Tools to Safely Induce Farrowing in Sows
Life is busy, and I like to be busy.
That urge to always be doing “something” can be a source of pride, but it can be a dangerous characteristic when tending to a farrowing sow.
As a person who loves to be busy, I have a challenged relationship with farrowing.
In the past, I’ve worked in large farrowing operations where it is common for multiple sows to be farrowing at one time.
In this case, a busy person shines — moving around from sow to sow all day long to manage every pig as it is born.
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You need to know the time of birth, get the piglet dry, manage heat, check the sow’s progress, get every pig fed, and prevent injuries from happening. There is something addictive about that busy, productive work.
In smaller operations, the need to be busy is not so much a desire but a necessity. You may be the only person who farrows the sows … and feeds the cattle, fixes dinner, and takes kids to basketball practice.
Yet, there are often pigs that need more than just a quick moment of your time as you pass through to the next sow or task.
While quiet moments in a barn listening to the soft grunts of nursing sows in a room full of pigs can be some of the most enjoyable, when we’re reveling in that moment, the waiting tends to get our daytime brains to start seeking “something” to do.
In small herds with only one person who does all the farrowing work, that “something” is usually extremely important.
Extended moments watching your sows and pigs can save their lives, literally. In the first few hours of farrowing, sows and pigs are at a high risk of injury or death because of the farrowing process.
Attendance to the entire farrowing to assist the sow with the birth of every pig ensures that the entire litter makes it through the birth canal in good shape.
Even if you don’t need to help the sow deliver a single pig, many pigs accidentally get stuck under the sow when trying to find food and heat. The faster we can help them warm up and safely get full bellies, the better it is for our pigs.
The good news is, there are tools to help you attend the birth of more pigs.
Experienced pig producers are familiar with induction protocols to manage when sows start farrowing.
These protocols are hinged on a proper combination of hormones to prepare the sow for birthing.
Prostaglandin is used to bring the pregnancy to end, while oxytocin starts the contractions and pushing process. The sow will produce these hormones on her own; however, utilizing synthetic hormones allows you to influence when farrowing begins.
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It is vitally important to remember that if these tools are used incorrectly, sows might not be far enough along to start farrowing and might not be ready to hormonally cooperate with the boost in prostaglandin.
Further, using oxytocin alone too frequently or in the wrong doses can lead to injury of both the sow and pig.
Combination, timing and dosage are critical when using these tools to manage farrowing and requires your attendance for each birth. Depending on history or genetics of your herd, that timing might vary.
Dr. Elizabeth Hines
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