Farrowing and Lactation Flashcards
1
Q
5 Mistakes made during breeding
A
- Moving females at wrong time
- Move sows at breeding
- OR wait 21-28 days after breeding to move
- Inadequate daily boar stimulation
- Inadequate nutrition
- Rough handling of boars and sows
- Poor timing of breeding
2
Q
Only _____ of ova released result in live pigs.
A
50%
3
Q
Of the losses, what % fail to be fertilized?
A
10%
4
Q
Of the losses, what % fail to implant?
A
45%
5
Q
Of the losses, what % fail to reach term?
A
30%
6
Q
Of the losses, what % are born dead (die in process of labor)?
A
15%
7
Q
Of the losses, what % die between birth and weaning?
A
10%
8
Q
Preparing for farrowing (3)
A
- Temperature control
- 65-75º F
- Space heaters, snout cooling
- Supplemental heat for piglets
- Clean
- Organic material moved
- Disinfected
- Unused for 5-7 days
9
Q
Farrowing signs: 24-48 hours prior
A
Enlarged vulva, clear mucus discharge, enlarged utters
10
Q
Farrowing signs: Few hours prior
A
Nest building
- Pasture
- Gather sticks, straw, cornstalks and arrange a nest in an isolated area
- Confinement
- Scraping and pawing at the floor
11
Q
Farrowing signs: 3-4 hours prior
A
- Lying down most of the time
- Increased respiration rate
- Chewing on equipment
12
Q
Farrowing Facts
A
- Most sows and gilts have no problem farrowing and require little to no assistance
- After hard labor begins, pigs should arrive within 1 hour
- Born head first or rear legs first
- Birth interval is 15-20 min
- Umbilical chord is still attached to placenta
- Newborn pigs need colostrum within first 36 hours
13
Q
Oxytocin
A
- Aids in uterine contractions
- Milk ejection
- Administration of OT during farrowing
14
Q
What does OT do?
A
- Speeds up farrowing process
- Restarts contractions
- Produces harder contractions
- Injected into the vulva
15
Q
Vicious sows…
A
- Some become hysterical at farrowing
- Trample, lie or kill newborn pigs with mouth
- Remove pigs and place in a warm environment until farrowing is complete
- Return using a test pig
