Hi!
I used to run a large commercial operation (100 sows, farrow to finish market hogs) We used farrowing crates of which the only advantage is the sow doesn't eat/crush as many pigs. It also relieves the danger to humans. Most sows don't want people fooling around w/their pigs, but in a crate, there's nothing they can do about it. I can reach in and get any pig any time, and old mom can stand there and snap and snort, but I'm completely safe.
I hope you're not too attached to your sow, because it's time to sell her for sausage. The productive life of a sow in our operation was about 4 litters. Some, 5 or 6. Some, 1 or 2. Sounds like your sow has been a good producer, and anything over a 10 pig average weaned per litter is great. I'd recommend keeping one of the gilts from this latest litter as a replacement sow. At least you know it comes from a mom who's a good producer/milker.
When a sow begins to have these long deliveries, it's a sign of age and the lack of muscle tone required for quick deliveries. They often will have a pig that gets hung up in the birth canal and as it decays, the sow becomes infected and usually dies. Take my advice and sell your sow after she weans this liter and plan on keeping one or 2 of her offspring for replacements.
I used to run a large commercial operation (100 sows, farrow to finish market hogs) We used farrowing crates of which the only advantage is the sow doesn't eat/crush as many pigs. It also relieves the danger to humans. Most sows don't want people fooling around w/their pigs, but in a crate, there's nothing they can do about it. I can reach in and get any pig any time, and old mom can stand there and snap and snort, but I'm completely safe.
I hope you're not too attached to your sow, because it's time to sell her for sausage. The productive life of a sow in our operation was about 4 litters. Some, 5 or 6. Some, 1 or 2. Sounds like your sow has been a good producer, and anything over a 10 pig average weaned per litter is great. I'd recommend keeping one of the gilts from this latest litter as a replacement sow. At least you know it comes from a mom who's a good producer/milker.
When a sow begins to have these long deliveries, it's a sign of age and the lack of muscle tone required for quick deliveries. They often will have a pig that gets hung up in the birth canal and as it decays, the sow becomes infected and usually dies. Take my advice and sell your sow after she weans this liter and plan on keeping one or 2 of her offspring for replacements.
