed rate with ¼ - ½ FEsv daily – but

still clean trough 20 minutes after feeding. Extra water supply in trough together with dry feeding.

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Observations in connection with farrowing – summary (page 96)Before Farrowing

Are the teats taut (starting 12-24 hours before farrowing)?

Does the birth channel start to open it starting 2-4 days before farrowing? Does the sow loose appetite (MMA??)

Does it drip from the vaginalopening (could be due to infections or dead piglets)? Don’t press milk of the teats before farrowing.

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Observations in connection with farrowing – summary (page 96) During farowing

Note the time of the arrival of the first piglet.- Do the piglets arrive at regular intervals.

Observe if the farrowing stops - Observe eventually the sow’s for fever. Remember

normal temperature when farrowing is about 39,8 degree C.

Give the sow as much peace and quite when farrowing.

Control that all piglets obtain colostrum. If necessary, place newborn piglets in the creep area to be

warmed up.

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Observations in connection with farrowing – summary (page 96)

After farrowing

Get the sow up to drink after farrowing. - If neceessary, supply with oxytocin to promote for laying down milk.

- Remove the placenta when farrowing is finished.- Observe the sow for MMA

- Control all piglets for congenital sufferings.

- Umbilical cord to be cut down to 3-5 centimeter.- Control all piglets can find the heating lamp.

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After farrowing

What should be registrated after farrowing

Number of life-born pigles. Number of weak/small-born piglets.

Number of still-born piglets. Quality of farrowing.

Treatments in connection with farrowing.

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Nursing period (page 96 - 99) Day one

- Make sure all piglets get colostrum and help weak piglets to suckle.

- Cut down umbicial cord to 3-5 centimeter. - Control piglets can find the heating lamp. - Treatments of weak-born piglets (piglets below 800 gram to be killed).

- Necessary help to weak-born piglets. - Eventually serum against Clostridium (if not vaccinated).

- Eventually glucose injection to weak-born piglets (5-10 milliteter / 20% solution)- Spraylegs can be treated with insulating tape

round hind legs. Remove after 2-3 days.

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Nursing period (page 96 - 104) Day two – five

- Continue routines from day one.- Litter ajustment when piglets has go colostrum

and preferable before the age of 48 hours.

- Supply with 200 milligram of Iron to prevent against anaemia (only small amount of iron in

sowmilk). - Tooth polishing to prevent damage on sow’s udder. - Eventually tail docking to prevent tale biting. - Castration of mail pigs to prevent against boar taint. - Eventually ear marking of gilts with the sows number - Adjust feet rate to the sow (2 ≈ 6

FEsv)

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Feeding the sows in the Farrowing Unit(summary on FEsv)

7.2. day before farowing : = 4 FEsv/day 2.1. day before farrowing : = 2 FEsv/day Day of Farrowing : = 1-3 FEsv 2.7. day after farrowing : 3 6 FEsv/day 8.35. day after farrowing : 7 – 10 FEsv/day

ad libitum feeding = as much as they like

Lactating sows to be feeded at least 3 times/day

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Weaning (page 107 -108)

It is not alloved to wean piglets before 21 days (in some cases not before 28 days)

Piglets below 6 kg should not be weaned but placed together with a fostersow )

Don’t remove more than 2-4 of the biggest piglets if you are using ’flextime weaning’ to avoid early oestrus.

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Homework

Assignment for next pig production lesson