Ask the expert: Why are some piglets born dead?
While it is possible for some of the piglets to be born dead, if it happens several times with the same sow, then there must be a reason. First you need to establish whether the piglet was born dead or if it died soon after birth, and could have been saved if the problem had been noticed earlier.
While it is possible for some of the piglets to be born dead, if it happens several times with the same sow, then there must be a reason. First you need to establish whether the piglet was born dead or if it died soon after birth, and could have been saved if the problem had been noticed earlier.
Some piglets are born so weak and the membrane in which they are enveloped, and they suffocated in. In other cases the piglet is chilled soon after birth, resulting in death.
The body of a piglet that died in its mother’s womb at the beginning of the pregnancy is hard and partly decomposed. On the other hand the body of a piglet that died just before birth looks normal except for its sunken eyes.
To be certain if the piglet was born dead or just died after birth, slice a piece of the piglet’s lung and place it in a pail of water. If this floats, it means that the piglet had breathed before death (because of the presence of air in the lungs) which means it was born alive.
There are more piglets born dead among multiple farrowing, usually the fifth or the last three piglets. This is perhaps because of the length of the womb and the umbilical cord. The cord is stretched and cut and so the last piglets lose breath before they are able to emerge.
It could also be due to the aging mother, (which may have farrowed for five or six times). Usually, delivering dead piglets starts from the fourth to the seventh farrowing. The next farrowing can be seen in the piglets that have been delivered.
Other causes could be the stress borne by the mother pig before delivery. Perhaps she has had a fight or had undergone much difficulty in the last weeks before delivery.
Fat sows have difficulty in delivery.
If the mother is anaemic or lacks Vitamin E, the piglet cannot survive.
Death of the piglet could also be due to the mother pig’s lack of Vitamin A in its diet, months before delivery.
If the mother pig’s meal becomes contaminated with molds, it will deliver weak or dead piglets.
If, at a certain time, several mother pigs deliver dead piglets, infections or sickness could be the cause.
There are diseases that are transferable from cats to pigs. If the mother pig gets contaminated while the piglet is still in its womb, this could result in a miscarriage. But if the infection comes about at the later part of the pregnancy, the piglet will be born dead.
If the pig pen lacks proper ventilation, and if there is a gas leak around or if the carbon monoxide level (from vehicle exhausts) is high, this could result in the death of the piglet in the womb.
Some piglets are born so weak and the membrane in which they are enveloped, and they suffocated in. In other cases the piglet is chilled soon after birth, resulting in death.
The body of a piglet that died in its mother’s womb at the beginning of the pregnancy is hard and partly decomposed. On the other hand the body of a piglet that died just before birth looks normal except for its sunken eyes.
To be certain if the piglet was born dead or just died after birth, slice a piece of the piglet’s lung and place it in a pail of water. If this floats, it means that the piglet had breathed before death (because of the presence of air in the lungs) which means it was born alive.
There are more piglets born dead among multiple farrowing, usually the fifth or the last three piglets. This is perhaps because of the length of the womb and the umbilical cord. The cord is stretched and cut and so the last piglets lose breath before they are able to emerge.
It could also be due to the aging mother, (which may have farrowed for five or six times). Usually, delivering dead piglets starts from the fourth to the seventh farrowing. The next farrowing can be seen in the piglets that have been delivered.
Other causes could be the stress borne by the mother pig before delivery. Perhaps she has had a fight or had undergone much difficulty in the last weeks before delivery.
Fat sows have difficulty in delivery.
If the mother is anaemic or lacks Vitamin E, the piglet cannot survive.
Death of the piglet could also be due to the mother pig’s lack of Vitamin A in its diet, months before delivery.
If the mother pig’s meal becomes contaminated with molds, it will deliver weak or dead piglets.
If, at a certain time, several mother pigs deliver dead piglets, infections or sickness could be the cause.
There are diseases that are transferable from cats to pigs. If the mother pig gets contaminated while the piglet is still in its womb, this could result in a miscarriage. But if the infection comes about at the later part of the pregnancy, the piglet will be born dead.
If the pig pen lacks proper ventilation, and if there is a gas leak around or if the carbon monoxide level (from vehicle exhausts) is high, this could result in the death of the piglet in the womb.