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Dolores, our most irritating, time-wasting, contrary but still loveable, sow farrowed last night. And true to form, she performed as expected - delivering the grand total of two piglets!

As I want to get a third sow line anyway, I think it's fairly clear which of our existing four sows (from two lines) will be going...

Sorry but I gotta laugh! It can't be too much like hard work for a pig that size to give birth to a couple of little piglets as small as that, though it looks like she's pretending to be tuckered out!

It became more complicated later, so I was up until gone 1am and then up early again to check Dolores before doing the usual chores and school run. As a result, I'm now knackered, enjoying a rest and having a cuppa.

I did a long comment on my blog earlier this morning, so if you want the bloody details, have a look. I won't go into detail here as the squeamish might find it a bit much - although it's not too bad, and Dolores and piglets are now doing well.

http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2007/11/ ... /#comments

I think any prospective pigkeepers should read this and my previous pig midwifery post - http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2007/11/ ... ult-birth/ - before deciding to breed pigs.

Most farrowings are straightforward, but things do go wrong and you have to get hands on. Also, some sows will attack, kill and even eat their newly farrowed piglets. It's not happened to us (yet) but again, it does happen.

But don't get too worried, most of the time it is straightforward, it is rewarding, and piglets are hugely entertaining.

oh dear - yes, she has to earn her keep.. and I guess she has finally blown it.

Millymollymandy wrote:Sorry but I gotta laugh! It can't be too much like hard work for a pig that size to give birth to a couple of little piglets as small as that, though it looks like she's pretending to be tuckered out!

It is and it isn't. She popped them out fairly quickly, then the afterbirth and then settled down. But it went downhill a couple of hours later, although we did manage to get things sorted.

Come on, don't complain: she's a highly intelligent sow. She's read it all in the papers how food prices are going up, and the world is overpopulated anyway...

ina wrote:Come on, don't complain: she's a highly intelligent sow. She's read it all in the papers how food prices are going up, and the world is overpopulated anyway...

Im afraid I have to say that Dolores is a chav pig. All high heels and bum wobbles, ignoring her kids, and spending all her time either lying around or teasing the blokes!

Well she looks to me like she will make plenty of yummy sausages, and some tasty hams. Giving you more time with your more productive sows.

Have you sexed the piglets? Is there a chance her female offspring will be as useless and time consuming? Or would you be able to raise one to be a farrowing sow and hope for better returns?

I'd love to raise weaners - it is a wish that I have had since I was very young, - but we are terraced and can't get to the garden (1/2 acre) other than through the house... fine to take them in... but I wouldn't fancy getting them back out through the house again.

Annpan wrote:Have you sexed the piglets? Is there a chance her female offspring will be as useless and time consuming? Or would you be able to raise one to be a farrowing sow and hope for better returns?

Dolores was only for breeding pigs for finishing (meat) as she's poorly marked. we'd never keep any offpsring from her for future breeding.

She had one boar (quite a nice one) and one gilt (with a huge white stripe on one side so it looks like half a Saddleback, and a stumpy tail).

Basically, Dolores has proved to be a money pit and the piglets will recover less than 10% of what's gone into her. We don't keep pigs to make money, but we do have to be pragmatic so her days are numbered.

Stonehead wrote: Im afraid I have to say that Dolores is a chav pig. All high heels and bum wobbles, ignoring her kids, and spending all her time either lying around or teasing the blokes!

A "modern" woman of her time then!

Well, you should get a fair few sausages out of her... And a lot of dripping!