The birth – for livestock purposes
On the documented farm, the mother of X15, as well as her fellow sows have been kept in groups for 4 weeks after having been made pregnant.
This form of animal husbandry ended one week before the due date. Farms with less than 10 sows are allowed to keep the expectant
mothers separated from each other in this period. But they must be able to turn around in their stalls.
The usable floor space that each pig should have in group housing is set out clearly in the animal welfare act. For groups of up to 5 pigs, young sows must have 1.85 m² and older sows must have 2.5 m². For bigger groups of over 40 pigs there is a gradual reduction of these measurements by up to 20%.
When keeping the expectant mothers separate, the minimum space allowed is 1 m².
One week before the due date, the mother of X15 is removed to give birth. There she stays during the suckling-period until weaning.
Weaning means to take the piglets from their mother.
The farrowing crates must be designed for unhindered nursing of the piglets. In most of these boxes the mother is caged in a farrowing crate.
Behind the farrowing crate must be enough floorage to support an independent or assisted birthing.
Furthermore it has to be designed to prevent the piglets from injury while suckling or approaching the mother.
The minimum floor space for farrowing crates is 4 – 5 m² per sow depending on her body weight.
The number of piglets averages to 10 per birth. The first indications for the forthcoming birth are changes in the vulva-area of the dam
which show up approximately one week before giving birth.
The area around the vulva shows a doughy (= edematous) swelling. Approximately 6 hours before giving birth to the first piglet the mother begins to lactate.
24 hours before the birthing the mother starts to be unsettled.
She changes her position frequently and starts with nest-building-behaviour. About one hour before birthing the mother lies down.
The birth of X15 begins on 26th June 2009 at 7:15 a.m. X15 is the third-born. His body-weight is 1.530 gram. He starts his first attempt at walking directly after birth.
First of all he has to get rid of the unbilical cord,
which divulses near to the placenta. Afterwards he begins to explore the surroundings.
The mother of X15 tries to keep the piglets within eyeshot – as far as the circumstances allow her to. While the sow is giving birth,
the carer should be present to be able to give assistance incase of complications or rather to inform the vet. It is important that every piglet is provided with colostrum as fast as possible. Colostrum is a secretion which is produced by the mammary glands directly after giving birth, which contents high protein, vitamin, mineral nutrients and leukocytes. The absortion of immunoglobolines from the colostrum is of utmost importance for a passive immunization of the piglets. Also important is the occurence of antibodies against barn-specific infectious agents.
For X15 and his siblings the serious side of life begins already tomorrow.
