How to Manage Difficult Farrowings

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How to ...

manage difficult farrowings

W Singleton, SF Amass, LK Clark, LJ Runnels

Fortunately, difficult farrowings are not very common in present swine production systems. The sow will need help in less than 1% of all farrowings. Sows about to farrow should be observed approximately every 30 to 60 minutes. Familiarizing yourself with the normal birthing process is the first step in knowing when your intervention is needed.

Provide a clean and dry farrowing environment. Move sows to farrowing quarters from 1 to 5 days prior to the expected farrowing date.

Behavior of the sow pre-farrowing

The normal farrowing process

Signs of a difficult farrowing

How to examine the birth canal

Types of farrowing problems and methods of assistance

Behavior of the sow prefarrowing

Approximate time before delivery	Sow characteristics/ behavior
0-10 days	Mammary glands enlarge and become firm
0-10 days	Swelling of the vulval lips
2 days	Mammary glands become turgid and tense and secrete a clear fluid
12-24 hours	Mammary glands begin to secrete milk
12-24 hours	Overall restlessness, nesting behavior
6 hours	Abundant milk secretion
30 minutes-4 hours	Increased respiration
15-60 minutes	Sow quiets and lies down on her side
30-90 minutes	Straining, passage of blood tinged, oily fluid and meconium ( fetal feces)

Rectal temperature is not a reliable predictor of farrowing

The normal farrowing process

The first pig is born
About half of the pigs are presented head first (image 1, image 2) and about half are presented tail first.
The sow may exhibit mild straining
More pigs are born approximately 15 minutes apart
The total time for the delivery of the entire litter varies with litter size but the process usally takes less than 2.5 hours.
The placenta, membranes surrounding the fetus, is usually delivered 2-4 hours after the last pig; however portions of the placenta may be delivered during the farrowing period
You should not observe large volumes of discharge

Signs of a difficult farrowing

Gestation exceeding 116 days
Off feed
Blood tinged fluid (image 1, image 2) and meconium are discharged without signs of straining
Straining without delivery of pigs
The time between the birth of pigs exceeds one hour, and the sow still has a full abdomen
Foul smelling, brown /gray discharge
Reddening of the sow's eyes
Exhaustion after prolonged labor
Sow distress: rapid breathing, weakness, inability to rise

How to examine the birth canal

***When the time between the birth of pigs exceeds one hour, intervention by the manager is necessary.

***Intervention must be gentle. The tissues of the birth canal are easily bruised and torn. Damage can lead to swelling, hemorrhage, and death of the sow and litter. Excessive damage can also negate the option of the use of a cesarean section as a treatment.

Familiarize yourself with the basic anatomy of the reproductive tract

Thoroughly clean the sow's rectal and vaginal area

The manager's fingernails should be cut short

The manager's arm should be washed with soap and water, gloved, and lubricated (KY Jelly/ Lubrivet)

The hand should be cupped in the shape of a cone, the lips of the vulva are parted, and the hand gently inserted into the birth canal

If the sow is not ready to farrow the forward part of the canal will be closed

The bony pelvis (image 1, image 2) can be felt below and at the side of the hand
The hand can be moved forward through the pelvis and into the uterus which slopes downward and divides into 2 sides.
The birth canal should be examined for evidence of damage (tears, bruises)
The causes of delayed farrowing should be determined and corrected if possible

Types of farrowing problems and methods of assistance

***Never use oxytocin before determining the cause of the problem

Type of problem	Method of assistance
Uterine inertia (the uterus is unable to contract)	Manual intervention: be certain that the sow is dilated and nothing is blocking the birth canal Deliver any pigs within reach- grasp the pig by the snout (image1, image 2) or use a snare (image 1, image 2) Administer oxytocin Get the sow up Cool the sow with a mister or fan Call veterinarian if farrowing does not occur
Improper presentation of pig
Breech (image 1, image 2)	Manual intervention: Hook your index finger under the hock of each hind leg. Extend the legs caudally or use a snare.
Two pigs simultaneously	Manual intervention: Grasp head, lower jaw, or feet to deliver one pig at a time
Pig upside down	Manual intervention: Grasp head, lower jaw, or feet
Canal obstruction
Hymen constriction in gilt (first pig not delivered)	Manual dilation or severing with scissors
Vaginal or cervical prolapse	Call veterinarian
Pelvis too small	Call veterinarian
Constipation	Manually remove feces Give enema of warm, soapy water
Full bladder	Get sow to stand up and force exercise Give oxytocin Rarely the veterinarian will have to catheterize bladder
Deviation of the uterus
Partial uterine torsion	Call veterinarian
S-shaped deviation (image 1, image 2)	Manual intervention
Pig is too large	Call veterinarian
Sow hysteria	Give tranquilizer as prescribed by veterinarian Give oxytocin Remove pigs until sow is quiet and finished farrowing
Retained placenta/ blood or pus discharge	Rare- usually indicates that one or more pigs is present in the reproductive tract-Call veterinarian
Vaginal, uterine or bladder prolapse	Call veterinarian
Hemorrhage	Call veterinarian

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