Maternal recognition of pregnancy is
Embryo elongation
Migration and spacing end on day
11
Fetal growth is
2x in size every 20 days
Sow placentation type
Epitheliochorial
1st nutrient source for fetus
Areolae
Return to estrus in
17-24 days
When do you use doppler ultrasonography to diagnose pregnancy
At 26 days
Amplitude depth ultrsonograpghy is used at
28-80 days of pregnancy
Real-time ultrasonography is used as early as
21 days of pregnancy
At 30 days of pregnancy you can see
Embro, placentation, uterine horns filled with fluid and embryo
40 days of pregnancy you can see
- ribs, eyes, snout of fetus, legs
- much larger in size
- placenta development
60 days of pregnancy
- uterus is large
- piglet basically formed
Gestation length
114-115 days (3 mos, 3 wks, 3 days)
Preparation for farrowing (5)
- mammary gland development
- vulva swelling
- reduced appetite
- restlessness (rooting/nesting)
- milk present 6-12 hrs before birth
Before parturition
- make sure sow has good BCS
- 3 days before birth, give laxative
Gestation diets are formed for …
4.5-5lbs per day
Over conditioned sows
- incr. fat in birth canal
- overheat easily
- don’t eat as much lactation feed
- don’t have as much milk
Under conditioned sows
- issues coming back into heat post-birth
- don’t have as much milk
Eutocia
- should prod. Piglet every 20-30 minutes
- avg # of piglets is 10 per sow
- placentas delivered about 2 hrs after parturition
If no piglets observed after energetic contraction…
- vaginal exam
- give oxytocin
How to induce parturition
- PGF2-alpha
- at 114-115 days; not over 116 days
- keep an eye on sow b/c can cause increase in stillborns
Early parturition induction causes
- reduced piglet weight
- decreased colostrum quality
Common issues seen w/ dystocia
- oversized piglets
- fetal maternal disproportion (gilts bred too early)
- old sows w/ uterine inertia
- heat stress
Tx for dystocia
- physical exam
- vaginal exam
- Oxytocin 5-10 IU after 5th piglet
- Calcium gluconate 23% (30-40 mL)
- fetal manipulation
- C-section
