<t>bryansmith - I have had mine work all the way up to farrowing. Yes, the uterus is full of piglets, but there is still fluid and it's pretty good at finding it. <br/> <br/> I have two litters due July 7 and pregtoned them about 3 days ago (so they were about a month out) and it still produced a po...

<t>Personally, I like to use the spiral type rods on gilts, just because their tract will be smaller than that of the sow. I almost always use a foam tip on the sows. I either use the Golden Pig (yellow tip) or Blue Rod (blue tip) and have had success with both. <br/> <br/> When using the foam tip, ...

<t>When breeding a sow, I usually use the following protocol. <br/> <br/> 2 doses<br/> 1st dose 12 hours after standing heat<br/> 2nd dose 24 hours after the first dose<br/> <br/> 3 doses<br/> 1st dose 12 hours after standing heat<br/> 2nd dose 12 hours after the first dose<br/> 3rd dose 12 hours af...

I had a litter out of him born 2/1 and I have a couple of superstars. It was a litter of 14 and have 2 that are flat out great and the rest are all pretty good. I like them.

What does everyone think of this new boar at LVS?

http://www.leanvaluesires.com/Boars/SugarCain.html

<t>I have found this is normal and just let me grow and it will go away. It seems to be more prominent when you tie the cords and instead of just leaving them. I usually clip to 3/4-1 inch and dip in iodine two times after birth - once shortly after and again about 3 hours later. Mine do this too an...

<t>Hi Erika, <br/> I've been crazy busy with school, and then I had two pigs farrow a week ago so I haven't been on the site a whole lot. I've been keeping up with the reading but haven't been posting but I'll try to do more now. How are your pigs looking? I had one sow have 14, one was 6 lbs. It's ...

<t>Dingdar - I would see if she comes in, and then watch her. That will help you know how long she comes in for and what to plan. You can then feed her Matrix for 14 days followed by a shot of PG600 on day 15, and she should be in heat in 3-7 days. I usually give PG600 on a Monday (so count back for...

<t>It's called a persistent frenulum and can be surgically corrected. I had a boar this fall that had that and we ended up selling him for meat because the vet quoted us $200 minimum to do it and there is no guarantee that he won't have problems later. He shouldn't, but it's always a risk. They norm...

<t>I have two gilts and a sow I had been syncing. I fed Matrix for 14 days, and then a shot of PG 600 on day 15. Everything was given in the PM, and the shot was actually done later at night (about 7:30 pm). Anyway, my sow was standing Thursday night, so I bred her Friday morning when the semen came...

<t>It totally depends on your situation, but 2 weeks is generally too early. 3 weeks is more the norm in commercial operations. I think a lot of show hog producers leave them on about 4 weeks, and I leave mine on five. I like to have the heaviest weaning weight possible, and am never in a rush to br...

<t>I've tried a heart monitor and it didn't work. I have a pregtone II and love it. I can't afford an ultrasound, so this is a good option for me. You can check as early as 19 days and on from there. It detects fluid in the uterus. As you get closer to parturition it may not read pregnant because th...

<t>Has anyone had a boar with this problem? I know it can be a common problem in younger boars (as well as boars, rams etc.). Males are born with it and as they become mature it keritinizes. I don't think my boar has finished this process. He mounts and trys to breed but doesn't seem to get his peni...

On question 2 I actually meant the sow stays in the crate the entire time the litter is nursing, not weaning. Sorry that was a typo.

<t>1. I wean at 4-5 weeks, depending on the condition of the sow and piglets. <br/> <br/> 2. I actually don't use crates, but I think most people who do leave the sow in the entire weaning period but let let out to walk. Correct me if I'm wrong. <br/> <br/> 3. I would start them on a pre-starter whi...