What to Expect With a Pregnant Pig

Although they were domesticated nearly 9,000 years ago, pigs continue to be an important part of modern life. Pigs have been used as mine detectors in wars, have saved people from drowning and are the source of life-saving heart valves for humans. A female pig, known as a sow, is capable of producing two litters a year. However, if this is your first experience with a pregnant pig, you might be wondering what you can expect.

  1. Determining Pregnancy

    • The most common method of determining whether your sow is pregnant is to note the failure of the sow to return to estrus, or heat. A sow experiences a heat every 21 days. If your sow has been bred and has not had estrus in over 21 days, she is likely pregnant. If you don't have the ability to observe previous estrus cycles, it is best to watch the sow for the next month to see if she experiences a heat and to see if her waist is beginning to expand. Absence of heat can also be due to malnourishment or disease. Any sow that is extremely thin or shows signs of disease such as discharge, listlessness or diarrhea should be examined by a veterinarian.

    The Basics

    • Sows are pregnant for three months, three weeks and three days. A minimum of four embryos must be present to maintain the pregnancy. If a sow has fewer than this, the pregnancy naturally ends. Near the end of the third month, the sow begins to have a distended belly, or a pot belly, and the udders become larger. Some sows become so large that their udders drag on the ground. This is no cause for alarm; it helps to toughen up the teats.

    Caring for a Pregnant Sow

    • During pregnancy the sow needs access to clean soil, greens, water and a high nutrient feed, which can be purchased at an agricultural supply store. Sows require extra nutrients while pregnant to maintain the growth of the litter. As the end of the pregnancy nears, the sow requires even more food. As the birthing time nears, the sow needs access to ample clean bedding.

    Farrowing

    • When a pig is ready to give birth, known as farrowing, she makes a nest and begins to act restless. At this point, if you squeeze the teat, milk flows. The sow typically gives birth within 24 hours of this occurrence. Most sows need no help to complete this process and the entire birthing normally takes about three hours from the sign of the first piglet to completion.