One of the most profitable areas in farming is pig farming. But in order to obtain a healthy offspring, it is very important to determine the pregnancy of the sow in time and create suitable conditions for it for the entire period of gestation. In addition, each pig can produce offspring twice a year. That is why many farmers prefer to breed them. However, each newcomer should know how long the pig carries piglets. The thing is that the care and feeding regimen of the animal depends on what period of pregnancy it is on. This does not require large financial costs, but it is necessary to include some foods rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the diet. Let's try to understand the features of the content, as well as find out how much a pig carries piglets, how to determine pregnancy and take birth correctly.
Reproductive ability
Pigging in pigs occurs at about 5-6 months of life, but at this age the body of the animal is not yet fully developed, therefore it is not recommended to use too young individuals for mating, as they are not able to give a high-quality and healthy litter. Experts recommend selecting sows whose weight has reached 100 kilograms. In most cases, with proper care and a full diet, this occurs at 9 months of age.
You can independently determine the animal’s readiness for reproduction by the following signs:
- the sow refuses food and begins to behave more aggressively;
- the animal's genitals swell and estrus begins;
- the female at the sight of a boar as if falls into a trance and stops moving.
If you notice all of the above symptoms, then the sow is ready for mating. And how much a pig carries piglets in time will be discussed later in this article.
How to choose the best female?
Not every pig is suitable for breeding offspring. In order for the piglets to be born strong and healthy, it is very important to select an adult that is well physically developed.
In the selection process, you should pay attention to the following:
- for pig breeding, zoned breeds are best suited;
- the body of the animal must be well built and strong;
- peppy behavior, without visible manifestations of any disease;
- the back of the body is wide, and the belly does not sag;
- the number of nipples is not less than 12, and between them there is enough free space;
- the animal's appetite should be good, and behavior should be active.
In addition to all of the above, preference is given to individuals who were born from a healthy sow. A case is usually carried out at 9-10 months of life. As for how much a pig carries piglets, the breed of animals plays a role. The exact numbers will be discussed a little later.
The main signs of pregnancy
What you should pay attention to? Before we talk about how much a pig carries piglets, let's first find out about the signs of pregnancy. Its first symptoms appear already on the fifth day after mating with a boar.
The main ones are the following:
- estrus ceases;
- animal behavior becomes lethargic;
- sows completely lose their appetite;
- from the genitals appear curdled discharge of white color;
- pig weight begins to increase rapidly.
It is worth noting that cases of false pregnancy are very common. It manifests itself in the same way as genuine, but the symptoms disappear after about 14 days, while in real life it persists throughout the entire period of gestation. How much does a pig carry piglets? We will definitely find out the answer to this question, but a little later.
How to confirm the fact of pregnancy?
Confirm the success of a mating can only be done by a qualified veterinarian who can use one of the following methods:
- Pregnancy test. It is carried out on the 22nd day after sexual intercourse and involves a blood test for chemical composition.
- Vaginal biopsy. The specialist takes a swab from the genitals with a special tool.
- Ultrasound examination. This method is similar to conventional ultrasound, which is done to women with suspected pregnancy. It is the most common, because it has high accuracy and affordable price.
As for the terms, the most reliable are the test results obtained on the 22nd day after mating.
Pregnancy duration
So, here we come to the answer to the question of how many months a pig carries piglets. The average duration of carrying offspring is 110-115 days, however, each case is unique in its own way, since everything here depends on many factors.
The main ones are the following:
- breed of animal;
- sow age;
- the number of cases that an individual had;
- climatic conditions of the region and seasonality;
- the number of piglets in the womb;
- conditions of detention.
It is worth noting that farrowing may occur several days earlier or later than the expected date. The average gestation period is 114 days. Moreover, if the bearing of the fruits lasted less than 110 days, then it is likely that they will die. Premature individuals, as a rule, are born very weak and sick. How much does a Vietnamese pig carry piglets? The duration of their pregnancy does not differ from other breeds, so many farmers are engaged in their breeding.
How to care for animals in position?
You already know how many days a pig carries piglets, so now you can talk about proper care for the sow throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Good conditions are one of the key factors on which not only the duration of gestation, but also the quality of the offspring depends. If you are engaged in pig farming on a large scale, it is best to place all animals with the same term together. This will greatly simplify the care of them.
The following rules are recommended during content:
- In the early stages of pregnancy, sows are placed in separate enclosures with four individuals. As for the size of the pen, there must be at least three square meters per animal.
- At 4 months, sows are transferred to more spacious rooms, in which 6 square meters per individual. m
- At the fifth month, animals are transferred to separate keeping in large enclosures. There they will remain until farrowing.
As for the enclosures themselves, they should be rectangular in shape and have a depth of 2.5 meters. Width and length are calculated based on the required dimensions.
A few words about feeding
When answering the question of how much a pig carries piglets, you need to dwell separately on the feeding regimen, since it very much affects the duration of pregnancy. Pig breeding experts recommend transferring the animal to a special diet immediately after the fact of a successful mating has been confirmed.
The essence of feeding is as follows:
- Young animals that are still growing need to be given foods rich in nutrients, necessary not only for developing fruits, but also for the sows themselves. Protein-rich protein foods are used for weight gain. However, they should be given with extreme caution, since too many such feeds can lead to the death of the embryos.
- Fully physically developed pigs are given feed intended only to maintain body weight. It is very important that the sow does not have obesity, so if it starts to gain too much weight, the diet is reviewed.
- In the last month of pregnancy, animals are given easily digestible foods rich in proteins and carbohydrates, which do not provoke high gas formation processes.
- Feeding is carried out three times a day. Fresh drinking water should be with them around the clock.
As for the prohibited products, these include sunflower husks, hard cake, chaff, as well as feed that has been frozen or started to deteriorate.
Farrowing
Knowing how many weeks a pig carries piglets, you can properly prepare the animal for the upcoming farrowing.
To give birth normally, the following tools will be required:
- scissors;
- strong thread for tying the umbilical cord;
- rags for wiping newborns;
- Zelenka for processing the umbilical cord of piglets.
About a week before farrowing, sows need to be given only fresh, high-quality products, regularly replace drinking water, maintain cleanliness and order in the stable, and create a comfortable psychological environment for the animals.
Conclusion
Having an idea of how much a pig carries piglets, you can provide proper care for the animal throughout the entire period of pregnancy, so that the offspring is born healthy and strong. And in order for the farrow to pass normally and without any problems, it would be better if the birth was taken by an experienced veterinarian. This will significantly increase the survival rate of newborn piglets.