The Signs of farrowing: Physiology and sow behaviour
Understanding the farrowing process and recognizing the signs for the different stages of birth, help us to develop management plans to improve the likelihood for live born piglets.
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31-Aug-2022pig333The author, Robert Knox, says:
It depends upon what the historic gestation length is for the genetics on every farm. And also depends upon the calculations for first day of gestation and how they calculate expected farrow date (is it 115 or 116 days?). If they use the first day of service as gestation day 1, induction before day 112 is not recommended under any scenarios and it can cause issues for piglets and sows. Day 112 is still too early, but no data to show it is harmful. I would think that the earlier, the farrowing induction is done (112, 113 days) the more likely the reproductive tract is less primed for dilation and muscle contractions, and the pigs slightly less robust for breathing. I would induce 114-115-116
It depends upon what the historic gestation length is for the genetics on every farm. And also depends upon the calculations for first day of gestation and how they calculate expected farrow date (is it 115 or 116 days?). If they use the first day of service as gestation day 1, induction before day 112 is not recommended under any scenarios and it can cause issues for piglets and sows. Day 112 is still too early, but no data to show it is harmful. I would think that the earlier, the farrowing induction is done (112, 113 days) the more likely the reproductive tract is less primed for dilation and muscle contractions, and the pigs slightly less robust for breathing. I would induce 114-115-116
