Photo Gallery: See What You Feel - An Assisted Farrowing Guide

May 2, 2012

Anatomy of the Sow

This cutaway diagram provides a quick anatomy lesson to show some of the obstacles pigs encounter as they move through the birth canal during the farrowing process. Numbers are keyed to body parts and internal organs as follows: 1. Vulva: The opening of the birth canal. 2. Vagina: The area from just inside the vulva to the cervix. In a sow that is dilated and ready to farrow, the vagina, cervix and uterus blend together. 3. Uterus: The diagram shows a shortened version of the uterus, which is normally 5-6 ft. long. The uterus is divided into two parts - each occupied by the pigs ready to be delivered. 4. Abdominal cavity: In addition to the reproductive organs, this area contains the small intestine and the colon. The colon runs above the birth canal and extends back to the rectum. 5. Sacrum: The end of the spinal column, which is connected to the lower part of the pelvis. 6. Pelvis: This and the surrounding pelvic bones form the bony area of the birth canal. The "pelvic brim" is the front portion of the pelvis bone. 7. Pelvic Space (Pelvic Cavity): The area occupied by the rectum, vagina and a portion of the bladder, which extends forward to the brim of the pelvis. 8. Bladder: Extends over the brim of the pelvis, just below the vagina.
Normal Delivery Positions- Anterior (forward) Presentation

When the pig passes head-first through the birth canal, the front legs are folded back against the pig's chest wall. The back legs trail behind. About 55% of pigs are born in this head-first position.
Normal Delivery Positions - Posterior (backward) Presentation

These pigs are born with their back legs coming first, their front legs are extended under their chin. This is also known as the "caudal" position. About 45% of pigs are born this way.
Abnormal Delivery Positions - Breech Position

This complication occurs when the pigs moves through the birth canal backwards. The pig's rump is caught over the brim of the sow's pelvis, the hocks and legs are caught forward. This is one of the most common causes of difficult farrowings and can be rather difficult to correct. Rarely can a sow deliver a pig in a breech position without assistance.
Assisting with a Breech Position Delivery

If the sow is large, gently slide your hand through the vulva and the vagina until you contact the pig. Gently hook your finger around the pig's hocks and simultaneously push the pig's rump and pelvis forward with your thumb or finger. This action will allow you to pull the back legs toward you and position the pig in a normal posterior presentation so you can pull him out.
Abnormal Delivery Positions - Doubled-Over Position

This is a very difficult position to correct because the pig's backbone becomes wedged in the birth canal. If the sow is small or the pig is fairly large, correcting this problem is even more difficult. This situation can best be corrected using the techniques used to solve a breech presentation. Try to nudge the pig forward so you can hook a finger around the pig's rear legs. Pull the legs toward you to position him in the normal, posterior position. If uncorrected, a Caesarean section may be required.
Abnormal Delivery Positions - Two Pigs Presented at Once

In this situation, two pigs lying belly-to-belly are passing through the birth canal together. Often, one pig is coming backward, the other is presented head-first. Both may come backward or head-first. If you can reach the pigs, usually you can grip one pig and deliver it, then go back to pull the other. In most of these cases, assistance is required because the sow is unable to move the combined mass of the pigs up and into the pelvic area.
Abnormal Delivery Positions - Heavy Uterus

A large litter of 14 or more pigs can drag the uterus down along the abdominal wall causing it to form an "S" curve, which pushes part of the uterus underneath the pelvis. Under the heavy load, the uterus cannot contract enough to push the pigs up and over the pelvic brim. Assisting the delivery of the first pig will usually allow the "S" curve to straighten out and the rest of the pigs can be delivered normally.
Manual Delivery Techniques - Nose or Jawbone Grip

To get a good grip when a pig is coming head-first, grasp the ridge of the nose with your thumb and insert your index finger into his mouth behind the canine (needle) teeth, pinch thumb and index finger together, and pull. Or, reverse the thumb and index finger configuration, placing your thumb in the pig's mouth, wrap your index finger around its nose, pinch and pull. Another option is to insert your index finger in the pig's mouth, place your thumb under his chin, grasping the mandible or V-shaped jawbones, pinch and pull as pictured. Or, reversing this configuration, place your thumb in the pig's mouth, press your index finger under the lower jaw, pinch and pull.
Manual Delivery Techniques - Head Grip

If the sow's pelvis is big enough and her uterus well-dilated, you may be able to pass your hand over the pig's head, placing your index finger behind one ear, your middle finger behind the other ear, then press your thumb against the lower jaw, squeeze and pull gently as pictured. Do not force your arm too far into the reproductive tract. Doing so can damage sensitive tissue or contaminate the reproductive tract.

Educational illustrations depict both normal pig delivery positions and abnormal delivery positions, and show manual delivery techniques. These illustrations appear on the popular National Hog Farmer production poster, "See What You Feel." Order educational posters from the National Hog Farmer Production Poster Series at http://nationalhogfarmer.com/posters/gate.

See What You Feel - An Assisted Farrowing Guide

Anatomy of the Sow

Normal Delivery Positions- Anterior (forward) Presentation

Normal Delivery Positions - Posterior (backward) Presentation

Abnormal Delivery Positions - Breech Position

Assisting with a Breech Position Delivery

Abnormal Delivery Positions - Doubled-Over Position

Abnormal Delivery Positions - Two Pigs Presented at Once

Abnormal Delivery Positions - Heavy Uterus

Manual Delivery Techniques - Nose or Jawbone Grip

Manual Delivery Techniques - Head Grip

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