Before giving birth

• Usually, a sow will give birth after about 114 days of the gestation.

• Clean the chest thoroughly with disinfectant spray for 2 weeks.

• Then, the in-pig must be removed and placed on the in-pig cage at least 7 days before birth.

• 10 days before birth, the genitals swell, the nipples enlarge and harden.

• When almost giving birth, the sow signs of distress, may bite the walls, the genitals, and the nipples are tight and bright red.

• When we gently squeeze the nipples, if milk comes out, it means the sow is closely to giving birth.

• The birthing cage should be prepared with straw on the floor, and the nipples and areola must be cleaned.

• Usually 8-12 hours before birth, milk starts to come out.

• 30-90 minutes before birth, there is light bleeding from the genitals and vaginal discharge.

• The normal temperature of a sow is 39 degrees Celsius. If it is higher than that, we need to check if its genitals are oozing with pus and a foul smell. And are its eyes red?

• If this problem occurs, the piglets may die in the womb or have difficulty giving birth because they are too large or are born abnormally.