A Vietnamese pot-bellied pig farrowed. Farrowing a Vietnamese pig: we consider all the subtleties of the process

In order not to be mistaken in this matter, I advise you to keep a farrowing calendar for the sow, and preferably for each one separately. Systematization of such information is the key to successful agricultural activities. The duration of gestation itself for different breeds, as a rule, is almost the same in its time frame.

The most common “formula”: pig pregnancy lasts for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. If we translate into days, it turns out to be 114 days. This period is considered the average duration of pregnancy for all sows. But in practice, pregnancy lasts in these animals from 101 to 126 days.

If we analyze statistical data based on information received from specialists, it turns out that only 25% of pregnant mothers give birth on the 114th day, in 30% this generally occurs earlier than the specified period, and the remaining 45% of pigs give birth later. So, the time of birth in pigs can be predicted based on this indicator of gestational age, but this is not an entirely correct decision. The compiled table of this indicator will help you prepare for the birth of babies.

Statistics show that approximately 95.2% of all pigs bring their offspring into the world from 110 to 118 days. That is, it happens on one of these 9 days. From this it follows that in the pregnancy calendar it is worth indicating exactly the number that coincides with the 110th day of pregnancy. This is logical, since the majority of sows will give birth within the next 9 days.

If the animals are organized in the form of group housing, I strongly advise that the sow be transferred to a separate pen a few days before the originally calculated due date. It is determined according to the pregnancy calendar. There are special standard tables. In the place where the line of the date of insemination and the month of insemination intersect, the date is placed when it is worth transferring the pig’s uterus to a separate pen.

Let's say insemination occurred on March 7, then we find this number in the table, look for 03 at the month mark, look for their intersections and see the date - 06/25. Then you need to transfer the sow to a special pen. Remember that farrowing earlier than the calendar date occurs only in one in a hundred cases.

Calendar for determining the farrowing date of a sow

Farrow date calculator

Signs of farrowing

The approach of farrowing in sows can be recognized by several signs. One of them is an increase in the overall size of the external part of the genital organs, as well as the mammary glands. The second sign may be swelling of the abdomen or sagging of the lower back. These two signs appear approximately 2-3 days before farrowing begins. On the psychological side, the animal begins to behave more cautiously. About a day before farrowing, the sow's teats fill with milk.

The pig farmer needs to prepare very carefully for farrowing. First of all, you need a set of towels, threads, an alcohol solution of iodine (5%), scissors, and a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Instead of a towel, clean burlap will do. Indoor litter must be dry. In the part that is intended only for the offspring, you need to place one ultraviolet or several simple incandescent lamps.

For the first time, piglets should be kept in a box or small basket. Before farrowing, the sow does not need to be fed, nor should she be allowed to go for a walk. At the same time, constant access to clean water is extremely important.

An important sign that farrowing is approaching can be a change in the behavior of the sow. She will begin to carry and then put the bedding in a dark corner of her pen, as if trying to build a nest. Animals often begin to behave somewhat restlessly, often lying down and getting up.

Farrowing is a phenomenon independent of the time of day, but quite often it occurs at night. There is a high probability that this will happen at night if the sow begins to show pre-partum activity in the evening.

How long will farrowing take? If the attempts are normal, everything will last 2-4 hours, and if they are weak, it will take a lot of time. Usually around 10 o'clock. But a lot depends on the physical form of your animal. It is important to remember, no matter how long farrowing lasts, newborns should receive colostrum no later than 30-60 minutes from the moment of birth. Before feeding, you need to express a few drops of milk from the nipples, then wipe with a clean, damp cloth. Little piglets don't know their way around the world, so they need help finding their nipple.

In the process of feeding newborns, there is one nuance - the weakest piglets should be placed on the front nipples, since they are milkier. The pig farmer also needs to remember that during the first few feedings, weak piglets at the teat must be supported with their own hands, otherwise they may not receive enough milk. Newborns need to be carefully looked after, then the offspring will be healthy.

Video “Farrowing a Vietnamese pig”

In this video you can watch a Vietnamese pig just before farrowing at home, as well as a newborn litter.

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If during pregnancy the sow was properly cared for and fed a balanced diet, farrowing will last no more than two hours. Only in some cases does it last about six hours. If a person to whom the female is accustomed is present, the process will be much easier and faster.

This article will help you master the necessary skills and learn useful information about pregnancy and childbirth in pigs. It contains photos and videos of farrowing, and also describes the main features of pregnancy and caring for newborn young.

Pig farrowing - video

A container with clean drinking water must be placed near the uterus, since during childbirth she experiences extreme thirst, and if there is no water, the born young may be eaten.

Farrowing of pigs at home is carried out as follows:(picture 1):

Newborn piglets are covered with mucus, but sometimes they can also be found in the birth sac. It must be quickly torn apart and the mucus removed from the animals' noses and mouths so that they do not suffocate.
The young animals are thoroughly wiped dry with clean burlap.
Next you need to tear off or cut the umbilical cord. To do this, the umbilical cord is taken with one hand about five centimeters from the abdomen, and the remaining part is pulled tightly and torn off. When a rupture occurs, the vessels will stretch, which helps stop the bleeding, but the rupture site must be treated with iodine solution.
If the umbilical cord is cut with scissors, to stop the bleeding, its edge must be squeezed with your fingers or tied with thread, and the cut is also treated with an iodine solution.
After this, the piglets are placed near the mother's udder. It must be dry and clean. If the udder is covered with wounds or scratches, it must first be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Figure 1. Farrowing a sow at home

When a piglet suckles, it dries out and warms up faster, and the sow herself behaves calmer, which increases the birth rate of other animals. The procedure for applying newborns to the nipples is shown in Figure 2. But sometimes the uterus gets worried. In this case, the young animals are placed in a separate box, but they must be applied to the udder of the uterus no later than three hours after farrowing. You will learn how this process goes in the video.

How does a pig behave before farrowing?

A pig farrowing chart will help you find out when your pig will go into labor. With her you need to find the date of mating and the expected day of birth. But there are other ways to determine the time of approaching farrowing.

You can find out when farrowing begins by the behavior of the female herself.:

She becomes nervous and may even show aggression;
The nipples become enlarged and the external genitalia become swollen and enlarged;
On the day of farrowing, the female’s belly drops significantly and her spine bends;
Immediately before childbirth, characteristic mucus begins to be released from the genitals, and colostrum begins to be released from the nipples.

Figure 2: Applying nipples to newborn animals

If there are only a few hours left before giving birth, the pig begins to look for a dark, quiet corner. As a rule, pigs do not behave this way, so it is not difficult to determine the onset of this process.

Pig pregnancy

Females can be born as early as 5-6 months, since at this age they begin puberty. But insemination is recommended to be carried out later, when the animal’s weight reaches at least 100 kg. Only in this case can you get healthy and viable offspring.

The easiest way to determine if a pig is pregnant is by the absence of signs of heat after mating. But there are other signs that indicate that fertilization was successful.

What are the signs of pregnancy?

As mentioned above, the main sign of pregnancy is the absence of sexual heat. After the last mating, you need to wait two weeks, and if the pig does not come into heat again, it means that she is really pregnant.

In the second half of pregnancy, it is easier to determine whether a sow is pregnant by an increase in appetite and rapid weight gain. In addition, the female spends more time indoors, rarely walks and mostly lies down.

Figure 3 shows a pig pregnancy table that will help determine the farrowing date.

How long does pregnancy and farrowing last?

On average, a pig's pregnancy lasts 114 days (approximately 4 months). But it is possible to determine how long a pig’s pregnancy lasts only by the individual characteristics of the animal. For example, young females who bear offspring for the first or second time may produce offspring a week later.

Note: Adults that have already given birth often do not carry the young to term.

The birth of piglets earlier or later than the due date is considered normal if this period does not exceed 7-10 days. In a healthy uterus, farrowing lasts 3-4 hours, but if the animal is weak, labor can last up to 10 hours. It is for this reason that it is better for a person to be present during this process in order to provide assistance to the animal if necessary.

How many piglets can a pig give birth to?

Pigs always produce more than two pigs per farrowing, but the number of offspring may vary depending on the age of the uterus, her breed and general health.

Figure 3. Pig farrowing calendar table

When a pig first gives birth, the number of piglets averages 6-8, but subsequently up to 12 piglets can be produced at a time, although some particularly productive piglets can produce up to 16 piglets at a time.

To raise healthy and productive young animals, you need to properly maintain newborn animals. The basic rule of keeping is a clean room and a balanced diet.

Immediately after birth, they should drink colostrum, but there are times when the uterus does not allow the babies to come to her or she simply does not have milk.

In this case, they are simply placed with another lactating sow or hand-fed from the nipple using cow's milk or its substitutes.

Caring for newborn piglets

If farrowing is difficult, you should definitely call a veterinarian. Immediately after this, you need to collect the umbilical cords, placenta and dirty litter, and bury or burn them.

Note: It is forbidden for a pig to eat the umbilical cord or afterbirth, since in the future it may eat its own piglets.

Immediately after birth, the piglets are not very mobile, so you need to make sure that the queen does not crush them when she lies down in the den. It is better to make low barriers around the den, behind which the newborn individuals will be located. When the animals grow up, they will independently run away from the lying down sow, and the barriers can be removed. Examples of equipment for a stall or pen for keeping a sow with newborn piglets are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Stalls and pens for keeping young animals with a queen

It is necessary to ensure that the piglets suck on all teats. If there are fewer of them than nipples, some may suck on two nipples at once. After birth, the animals' teeth should be checked and sharp fangs removed.

Caring for Vietnamese piglets after birth

Despite the fact that Vietnamese piglets differ from the breeds we are used to in size and appearance, they must be kept in exactly the same way.

Figure 5. Caring for Vietnamese pigs of different ages

Caring for young animals of this breed necessarily includes adequate nutrition for the animals. First of all, you need to ensure that all animals receive a sufficient amount of mother's milk (Figure 5).

The main feature of keeping the Vietnamese breed is that at an early age the animals need to receive injections of iron supplements. They do not receive it in the required quantity from mother's milk, so iron is introduced artificially.

Experienced pig farmers know everything there is to know about farrowing. If a person has recently started pig farming, then the issue of breeding pigs must be approached responsibly and accurately understand how piglets are born and what complications may arise during or after farrowing. In addition, it is important to calculate the date of birth of the offspring as accurately as possible in order to prepare everything you need in a timely manner and plan your affairs.

Farrowing pigs at home goes well in most cases, but the process still needs to be monitored. Breeders are interested in how many piglets a pig can give birth to, since material benefits directly depend on their number. Depending on the breed, age and which births take place, a sow can have from 6 to 16 piglets. When pigs farrow for the first time, the number of offspring is minimal.

A pregnant sow carries piglets for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, i.e. piglets are born on the 114th day after successful mating has taken place. However, pregnancy continues for the prescribed period in only 25% of sows, 45% of females give birth a day or 2 later, and 30% piglets a day or three earlier. The norm is considered to be farrowing between 110 and 120 days.

If the female is very large and massive, it will be normal for her to give birth to piglets earlier and a whole week.

Pregnancy in pigs lasts from 110 to 120 days

The sow's farrowing calendar is of great help in determining the approximate date of birth. Each individual is individual, it is influenced by stress, weather fluctuations and age, which is why even a very experienced veterinarian will not be able to say with precision down to the day how long a pig walks while pregnant.

Preparing for the survey

In order to get high-quality offspring, you need to properly care for the female and properly prepare everything for farrowing.

Feeding

Feeding the sow should be of the highest quality and balanced. She needs to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals. It is especially important to monitor the level of chlorine, sodium, phosphorus and calcium in the animal’s diet, as they are vital for developing piglets. If feeding is not done correctly, it is impossible to get high-quality piglets, and often they are born and not viable at all. Wet food must be lightly salted, since a pregnant sow needs more salt.

Treatment for worms must be carried out twice: before the pigs are mated and 3 weeks before the expected birth. You can consult a veterinarian about which product is best to use, who will select the best option taking into account the animal’s condition.

A pregnant sow should walk daily, as moderate physical activity has a positive effect on the animal’s physical condition and greatly facilitates the process of giving birth to piglets.

Pregnant sows should take daily walks

A couple of days before the expected date of birth, the animal’s diet is halved in order to reduce the fullness of the intestines and its pressure on the uterus. This will have a positive effect on the condition of the female at the time of farrowing and will help to avoid complications. Also at this time, you need to start giving the animal laxative foods, such as bran. They give them by preparing mash. If a pregnant pig moves very little, then for improved intestinal cleansing, beets should be added to her menu. Roughage is significantly reduced or even completely eliminated.

Preparing the birth pen

The room in which the pig will give birth must be dry, without drafts, with good lighting and certainly warm. It should be put in order by removing all unnecessary items, treating everything with an antiseptic composition and whitewashing the walls and ceiling with lime. It is also necessary to ventilate the barn well and lay a thick bedding of high-quality fresh straw. Since farrowing of the sow must be carried out under the supervision of the breeder, it is best to equip a comfortable sitting place near the pen. If everything goes well, then human help will not be required, and after the birth of the last cub, the pig and piglets are left alone.

In preparation for the survey, it is necessary to lay a thick bedding of high-quality fresh straw

The temperature in the birthing barn should be comfortable for the animal and maintained between +18 and +25 degrees. Taking this into account, heaters should be used for the pigsty in winter.

Piglets require high temperatures: from +27 to +30 degrees, and therefore they should be provided with additional heating using an infrared lamp.

Required accessories

If something goes wrong while farrowing pigs, the owner should have the following on hand:

Clean cotton cloth;
Sharp scissors;
Medical latex gloves;
Disinfected durable threads;
Iodine 5%.

A solution of manganese may also be required, but since it cannot be stored, the drug is prepared immediately before farrowing, when the pig is already giving birth.

Signs of farrowing

The pig's behavior changes before the interview, and an experienced pig breeder will always be able to understand what is happening. The pregnant sow begins to move very carefully and slowly. Even a day before giving birth, the pig prepares a place for itself by raking bedding into the corner of the farrowing pen. A few hours before giving birth, the female begins to lie down for a short time, then gets up, walks a little and lies down again.

External signs of farrowing appear shortly before birth. The following external manifestations allow you to understand that the female may farrow in the coming hours:

Lowering of the belly, which is especially clearly visible from the position of the lower back, which begins to sag;
An increase in the size of the nipples and their looseness;
Discharge of colostrum from the nipples when pressing on them;
Swelling of the external genitalia;
Rapid breathing;
Discharge of mucus from the genital slit (this is the release of a liquefied plug that closed the entrance to the uterus).

You can expect a pig to farrow at any time of the day, but most often this happens at night, and therefore the sow should be monitored around the clock.

Farrow

It takes a long time for a pig to piglet, depending on its condition and the number of offspring, from 2 to 10 hours. Piglets are born first from one horn of the uterus and then from the other. The interval between the birth of the first two piglets is minimal. With subsequent ones it increases and can be up to 45 minutes.

You may need help with the survey
in cleansing a newborn from mucus and cutting the umbilical cord

At the birth of piglets, assistance may be required from the owner, which consists of timely cleansing the newborn of mucus and cutting the umbilical cord if it has come off at a considerable distance from the piglet’s belly. As soon as the baby appears, the owner should wipe it with a cloth. If the umbilical cord comes off more than 6 cm from the piglet’s belly, then it must be cut off. To do this, just below the cutting site, it is tied with a thread and cut off above it. In order to prevent infection, the cut site is treated with iodine. Normally, the sow does not require assistance to farrow.

Complications

When a pig piglets, complications may arise, and then necessary measures must be taken to preserve the offspring and the animal. It happens that the female cannot give birth to a cub. This happens due to its death or too large size. Complications can also appear when the animal’s pelvis is excessively narrow.

In such a situation, the already born piglets are removed from the sow so that she does not choke them, and, having disinfected their hands and also lubricated them with Vaseline, they probe the birth canal. When pushing into the vagina, it is most often possible to find the piglet’s legs, by which they pull it out. If this cannot be done, immediate assistance from a veterinarian is needed.

If a live piglet is not removed in a timely manner, it will die from asphyxia. The sow herself will also die if she is not given the necessary help.

Possible postpartum complications: bleeding, retained placenta and inflammatory processes. In this case, urgent seeking veterinary help is required. The fact that animals have inflammation is primarily evidenced by elevated temperatures in pigs.

Also, after the female has farrowed, she may refuse to eat. In this case, the animal should be monitored throughout the day. If the next day it does not eat anything, you need to contact your veterinarian.

A sow may not let her piglets in because her nipples are sensitive.

If a pig does not allow piglets to approach, then most likely this is due to the strong sensitivity of her nipples. In such a situation, they try to force the offspring into the pig, but if this does not produce results, the suckling piglets are taken for artificial feeding.

Care

Caring for piglets and sows is not difficult. It is important to ensure that the pigsty is always warm and dry. As soon as the pig gives birth to the afterbirth, it is washed with warm water from behind and wiped dry. The bedding, stained with blood and mucus, is changed. Since piglets are not very mobile in the first 24 hours, care must be taken to ensure that the mother does not run over them. Usually such a danger exists with firstborns. Provide constant access to water.

Video: Farrowing of a Vietnamese breed sow

Knowing how a pig gives birth, and what needs to be done before and after, even a novice pig breeder will be able to get quality piglets.

Much has been written about how beneficial it is to keep pot-bellied piglets: simple living conditions, the cleanliness of these animals, the docile nature of the piglets, the relatively low cost of feeding them, the excellent taste of meat and lard - the list goes on. Vietnamese pigs also farrow without any problems. Therefore, it is no wonder that pot-bellied pigs are becoming increasingly popular among livestock breeders, and their breeding is becoming an extremely profitable activity.

There is an opinion among experienced farmers: the closer an animal is to wild species in appearance and body structure, the easier it is to give birth, often without requiring the participation and help of the owner, and Vietnamese pigs are typical representatives of this category of domestic animals. But not a single zealous owner at this crucial moment will abandon his pet to the mercy of fate, especially if this farrow is the first for the sow.

The nuances of this process are discussed in our article.

Ready to Mate

The ability to reproduce in females arises quite early: the “flip-flop” is capable of mating already at the age of three months - almost six months earlier than her fellow breeds. At the same time, experts agree that the older the sow is, the healthier the born piglets will be. In any case, left in the pen alone for a couple of days with the boar, the female is safely covered. A pig bears its babies for about four months.

Main signs of pregnancy

You can judge a sow's pregnancy by her habits. Firstly, after covering, the female becomes calmer and stops actively searching for a “husband”. The next sign is that she begins to quickly gain weight, standing out among her friends in the pigsty.

Further...unlike more familiar breeds, the belly of “flip-flops” increases, clearly visible, in the last weeks before giving birth - the pig becomes like an elongated balloon. It's the same with nipple swelling - this also happens in the last trimesters. At the same time, the potbelly becomes inactive and sluggish; on the other hand, it begins to vigilantly monitor the safety of its personal space. Signs of caution, even timidity, also appear in her behavior, and when a few days remain before giving birth, the pig begins to arrange the nest and crushes the bedding. Some individuals begin to refuse food and even drink.

Nutrition for a pregnant Vietnamese woman

Proper and balanced feeding is of great importance: the fact is that after the pig is relieved of the burden, it also sharply begins to lose weight, and it will really need the supply of accumulated nutrients in the future, therefore, in addition to regular food (grass, hay, vegetables), it is necessary to increase the content in the diet of combined feeds. Another subtlety: 10-15 days before farrowing and another week after it, it is necessary to reduce the amount of concentrates by thirty percent, and completely eliminate the consumption of succulent feed!

Preparing for farrowing

As soon as you notice the appearance of colostrum from the sow’s nipples, expect replenishment within a day! It is necessary to put the finishing touches - tidy up the pen, take out everything unnecessary except hay and a bowl of clean water, create comfort for the mother and piglets. Take care of additional insulation of the pigsty, especially in the cold season. In the corner for newborn snouts, it is necessary to ensure a temperature of 30 degrees. To do this, for example, you can additionally install a red lamp, and also lay down several layers of straw.

In addition, prepare a first aid kit in advance with disinfected instruments, brilliant green, iodine, bandages - in a word, with the entire set of antiseptics. They may not be needed, but it is necessary to prepare for any surprises, especially during the first farrowing of Vietnamese pigs.

Another important point: experience shows that pot-bellied animals give birth, as a rule, in the dark and in the winter season. There are exceptions, but they are rare. The owners of the “mother in labor” need to be patient and wait.

Read also: How long can pigs of different breeds live and in different conditions?

Actually farrowing...

At the first farrowing, "Vietnamese" produces 5-7 piglets, at subsequent farrows - from 10 to 12. The birth of a Vietnamese pig takes place without any special incidents, but during the first farrowing you need to be especially careful.

The beginning of farrowing is marked by small contractions at ten-minute intervals, which later turn into pushing. After the release of amniotic fluid, the piglets begin to be born and immediately attach themselves to the mother's nipples. In any case, it is necessary to control the situation - if the piglet does not receive a nipple in the first half hour of life, it may not survive.

After the end of labor, which lasts from 3 to 5 hours, you need to do the following:

remove the afterbirth immediately so that the mother does not inadvertently eat it;
free the piglet from mucus and film, thoroughly cleaning its face;
use a thread to tighten the baby's umbilical cord and treat the wound with iodine solution;
weigh the newborn;
bring him closer to his mother's nipples.

Possible complications

In some cases, the piglet cannot gnaw through the film on its own and must be helped to get out, otherwise the baby will suffocate. If you notice that the newborn is not breathing, it is necessary to perform a heart massage, and, if necessary, artificial respiration.

Delaying the birth process for more than 6 hours means that it is necessary to help the sow with a stimulating injection of oxytocin, but this should be done only after at least one calf has already been born. True, if the problem is compression of the birth canal, one injection will not do - you need to immediately invite a veterinarian, and there may even be a need for surgical intervention. Experienced pig farmers often do not wait for a specialist to arrive and act independently. In this case, the birth canals are treated with soap - this will help with sliding. Wearing sterile gloves, after antiseptic treatment, the owner needs to check the canal and find out what caused the delay. If the birth canal is open, you need to carefully pull the piglet out. If they are tight, it is necessary to achieve relaxation of the muscles, which will be facilitated by light massaging movements. The next piglets should come out without any problems.

To prevent infection, the sow needs to be given an antibiotic injection immediately after farrowing.

Pigs, especially those giving birth for the first time, can show aggression (possibly kicking, snatching, attempting to bite, hysterical fits with attacks on newborn piglets), so it is better to have a strong assistant nearby. Having calmed down, the female begins to fulfill her maternal duties, and overly aggressive sows are not recommended to be used for procreation in the future - they are culled and slaughtered.

Childbirth in Vietnamese pigs usually occurs without complications. These animals know how to take care of their offspring, but the presence of a farmer during farrowing is still necessary. It is important to know how to prepare for this event, what conditions need to be created for the newborn and the female, how to care for the uterus and offspring after farrowing. But first you should make sure that the sow is pregnant.

How to determine if a pig is pregnant?

Mating of pigs does not always lead to fertilization, but all farmers want to know as early as possible whether the female is pregnant. This can be determined in several ways - with the help of a veterinarian and on your own. If it is not possible to call a specialist to the farm, observe the sow. Changes in her behavior will tell you whether she is pregnant or not.. Let's consider what signs can be used to determine pregnancy in pigs in the early stages:

If a female is fertilized, her hormonal levels change, which affects her behavior. The sow becomes calmer, her movements are smooth and careful.
The animal has an excellent appetite, the female eats more than usual.
Approximately 5-7 days after fertilization, a cheesy secretion is released from the vagina.

Such diagnostics cannot give one hundred percent confidence in the occurrence of pregnancy, but still it helps many farmers to make a preliminary conclusion regarding the condition of the sow. Clinical studies will be more accurate:

Rectal examination by a veterinarian.
Ultrasonography.
Biopsy.
Pregnancy test using venous blood.
Diagnostics with a Doppler device.

The most common method is still a veterinary examination.. It allows you to determine pregnancy with high accuracy within 3 weeks after fertilization of the female.

Signs of labor

When the mating has led to the desired result, the sow becomes pregnant, farmers eagerly await the appearance of the offspring. There are many signs by which you can easily determine the approach of farrowing. Let's look at them.

The sow becomes restless and rushes about.
About a day before farrowing, the animal begins to arrange a place for the piglets - kneading the bedding and chewing it.
Her stomach drops.
The nipples swell a little and become red.
When you squeeze the nipple, you can see colostrum.
The animal hardly eats and drinks little.

Reference. Vietnamese sows raised in the wild, sensing the approach of farrowing, try to be closer to people.

Preparing for childbirth

Having noticed at least one of the listed signs of approaching farrowing in a Vietnamese pig, you need to carefully prepare for the birth process. It is necessary to restore order in the room where the animal is kept, to clean the machine from sawdust and litter. Before farrowing, only hay is left and the water in the drinking bowl is changed to clean. It is important to take care of a separate corner for newborn pigs. Soft bedding is laid there and boxes are installed where the piglets will be placed. If it is possible to connect a red lamp above this place, it is worth doing so. It will keep babies warm, because up to the age of one week they need a temperature above 30 degrees Celsius.

What should a farmer have on hand when farrowing a Vietnamese sow:

Scissors.
Clean towels or diapers.
Warm water.
Threads.
Cotton wool.

Before the start of labor, the sow is completely washed with soapy water, the belly and nipples are especially carefully treated.

Childbirth process

It is not difficult to determine that labor is beginning - the female is breathing heavily and lying on her side. Contractions can have different durations - from 3 to 10 hours. The first farrow lasts longer than all subsequent ones. When pushing begins, piglets come out of the sow's vagina one by one with a short interval of time.

Each newborn is born in a film that needs to be removed. Then the piglet’s snout and mouth are cleared of accumulated mucus and amniotic fluid. The body is thoroughly wiped with a clean cloth. The umbilical cord is tied and cut at a distance of about 2.5-3 centimeters from the piglet’s tummy. The cut site is immediately treated with iodine. This is done with all piglets.

Attention! Newborns need to receive a portion of colostrum from their mother within 20-50 minutes after birth.

Mother's colostrum contains antibodies and nutrients that will help the little pigs survive. The farmer must try to have time to attach all the piglets to the udder, even if the sow continues to push.

Next, the offspring is placed in a pre-prepared box under a lamp. Babies get very cold because they do not have a layer of fat, like adults. They must be kept at a temperature of at least 30 degrees.

How to attach piglets to the udder after farrowing?

Vietnamese piglets are too slow and have difficulty finding their mother's nipple. The farmer must help the babies get a portion of colostrum. First you need to wipe the udder with a damp, clean cloth and massage it lightly. Massage movements will promote the flow of milk into the glands. Each piglet is carefully brought to the udder and the nipple is directed into the mouth.

Output of placenta

When the placenta comes out, the birth can be considered complete. It is very important to ensure that the placenta separates and exits the sow's birth canal. Sometimes pigs eat it, but this happens extremely rarely with the Vietnamese breed. The afterbirth must be removed immediately - taken outside and buried. This is done not only to maintain hygiene rules, but also to prevent the pig from eating the placenta.

Complications

Farrowing in Vietnamese pigs occurs easily and quickly, and there are rarely complications after it. However, the farmer should be careful not to lose sight of alarming symptoms. What conditions may occur after childbirth:

Vaginal rupture. If labor proceeds rapidly, injuries to the vulva are possible.
Retention of placenta. In pigs, the placenta should be delivered approximately 1-3 hours after farrowing. If this does not happen, the help of a veterinarian is required.
Uterine prolapse. During childbirth, the reproductive organ may fall out, in which case it must be disinfected and put back in place. It is best to contact the veterinary service.
Eating the afterbirth. This rarely happens in female Vietnamese breeds, but there is still a risk. If a pig eats the afterbirth, there is a chance that it will destroy its piglets too.

Caring for the uterus after childbirth

The sow is very tired after farrowing. Her heart is working faster and she is thirsty. Immediately after the end of the birth process, you need to give her a liter of water or a mixture of milk and water in the same volume. After 6 hours, you can allow the pig to drink to his heart's content.

Attention! Make sure there is clean water in the drinking bowl. In its absence, the animal’s condition will worsen, milk production will decrease, and the risk of cannibalism will increase - the pig may eat the offspring.

There is no need to rush with the first feeding - no less than 8-10 hours after farrowing, you can offer the animal a third of the norm of liquid oatmeal or bran mash. Such food will help restore water balance and prevent constipation.

The feeding rate is increased gradually, because the abundance of food will provoke active milk production, and newborn piglets will not yet be able to suck out its entire volume. In this case, there is a high risk of developing stagnant processes in the udder. After about a week, the pig should receive the usual amount of food. Juicy feed is included in the diet on the 4th day after farrowing, and roughage on the 6-7th day. Starting from 2 weeks, increase the amount of root vegetables in the queen’s diet; they stimulate milk production.

Newborn care

Piglets also need care and attention. Having received their portion of colostrum after farrowing, they almost constantly remain in their warm corner. In the first days of life, babies need to be taught to suck on a specific nipple. If this is not done, then later the large piglets will begin to win the milkiest nipples - the front ones, and the weaker and smaller individuals will get those located at the back. As a result, already large piglets will rapidly gain weight, while small ones will slow down their growth and weight gain.

The farmer needs to spend 3-4 days training newborns to certain nipples. To do this, marks are placed on their backs. In the first days after birth, the farmer independently applies the piglets to the required teats. Small and weak individuals are assigned to the milky forefeeds, and large individuals are assigned to the rear ones. It is necessary to keep the female's udder clean and check for symptoms of mastitis.

Reference. If babies feeding on milk from the rear nipples do not have enough food, they are given an additional 1-2 nipples.

Piglet care includes:

Control of room temperature (the thermometer should not fall below 30 degrees during the first week of life for newborn pigs).
Umbilical cord treatment. This must be done daily, cauterizing it with iodine. If purulent discharge is detected, you should contact a veterinarian.
Examine newborns for signs of deterioration.

Reference. The farmer must take care that the female does not crush the piglets in the first days of their life, since they are inactive and are not yet able to run away from their mother on their own. For this purpose, special barriers are installed.

Although childbirth in Vietnamese pigs is almost always easy and not accompanied by complications, the presence of a farmer is still desirable. The female feels more calm if there is a person nearby. His task is to receive the babies, clean them of mucus, cut and process the umbilical cord and attach them to the nipple. The farmer must ensure that the sow and piglets remain comfortable in the pen to increase the chances of survival of the offspring.