Meet the animals and harvest the information without getting your hands dirty!
I have just received an email about a sow who is due to farrow soon and her teats are hot and red. “Hi Sara. My sow, Matilda, is due to have her first litter in the next few days. She is very content but I have noticed her back teets are very red and feel … Read more
Pregnant gilts or sows can be fed: sow breeder pellets/nuts or milled barley / mixed with pig concentrate and a selection of vegetables (particularly cabbage and broccoli as they helps with milk production.) A sow will eat about 5 or 6lbs of feed a day which is the equivalent of up to 40 bags of … Read more
When I had farrowing gilts on the farm I have always been lucky enough to get live piglets, however sometimes piglets can be born dead but why is that? “Just wondering I have a gilt that just had her first litter. The first 5 were alive but the next 5 were all dead. This is … Read more
Pregnant sows or gilts can be fed sow breeder pellets, milled barley and vegetables. It is important to increase the amount of feed given to the gilt or sow a few days before she farrows. Dear Sara I have a pregnant sow That is due to have little ones this month she just wants to … Read more
I am often asked what to do with a pregnant sow or gilt just before they farrow. Dear Sara, My name is sammy and I am 17 years old. I bought a pig for market as I was going to show and sell her in the local county fair. I found out she is pregnant … Read more
Avril bought four of my Saddleback weaner gilts and I was thrilled to get a couple of photos of the lovely girlies this morning. Avril has a large outdoor area for the pigs to root about in and then a large hut with plenty of straw for the weaners to sleep in and keep warm … Read more
It was with a heavy heart that I got up on Monday morning to see to the pigs as I knew that my seven beautiful Saddleback gilts, that would have been excellent for breeding, were going. I had been training the pigs to go into the trailer as pigs get nervous and easily stressed when … Read more
I am currently training my seven saddleback gilts to go into the trailer as they are not used to being loaded into a trailer. I have introduced them to the trailer by placing their food on the door and in the trailer so that it will entice them into the trailer. This is the third … Read more
Mastitis affects sows and gilts that have farrowed and are feeding piglets or have just weaned their piglets. Signs to look out for include: Teats that are hot to the touch. Teats that are hard and lumpy. Sow not eating. Heavy breathing. Raised temperature. Lethargy in sows. Not standing up. Mastitis needs to be treated … Read more
When a boar and gilt are allowed to run together they will mate when the gilt comes into estrus, but how do you tell if mating has occurred? Hello – I have two gilts and recently purchased a 1-yr old boar. My goal is to breed the gilts, of course. The gilts are of age … Read more