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Post by marshallco on Nov 29, 2023 20:03:04 GMT -5
We kept 1 cross gilt and I bought another spot gilt from a friend from this years county fair. I missed on the cross, but the spot got knocked up, expecting a New Year’s Day delivery, as long as I can keep her healthy.
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Post by marshallco on Nov 29, 2023 20:08:46 GMT -5
 Spot is on the right, cross on the left. Sorry the poor photo, heat lamp makes everything red. |
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Post by esshup on Nov 29, 2023 21:57:24 GMT -5
Here's hoping for a smooth birth!
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Post by marshallco on Dec 14, 2023 22:49:43 GMT -5
 Moved the pregnant spot inside tonight, her companion got a trailer ride to the sale barn. These shavings need shoveled and replaced every 3 days, but can’t see the sense in stressing her out in the cold. Comfy 58 degrees inside. Pretty sure she said thanks. |
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Post by marshallco on Dec 29, 2023 22:35:16 GMT -5
  Ol spot girl got crated today. Her due date is in 2 days. No milk yet, but she’s dropping pretty well. |
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Post by welder on Dec 30, 2023 9:33:18 GMT -5
Is that a spotted Poland? Nice looking gilt/sow!
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Post by marshallco on Dec 30, 2023 10:10:14 GMT -5
Thanks Welder! She’s a purebred spot. Polands (or China-Poland) are their own separate breed. But they’re both dark colored breeds with white and gray markings.
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Post by marshallco on Jan 1, 2024 9:39:40 GMT -5
 Started about 5:00 am this morning. 8 live births, 2 still births. 5 barrows and 3 gilts. My youngest daughter got to see the whole show. That’s quite a few for a gilt. |
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Post by featherduster on Jan 1, 2024 10:10:15 GMT -5
Congratulations, does everybody get a cigar?
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Post by marshallco on Jan 1, 2024 10:59:53 GMT -5
I gave mine to my daughter. I didn’t have many beers last night knowing I could be up late, may have 1 or 4 today. Then a nap. Working on about 2-3 hours sleep. But it’s all good!
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Post by stevein on Jan 1, 2024 11:57:56 GMT -5
I gave mine to my daughter. I didn’t have many beers last night knowing I could be up late, may have 1 or 4 today. Then a nap. Working on about 2-3 hours sleep. But it’s all good! Think about it would be like to have a large commercial op. It is good for kids to know that pork and other meat does not start out life on a styrofoam platter. |
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Post by esshup on Jan 1, 2024 13:24:40 GMT -5
I gave mine to my daughter. I didn’t have many beers last night knowing I could be up late, may have 1 or 4 today. Then a nap. Working on about 2-3 hours sleep. But it’s all good! Think about it would be like to have a large commercial op. It is good for kids to know that pork and other meat does not start out life on a styrofoam platter. A customer of mine is a hog farmer in Illinois. He only raises them to 40# then they get shipped off to someone else. He raises around 250,000 per year. |
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Post by marshallco on Jan 1, 2024 13:30:24 GMT -5
Exactly. I know everything that will ever be put in these pigs. Some kids, and adults too, have no idea how this works or what goes into it.
My main reference is a guy that runs a commercial sow operation, raises about 12 show pigs and also has his own meat line set of pigs. Extremely blessed to have him willing to give advice. He just had a litter of durocs this morning too, now off to deal with 112 commercial sows. And it’s his “busy week” with farrowing a third of them. Crazy.
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Post by marshallco on Jan 1, 2024 22:14:38 GMT -5
Momma struggled some this afternoon. Only to figure out that she still had 2 more stillborns in her plugging everything up. Got the last one out about an hour ago, she seems much better now. Never did get that nap, but gonna sleep real good tonight.
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Post by esshup on Jan 2, 2024 5:11:32 GMT -5
Momma struggled some this afternoon. Only to figure out that she still had 2 more stillborns in her plugging everything up. Got the last one out about an hour ago, she seems much better now. Never did get that nap, but gonna sleep real good tonight. It sounds like she's over the hump and will get to raise the litter now. |
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Post by marshallco on Jan 2, 2024 11:10:51 GMT -5
 Momma is doing better, I think she is cleaned out. Already back on feed, drinking as well. Piglets seem OK too. |
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Post by marshallco on Jan 4, 2024 21:21:52 GMT -5
 Well I was wrong. Momma had 1 more stillborn that hadn’t passed. We went in to pull, but with the swelling couldn’t get it. Used a snare, and not to be gross, but pulled off a leg because it starts to rot once it’s gone. It finally passed yesterday, but momma wasn’t feeling so good. We started a regimen of penicillin/dex/B12 and she seems to be turning the corner. That was Monday so we were ahead of any infection, which is bound to happen. She went off feed and water, but starting to come back now. All told, there were 13 pigs in there, 8 still alive, 5 stillborn. 13 is flat crazy for a gilt. One of the live pigs has a leg issue and may not be around long, but even 7 live is a good day for a gilt. |
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Post by featherduster on Jan 4, 2024 22:07:51 GMT -5
How do they do it in the wild.
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Post by esshup on Jan 5, 2024 9:19:07 GMT -5
Jeez, you are lucky that you caught it in time.
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Post by stevein on Jan 5, 2024 9:43:16 GMT -5
How do they do it in the wild. I would guess those that are in this situation are coyote food. Mother nature is a harsh breeder. Do this and after several this trait is gone. |
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