How Many Days Does a Sow Carry Piglets Before Giving Birth? A Detailed Explanation of the Gestation Period

SummaryGenerally, a sow becomes pregnant once every half a year and gives birth after about four months. Of course, there are special cases; for example, if the number of piglets conceived is too large, it can also lead to difficult farrowing and other situations. Usually, pregnancy ends at around 114 days, and birth may occur 3-4 days earlier or later than the expected due date, so attention should be paid to the sow's condition.

1. The sow's gestation period. The gestation length is generally 110 days to 120 days, with 114 days being the average, so 114 days is used as the standard gestation length for a sow, though special circumstances cannot be ruled out.

2. The sow's expected due date. Being 3—4 days earlier or later than the expected due date is still considered within the normal range. The usual method farmers use for calculation is to take the month in which the sow is confirmed pregnant, add 4 to the month, and then subtract 6 to get the expected due date. Or they calculate three months plus three weeks plus three days to estimate the expected due date.

3. The sow's lactation period. Generally, the sow's feeding period lasts two months, so from pregnancy through the lactation period is a total of 174 days, which is about half a year, so at most two births per year. Although technology can now shorten the lactation period to one month, it has an impact on subsequent births, so this is not recommended.

4. The sow's open period. Within one week after weaning, the sow will come into estrus. This one week is meant to help the sow maintain body weight, because the timing of estrus is related to the sow's body weight, so farmers pay close attention to its nutrition.