Princess Sophie!

While we wait for the arrival of my little ones, I wanted to take a minute and introduce you to my new friend .... Princess Sophie.  I was fortunate to meet Miss Sophie last year at the piglet baby shower.  She was a very active little 2 year old, running, playing, giggling about the piglets.  She wanted so badly to take one of my babies home that day!   (unfortunately her mom said NO)

We were instant friends ... It wasn't long after we first met I found out my little Princess was diagnosed with leukemia.  Sophie is in the fight of her life battling this terrible cancer.

 

 

Once I told my team about Sophie's story, all my FFA friends said we must help her family with the medical bills.  They are facing a minimum of 2 years of chemotherapy bills to help Sophie fight this cancer off.  If you would like to help Sophie we got an account set up at Warren FCU in Cheyenne.  The account name is 'Team Sophie' ... donations can be dropped off for Team Sophie at any branch or they can be mailed to Warren FCU  3810 Dell Range Blvd  Cheyenne, WY 82009.

 

Sophie is so very brave and through it all has been a tough young lady.  Miss Mikayla decided Sophie should have the opportunity to name one of my babies,  I was quick to agree ... So baby #1 will be named by Miss Sophie.  It sounds like she already has a great name picked out, so all we do now is wait on these babies to arrive.

 

<3 Pinky Jane

3 Stages of Farrowing....

I love that everyone is being so supportive and concerned, so I asked my team to take a minute and explain the 3 stages of Farrowing.

I want everyone to know I'm doing really well and like any mom it is just taking me a bit of time.    Stage 1 - The pre-farrowing period.  This could go on for 10-14 days ... and it seems like we are closer to 14 days now.  I don't know I have lost track of time.

In this phase my mammary glands will develop and my vulva will swell, good news is I have both of those. Other signs of farrowing include reduced appetite and restlessness, standing up and lying down and changing sides.  As you all know I have really started all of these... thank you for watching.

I may start with milk discharge and will show mucous discharge from my vulva.

The final part of stage 1 is the opening of the cervix to allow my little ones to enter the world. 
My vet is not concerned at this point.  Pigs usually deliver on days 114-116, however we can go short or long days 111-120.  I'm right on track at this point!

Stage 2 - The Farrowing Process.  This is the exciting part not only for you but for me too!
This will range from 3-8hours... Last year it lasted about 10 hours, but that was my first delivery, so hang in there with me, we are getting close now.

Just before I start delivering I will lay on my side, I might start to shiver and lift my upper back leg.  When my tail starts to twitch a piglet is about to be born.

Stage 3 - Delivery of the Placenta.  This could take 1-4 hours ... I'm not sure if you want to stick around for that.   

I'm so excited to be sharing this process with all of my friends.
<3 Pinky Jane

The Babies Are Coming....

Before My Babies Arrive....

I was thinking last night I should take a minute to tell you, with any pregnancy things can go wrong. 

This is my second litter of piglets and Mr. Allen & Mikayla will be here with me to help me every step of the way as they did last year. They are the best and they always have my best interests in mind.... So I don't want you to worry they will do their best to make sure everything goes well.  They will be watching me every 30-60 minutes.  They have prepared by familiarizing themselves with the normal birthing process.  They have ensured I have a clean and dry place to have my babies.

I will tell you this ... technology is on my side and difficulties with farrowing are less common.  Most sows need help in less than 1% of all farrowings.  

They have been watching for all the signs I am about ready to farrow.

Approximate time before delivery	Sow characteristics/ behavior
0-10 days	Mammary glands enlarge and become firm
0-10 days	Swelling of the vulval lips
2 days	Mammary glands become turgid and tense and secrete a clear fluid
12-24 hours	Mammary glands begin to secrete milk
12-24 hours	Overall restlessness, nesting behavior
6 hours	Abundant milk secretion
30 minutes-4 hours	Increased respiration
15-60 minutes	Sow quiets and lies down on her side
30-90 minutes	Straining, passage of blood tinged, oily fluid and meconium ( fetal feces)

During the normal farrowing process I will exhibit mild straining and my first piglet will be born.  Most of my piglets will come head first and some will come tail first.

My piglets will be born approximately 15 minutes apart.  The total time for the delivery of my litter may vary but this process usually takes 2.5 hours or less.  The placenta is usually delivered 2-4 hours after my last piglet is delivered, I may deliver portions of the placenta during my farrowing period.

Things that would be a cause for alarm during this time include:

Observe large volumes of discharge

Gestation exceeding 116 days

Blood tinged fluid or meconium are discharged without signs of straining

Straining without delivery of pigs

The time between the birth of pigs exceeds one hour, and the sow still has a full abdomen

Foul smelling, brown /gray discharge

Reddening of the sow's eyes

Exhaustion after prolonged labor

Sow distress: rapid breathing, weakness, inability to rise

Types of problems that will need intervention.

Type of problem	Method of assistance
Uterine inertia (the uterus is unable to contract)	Manual intervention: be certain that the sow is dilated and nothing is blocking the birth canal Deliver any pigs within reach- grasp the pig by the snout or use a snare Administer oxytocin Get the sow up Cool the sow with a mister or fanCall veterinarian if farrowing does not occur
Improper presentation of pig
Breech	Manual intervention: Hook your index finger under the hock of each hind leg. Extend the legs caudally or use a snare.
Two pigs simultaneously	Manual intervention: Grasp head, lower jaw, or feet to deliver one pig at a time
Pig upside down	Manual intervention: Grasp head, lower jaw, or feet
Canal obstruction
Hymen constriction in gilt (first pig not delivered)	Manual dilation or severing with scissors
Vaginal or cervical prolapse	Call veterinarian
Pelvis too small	Call veterinarian
Constipation	Manually remove fecesGive enema of warm, soapy water
Full bladder	Get sow to stand up and force exercise Give oxytocinRarely the veterinarian will have to catheterize bladder
Deviation of the uterus
Partial uterine torsion	Call veterinarian
S-shaped deviation	Manual intervention
Pig is too large	Call veterinarian
Sow hysteria	Give tranquilizer as prescribed by veterinarian Give oxytocinRemove pigs until sow is quiet and finished farrowing
Retained placenta/ blood or pus discharge	Rare- usually indicates that one or more pigs is present in the reproductive tract-Call veterinarian
Vaginal, uterine or bladder prolapse	Call veterinarian
Hemorrhage	Call veterinarian

---

I found a lot of my information from Purdue  ... They have some amazing references.

I know this is a lot to take in and I don't want you to be concerned.  Mr. Allen & Mikayla have this all  under control and they have arranged for a veterinarian to be on call should a problem arise.

It is time for us all to take a deep breath because in the next 24-48 hours I will be super busy caring for my second litter of piglets.

<3 Pinky Jane

The Crate!

I know it is hard to imagine why it is so important I be in a farrowing crate.   I know you think I don't have room or I'm held down, my crate is actually very comfortable and safe for me, my littles, Mr. Allen & Miss Mikayla.

Here are a few things you need to know about the farrowing crate. 


* A farrowing crate is a penning system which has an area for the sow and areas for the piglets.

* Farrowing crates are designed to reduce the number of piglets which are accidentally laid upon or stepped upon on by the sow.

* Farrowing crates provide a cooler area for the sow and warmer areas for the young piglets. 

* The flooring is designed to keep the piglets dry which reduces the spread of diseases.

* The farrowing crate will also allow Mikayla & Mr. Allen to assist in the birth process of my piglets.

 

Throw Back Thursday ... This is a picture of me and my babies last year.    

 

This is a look at my farrowing crate ...

 

I was moved from my pen to this crate this week, just in time for the delivery of my piglets.  This is done so when I go into labor I will be more comfortable and the babies will be able to get out from under me when I want to lay down. 

 

This may seem cruel to you but it is really what is best for me and the babies.  So don't be surprised when you come to visit if I'm in the farrowing crate.  I will spend several weeks in there until my babies are weaned. 

 

Statistics
-50% of crushing incidents occur during the first 3 days of the  piglets' lives
-Without farrowing crates, the risk of mortality during these 3 days is 10-25%
-In the United Kingdom, research concluded a 95% survival rate in piglets raised in farrowing crates
-85% of sows in the US are housed in a farrowing crate during the farrowing process
(http://animalethicsri.weebly.com/farrowing-crates.html)

Well enough about that ... I think you all get it the crate is the best place for me and the piglets.
You can visit me M-F from 0700-0730a  and  M-Th from 315-400p -  You will need to check in with Mr. Allen in Room 327 before entering the shop.  Oh, and there are some shop rules while you are visiting so make sure you follow those so you will be allowed to visit me again.


<3 Pinky Jane

 

Is There A Pig In The Kitchen?

Now lets be honest here pigs are not used only for meat, they can be found in everyday products that we use around the house and we don't even know it! So to answer your question about there being a pig in the kitchen: almost every product that we use has some kind of animal in it.  Check out the following posters that illustrate some of these items:

Pigs hearts are also very useful to humans.  Currently, the technology exists to enable doctors to replace a patient's heart valves with a new one that has been constructed from tissue that came from a pig's heart valve.  This is due to the fact that much a a pig's anatomy and physiology is very close to that of humans.

There are many other advancements in medical technology to help humans by using products from pigs:

**One important note is that these products are used from animals who are already being used in industry.  This means that the pigs are not being raised in laboratories and having numerous tests being performed.! 





The Birds and the Bees

** Please note:  The content of this post may not be appropriate for all ages**

Today I would like to share with you the process of Artificial Insemination, but before we get too much further with that, let's talk about the birds and the bees a little bit...


It all starts with a gilt or sow, when I go through piggy puberty, my body is ready to produce viable eggs during estrus to begin mating and reproducing. This typically happens for the first time between 6-7 months (150-200 days) of age. We, as pigs will often give birth to our first litter when we are 1-year old. Once we give birth, we're then considered to be a sow and no longer a gilt.  I was a very proud mother of 13 last year, so I am now proud to be called a sow.


Most pigs are bred through artificial insemination, meaning the female was bred artificially by a human who uses semen collected from a boar. Why is this done? Selection of the best genetics to improve the offspring born, and to improve the safety on a farm - boars can be very dangerous!
I came into heat and Mr. Allen and Mikayla jumped into gear to set up for class.  The kids were more excited than I was with what was about to happen.  They prepared all the necessary equipment to AI (artificially inseminate) me.

A student from the Junior class (Sara) prepared the following information to give you more details.....

* AI is used to deliberately introduce semen into a sow or gilt.

Advantages                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
-Less dangerous                          
-Less risk of disease transmission                 
-Faster for sows
-Most likely to impregnate
-Farrowing date is more accurate
- No need to keep boars on location
                                                                                               
Disadvantages  
-Costs a lot depending on where the semen originates
-Time consuming with gilts
-Requires higher level of management
-Greater chance of human error

Facts
- Sanitation of equipment is very important
-AI has a high conception rate
-A pigs estrous cycle is 21 days
-Estrous may only last a day or two.

 This Picture shows a swine Uterine Tract 

How is AI done?

They could tell I was in heat because my ears began to twitch a lot and when they applied pressure on my loin and I was willing to stand still and not run away. 

 

They used a Spirette and inserted it in an upward angle to avoid my bladder.  They continued rotating the spirette counterclockwise until they reached my cervix. 

When they met resistance they gently pulled back and attached the bottle of semen.  This is were I helped them with the AI procedure.  I started contracting until all the semen was removed from the bottle.  Are you wondering why Mikayla is sitting on my back?

she did that to trick me so I would stand still.  Her trickery worked! 

Once I took all the semen they gently removed the spirette.

Are you wondering how many times this was attempted?

3 AI procedures were completed total over a 2 day period approximately 12 hours apart each time.

I am sure now that you have read all of this you think they are awful people.  Please don't think that,  this is the safest way for me to get pregnant and I have to tell you I love being pregnant.  I have gotten a lot of attention and Mikayla always brings me lots of treats.

After I was successfully bred it takes 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days for my gestation period to complete before I give birth (farrow) 114 days later.  Approximately as soon as twenty-one days after I give birth, I can come into heat once again and can be ready to re-breed for my next litter.  On average, we can give birth to 2.6 litters per years.  That's almost 36 piglets a year, if we has 12 per litter!


Fun Fact: Unlike most species of livestock and even humans, boar semen cannot be preserved in liquid nitrogen.  For instance, semen from cattle can be collected from a bull and preserved in liquid nitrogen for several weeks or even years.  Once a cow or heifer is ready to breed, the semen is simply thawed in a warm water bath and a person artificially inseminates the female.
Pigs on the other hand have very fragile sperm and semen.  It cannot be frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed for later use. 

 Instead, once the semen is collected, it is mixed with stabilizers and extenders (nutrients to feed the sperm) and then placed in a temperature controlled chamber.  This chamber mimics the body temperature of a boar.  The semen placed in the chamber will remain viable (or alive) for a period of about three to five days.  Then the sperm typically dies and the semen become obsolete.  

I am so excited to be a part of the Ag educational program at East High and the kids are really excited too!  Every student that has participated in this project have had lots of information to share with everyone reading this blog.  Please continue to watch and learn many new things about me.

<3 Pinky Jane

Welcome to 2015!

Hello!  Welcome to my new blog for 2015!  My name is Pinky Jane and I am glad you stopped by!  I have quite a story to share, and we will get to that over the next few posts.  But for now if you have any questions, you are welcome to browse the archived blogs from last year.

To bring you up to speed for this year's project, I will just talk about what has already occurred this school year and what is to come over the next month or so.

I try to get as much rest as I can so I can have all
my babies grow to be healthy when they are born.

I am a 2 year old Yorkshire Sow who lives most of the time at East High School in Cheyenne, WY.  I am the star of one of the major projects that the agriculture and FFA students work on at the school.  Every year the class learns about the reproduction system of pigs by completing a hands-on project with me.  In the fall, Mikayla (my owner, I'll tell you more about her in  a little bit) and Mr. Allen (the Ag Instructor) Artificially Inseminate me as a class demonstration.  This year it was a little difficult as I did not become pregnant the first round, so we had to do it again.  On October 31 (yes, Halloween) I was successfully bred to a boar named "Closet Monster."  He currently lives in Iowa.

Fast-forward a few months, and we find ourselves here, about a month away from me giving birth (farrowing) to my piglets.  I am really excited to meet all of them and I am excited for you to as well.

Now the main reason for having this blog is so the agriculture students can teach anyone who is interested about everything pigs.  We will talk about a little of everything concerning the swine industry over the next few months, so I hope you will all tune in regularly!  I better go get some rest for now, but I hope to see you all soon!

Don't forget to log into my webcam to watch me live - 24 hours a day!

*Pinks