152 Difficult Farrowing 



have always been able to produce larger and stronger pigs when I fed tank- 

 age than by any othar method and have never established any bad results 

 from feeding it. Sows that abort are no more likely to abort again in my 

 opinion than sows that have never aborted. 



DIFFICULT FARROWING 



Difficult farrowing is not infrequent in gilts. It may be due to too 

 small a natural opening, blows, or improper care. After the water bag 

 bursts, usually pig delivery will begin within two hours. However, I 

 have attended to cases that upon examination proved to be normal, where 

 the pigs were not born for six hours after labor pains began and the pigs 

 were all born alive, merely by letting the sow alone. Pigs are usually 

 born head first but are often bom rear end first. After 2 hours of labor 

 without the birth of the pigs, an examination is advisable. When the 

 oiled hand is thrust into the opening and a dead pig is felt, or the pig is 

 wrongly presented, the sooner help is given, the better, but if the pig is 

 coming right and alive my advice is to wait a while and re-examine. 

 In most cases after 5 hours of labor, the second pig will be dead, and af- 

 ter 24 hours the entire litter will be dead. 



HOW TO AID THE SOW 



The injections of warm water and oil with a hose and after the water 

 is in, turn the sows rump sharply lower than the head. After two or 

 three attempts at this if it fails insert the hand and try to secure the pig 

 with the hand. If this cannot be done, secure a piece of new number nine 

 wire, bend the wire to make a two inch hook slightly back on either end 

 but these hooks should be exactly opposite, so the operator can tell where 

 the one in the sow is pointing after the hooks are bent. Heat the wire 

 red hot in a flame the entire length and cool it and rub it off with a rag 

 wrung out of strong dip solution, insert one hand in the opening if pos- 

 sible and try to hook the wi,re into the lower jaw of the dead pig. If 

 the pig is cross ways of the opening try to push it back before turning 

 or trying to hook the jaw. Afteir the jaw is secured, pull easy giving 

 plenty of time. If the lower jaw pulls out, hook in the upper jaw or in 

 the eye sockets, but be sure the mother is not hooked and badly torn. 



