farrowed

Farrowed is the past tense of the verb farrow, used in pig farming to describe a sow that has given birth to piglets. Farrowing is the process by which a sow delivers her litter, and the event is sometimes referred to as parturition in swine. The gestation period for a sow is typically about 114 days, with a normal range of roughly 112 to 118 days.

Farrowing progresses through three stages. Stage I involves preparation and mild contractions, with alternating rest and increased activity. Stage II comprises the actual delivery of piglets, often lasting from a few minutes to several hours, with multiple piglets born in succession. Stage III is the expulsion of the placenta and usually occurs after the last piglet is born.

Management focuses on animal welfare and piglet survival. A clean, warm farrowing environment and, in many operations, a farrowing crate reduce piglet mortality from crushing. It is important to ensure that newborn piglets receive colostrum promptly for passive immunity, monitor for difficult births, and provide navel care and warmth. Piglets may require iron supplementation and should be kept with the sow or in a warm nursery until they are strong enough to thrive on their own.

Common outcomes and terminology: litter size varies by breed and parity, often ranging from several piglets up to more than a dozen. The frequency and efficiency of farrowing influence production records and breeding decisions. The term farrowed is used in farm records and veterinary notes to indicate that the sow has completed the farrowing event.