Embedded Files
Intended Learning Outcome:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
To learn what are the preparations to be done before farrowing.
To recognize what are the signs of farrowing.
To identify the causes of difficult farrowing.
Definition of Terms:
Hurdle - a gate or solid board used to direct the pigs when they are being moved.
Udder - the mammary gland of female animals
Teats - a nipple of the mammary gland of a female mammal, from which the milk is sucked by the young
Vulva - the exposed portion of a sow’s genitals.
Mucus - a slimy substance, typically not miscible with water, secreted by mucous membranes and glands for lubrication, protection, etc.
Meconium - the dark green substance forming the first feces of a newborn infant
Oxytocin - a drug used to cause uterine contractions in sows and/ or stimulate milk production.
Motivation
INSTRUCTION:
Each student can answer this questions individually.
You can create it in microsoft word application or in hand written form.
The file name of your output is always start with your Surname_Firstname_Activity 6.1.docx
Put your output in the Activity 6 folder.
Pass your output in the google drive link below.
Questions:
Have you seen a birthing swine? If yes, share your own experience by writing an essay.
Lesson Content
Farrowing
Farrowing is a term specific to swine that refers to the action of giving birth. Another term for this is parturition. Farrowing management begins months before piglets are born.
Preparations of Farrowing
1. If using a separate farrowing pen or house, place the sow one week before farrowing. This will allow sufficient time for sow to adjust and be relaxed at farrowing time
2. Clean and disinfect the farrowing pen/house including the feeding and watering through at least 7 days before transferring the sow
3. Before being moved to the farrowing pen/house, the sow should be thoroughly bathed and scrubbed with soap and water especially at the sides and udder. This is done to remove the parasite eggs and bacteria.
4. If possible, the pens should be provided with piglet protection facilities like hurdles or guard rails to prevent crushing.
5. Check the pens for presence of sharp edges or protruding part or anything that might hurt the sow or piglets
6. Check the lighting and brooding facilities
7. Clean the udder of the sow with clean cloth soaked in warm water a few hours before farrowing
Signs of Farrowing
Farrowing is a complex event driven by several hormones that interact with each other to induce the onset of parturition. These hormones are responsible not only for the induction of parturition, but also for triggering visible behavioral changes.
1. Building its nest, pushing slightly of hurdles, guard rails, walls, flooring
2. Restlessness, uneasiness, biting of hurdles and guard rails
3. Sow is always in “sitting dog” position
4. Enlarged and distended udder. Pink, shiny and pointing outside direction
5. Teats produces milk (farrowing in 12-24 hours) but not always
6. Small round size manure of sow and frequent urination
7. Swollen vulva, mucus discharge and meconium (first feces of piglets). Red and loosen.
8. Signs of labor like muscular spasms, deep and fast breathing
9. Duration of farrowing is 30 mins. to 6 hours and an average of 2.5 hours interval between piglets should not be longer than 15 minutes.
10. Placenta comes off partially during farrowing but the rest comes out 30 mins. after birth of all piglets
11. Piglet interval of 45 minutes with restlessness, and excessive straining is sign of difficult farrowing where assistance is needed.
12. With difficult farrowing, check the condition of the sow before injecting with oxytocin. Giving more oxytocin without checking the sow if problem exists will do more harm. After 10 minutes of injection, and no piglet comes out, help the sow thru “dukot system” of piglet.
Causes of Difficult Farrowing
1. Problem with the sow
Contractions are weak
Sow is too fat
Sow has eaten too much before farrowing
Narrow birth canal
Restlessness/aggressiveness
Sick or very thin or weak sows
Uterine abnormalities
• Sow is exhausted because she has been farrowing for a long time
• Farrowing house is too warm
2. Problem with piglets
Dead piglets before birth
Too big or ill-shaped
Two piglets enter the birth canal at the same time
Mal-presentation
Piglet Management in farrowing
Piglet Management in farrowing
References:
Video Materials:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0cuN-duvG8
Activity:
Instruction:
Each student can answer this questions individually. Watch the video above about the farrowing process. Watch the farrowing process and discuss it thoroughly.
You can create it in microsoft word application or in hand written form.
The file name of your output is always start with your Surname_Firstname_Activity6.2.docx
Put your output in the Activity 6.2 folder.
Pass your output in the google drive link below.
Self- Assessment:
Click on the link below to answer the quiz 6.
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