What are the monitoring operating procedures for the sow farrowing process?
What are the monitoring operating procedures for the sow farrowing process?
Time: generally 2 to 4 hours, but it may also last 8 hours or longer;
Farrowing interval: generally 10 to 20 minutes, but there is usually a longer interval between the first and second piglets (30-45 minutes);
Piglet birth: it is normal for the head or the hind legs to come out first;
Sow behavior: before farrowing the sow shivers and tries hard to lift the hind legs; during delivery the tail twitches;
Stillbirths: mainly occur in the latter half of farrowing, 80 percent are the last three piglets born;
Afterbirth: after farrowing the afterbirth and placenta are generally expelled within one to three hours after farrowing is complete
Two
Preparatory work before farrowing
Before farrowing, check the historical records on the sow card to identify sows that had problems at previous farrowings or have already produced stillborn piglets, and identify the sows most likely to produce stillborn piglets (note that the risk is formed by a combination of these factors; these sows need more observation)
1. Sows that have farrowed more than five litters;
2. Sows that have previously produced stillborn piglets;
3. Sows with a very high previous litter size, 12 piglets or more;
Note one or more possible stillbirth factors on each sow's farrowing card.
Three
Personnel operating standards during farrowing
01
Observe the sow frequently, care for her quietly and keep disturbance to a minimum (walk behind the pig)
02
When farrowing is seen to begin, note on the sow card the time the first piglet is born and any problems that appear (stillbirth, mummy, deformed fetus, etc.)
03
During farrowing continue to pay attention to the records on the sow card
04
Carefully observe the sow for abnormal symptoms
Excessive tension, shivering, tail twitching, but no piglets born, being very fierce or aggressive toward the piglets;
When a sow with problems is found, give help promptly, and if necessary, inject oxytocin;
According totreatmentprocedures, inject chlorpromazine sedative into gilts and multiparous sows that are very fierce toward the piglets, place their piglets in a box, and hang a heat lamp above the box
Carefully observe piglets with oxygen deficiency
The farrowing interval is very long, especially in the latter half of farrowing
Piglets with yellow or brown feces on the skin
Vitality and activity are reduced after birth
Delivery of a stillborn piglet
05
Assisted delivery
Prepare the following items:
Disposable farrowing gloves (towels);
Lubricant (obstetric gel);
Thoroughly wash hands;
Remove all feces from the floor behind the sow's body;
Put on arm-length disposable plastic gloves;
Stand behind the pig; if the sow is lying on her right side, use the right hand to reach for the piglet, if the sow is lying on her left side, use the left hand;
By bringing the thumb and four fingers together to make the palm cone-shaped, it is easier to enter the sow's vulva; gently insert the palm into the vulva and through the cervix, open the palm and feel the blockage caused by the piglet, determine whether the head is first or the hind legs are first; the correct grip for holding the piglet depends on the relationship between the piglet's position and the hand.
If the head is first: cup the piglet's head with the palm, clamp behind the ears with the first and second fingers, with the thumb under the chin, and pull backward while the uterus contracts;
If the hind legs are first: grasp the piglet's hind legs with fingers 1, 2, 3, and pull the piglet backward while the uterus contracts, or use fingers 1 and 2 to fix the piglet's hind legs in the palm, and pull the piglet backward while the uterus contracts; once the piglet is pulled out, rescue weak piglets according to the situation.
Repeat the internal examination until no other piglets can be felt.
After farrowing is complete, according to the departmenttreatmentprocedures, give the sow a large dose of long-acting antibiotics
Record on the farrowing card the time of assisted delivery and the antibiotic injection situation (afterward, feed medication is generally used: lincomycin, chlortetracycline, lactation promoter, etc.)
Note: for rescuing weak piglets, or apparently dead piglets, make sure its umbilical cord and heart are beating, first use a hand to pull out the mucus in the mouth, support it with both hands and squeeze toward the middle, or grasp the hind legs with the left hand and lift it up, use the right hand to slap its back forcefully, or blow air into its mouth.
Key points: keep a good farrowing record time; personnel must not leave during the farrowing process; gilts have a large proportion of difficult births;
Risks: when doing assisted delivery, be careful that the sow stands up and injures your arm; if bitten or injured by tools, treat promptly or send to hospital
06
Provide a suitable environment for the piglets
Before birth: 1. Sufficient nutrition; 2. Not contaminated by bacteria; 3. Not affected by the environment; 4. Relatively high temperature.
After birth: 1. New environment; 2. Colder; 3. Must find food on its own; 4. More contact with pathogens.