What to Do When a Sow Has Difficulty Giving Birth? Teach You the Correct Handling Methods
Summer has arrived, and it is the farrowing period for many sows, but some sows giving birth for the first time and older sows may experience difficult births. No matter the location or the scale of the farm, difficult births can occur. In some places, difficult births directly cause production to drop by half, so correctly handling a sow's difficult birth is a matter concerning the health of both the mother and the piglets, as well as the interests of the farm. So what should be done when a sow has a difficult birth? Let's take a look below!
1. Drive the sow to move
When a sow is found to have a difficult birth, she should immediately be driven to move, to change the position of the fetal piglets in the abdomen. This is the first choice of method and can solve more than 60% of difficult births. If the sow has been in labor for half an hour and still has not delivered the fetal piglets, let the sow stand up. Make the sow run, let the sow move around inside the pen for a few minutes. This can both change the sow's farrowing position and adjust the position of the fetal piglets. After moving, return her to the pen to give birth.
2. Inject vegetable oil into the birth canal
When a sow has a difficult birth, there are several situations, one of which is premature rupture of the amniotic fluid. When the birth canal is too dry due to rupture of the amniotic fluid, and the fetal piglet is too large, clean vegetable oil should be injected into the birth canal to serve as a lubricant, making the birth canal lubricated and dilated. The birth attendant should then disinfect their hands and insert them into the birth canal, slowly pulling the fetal piglet out.
3. Clear the birth canal
Sometimes the cause of a sow's difficult birth is excessive excrement remaining in the birth canal. At this time, the birth attendant should use their hand to feel through the birth canal. If they detect that too much excrement has accumulated in the rectum and is pressing on the birth canal, then mineral oil or other manure-dissolving substances should be used to dissolve the feces. If there is too much urine, the bladder should be gently squeezed to promote urination.
4. Medication-assisted delivery
During a difficult birth, oxytocin can be used according to the specific situation. When the cause of the difficult birth is rupture of the amniotic fluid, or a fetal piglet has already come out and the sow is still straining but the contraction force is very weak, oxytocin can be used in this situation. Each use should be spaced at least half an hour apart, and it is best to use it together with an energy mixture, which is more effective.
5. Manual extraction of piglets by hand
If none of the previous methods work, then the only option is manual extraction of the piglets by hand. Wash your hands clean with soapy water, then rinse off the soap with clean water, apply lubricant to your arm, or wear specialized gloves. Then bring the five fingers together and slowly enter along the birth canal until you feel the piglet. Once you feel the head, spread the five fingers, place two fingers respectively behind the piglet's left ear and right ear, keep the remaining fingers together, and slowly pull the piglet out.
There are many causes of difficult birth in sows. During a difficult birth, the birth attendant should be nearby thinking of ways to help the sow give birth successfully as quickly as possible. If help is not given in time to deliver the fetal piglets, in severe cases it can lead to the death of both the mother and the piglets. In fact, many times using the first method can succeed with a high probability. After the sow finishes giving birth, careful care is still needed. If you want to know how to care for a sow after farrowing, please continue to follow Qinnong Web.