Hog farmers can relate the mixed emotions when our Mama Pig is about to give birth. A week before the due date, we are busy preparing for the things we need just like us, mothers when our due date comes.
We need to have medicine kits, crib for piglets, used clothes or clean rugs, light,and our beddings.
Clean Rugs - these will be used to wipe the nose and the mouth of every piglet coming out to let them breath smoothly and of course to warm them up.
Medicine kit - Just like humans, Mama Pig needed ready to use medicine when giving birth.
*Antibiotic for Mama Pig to avoid infections after releasing the placenta.
*Oxytocin used when there will be delays with the interval of the piglets in coming out and it can also be use to help release the Mama pig's milk.
*Wound spray for wounds or cuts and other external infections. This usually used during tail cutting & castration of the male piglets
*Powdered/Injective medicines for piglets like anti-scour, antibiotic, antiparasitic for deworming etc.
Just like babies,piglets need crib with light too to keep them warm. It is there place to sleep and to avoid being wet during the washing or cleaning of the farrowing area.
The farrowing pen is needed for the security of both the piglets and the Mama Pig.
Chargeable headlamps or any emergency light in case of power interruption.
The beddings. Yes, we are sleeping inside the sty everytime we have a Mama Pig that is about to deliver. 2 days before the due date, we started to camp there.
We also ate inside the sty. Good thing there is a space for beddings at the same time our table..lol!
**The Delivery Day!
**
The Due date of Mama Pipay was Sept 2, 2023 that was the 114th day from the day of her Artificial Insemination (AI). Normally 2 days before the due date, we stay in the sty for preparation & monitoring. Suppose to be we were at the sty on Oct. 31 but something came up that we did not make it that time and we planned to be there at night of the following day, Sept.1 that was 1 day before the due date.
The normal time of feeding in the morning is 5:30am and my husband is assigned to do it every morning before he goes to work. So Sept 1, 2023 in the morning he went to the farm to feed but at that early my phone rang for voice call and it is not normal because he knew I am still sleeping.
This was the news I received during the phone call. Mama Pig Pipay gave birth without us and all her piglets were alive though they were bathe with poop. It was a day earlier in the expected due date and it was our first time to experience that way.
The amazing part was, it was my husband's birthday that day. God gifted us 11 healthy piglets though we did not do any effort while she gives birth. Mama Pig Pipay was in good condition without any infections even without administering any medicines that we suppose to give (praise God for the preservation).
Normally during the delivery these should be done in assisting Mama Pig (pictures below are for presentation only, they are pictures of our another Mama Pig):
Every time the piglet comes out, it needs to be kept warm. That was the role of the rags or used clothes. It should be wiped and cleaned until it dried up.
The teeth should be cut off for them not to hurt mama pig's breast during lactating. Same with the tails, it should be cut after hours of delivery.
The piglets must have the first milk or the colostrum just like humans for the immune system.
These procedures were not followed since we were not there during the delivery. We did it after hours of their birth.But then I believed that all mothers (human & mammals) have their own way of taking good care of their babies. I know they have their instinct of survival. This is how amazing God's creation is.
Here they are now.They are 29 days old today. Healthy and playful!
Hope you enjoyed my farming story today! I was been a while since my last blog hope you don't forget about me.lol!
Happy weekends Hivers!!
💋Keekay