TransRite Sow Ultra??

[pigboy07]

Was wondering if anyone used this product and whether or not you seen results. Also curious from a vets standpoint if this was a product that can be beneficial. Thanks

[mgross4]

I used it one farrowing season and had more farrowing issues than ever before. Could be coincidence, but I never used is again.

[mtbkmom]

My son did a pilot research project on this at Tarleton State. Not this exact product but another product that supplemented Calcium 5 days prior to farrowing via a top dress product. He was able to demonstrate a decrease in pig-to-pig intervals and an increase avg in the number of live births (I think it my have been +1). The article was published in a Texas Agriculture Journal about a year ago I think.

Personally, it has helped me tremendously. I am a show pig breeder and these piglets as a whole are not "average" frame from my experience. I also have an open barn and my sows/gilts farrow July-Aug in 100+ degree temps. I do have a mist system set up for the mommas, but still it is not a cool, controlled environment. In other words, less that ideal. Before this product I would say that almost all of my females were tiring out before the completion of their farrowing. With this product, when they start....they start. When you start to see fluid, it is heads up there will be a piglet on the ground almost always within an hour, no more that 2. When they push, they push. Good strong, longer push.

So if there is greater that a 20 minute interval, it is usually something wrong with presentation; not the momma. In most cases a big head, big shoulders and need to snare and give a tug to get the piglet out (show pig boar influence). Sometimes, the rear legs are tucked up under themselves and need to be untangled. Sometimes they stack. All of these would have needed help anyways, I just know that if there is a delay, do not screw around there is something else going on and they need help. So I get in, get it sorted out, get out. Give a small dose of oxy next to the vulva when I know I have pulled until clear and watch the momma just keep going with pushing.

For the most part they do not tire out on me at all. I always have had an issue with once the placenta starts to pass I don't mess around with looking for a piglet as long as I see good contractions and placenta passing and then see the big chunk come. But I bet that on at least a third of my litters I get placenta...small to medium section, baby, then big piece. It is the baby in between that I am frustrated with because I bet that 3/4's of these are born dead.

Last Sep...2 litters. Both sows. Game Changer spot boar. Godzilla berk boar. Spot sow started 2300 and finished around 0145 (10 piglets). Berk sow started 0150 and finished with last piglet at exactly 0250 (12 piglets). Berk actually had a 10 min delay from Piglet 11 and 12 and a little placenta passed. 0250m She shot out a nice looking dead piglet and a big section of placenta.

With this stuff you usually don't have babies every 3-4 minutes but when they come, they start coming. I always have a second hand around because with this berk sow, babies were shooting out before I had the mouth wiped cleared on the previous baby.

Bottom line: never ever farrowing without it. Don't want poor calcium load to 1) complicate a complicated show pig farrowing and 2) If there are issues these mommas keep pushing a whole lot longer. They do not give up. May need a little oxy along the way but not like before by any means.

[pigboy07]

My son did a pilot research project on this at Tarleton State. Not this exact product but another product that supplemented Calcium 5 days prior to farrowing via a top dress product. He was able to demonstrate a decrease in pig-to-pig intervals and an increase avg in the number of live births (I think it my have been +1). The article was published in a Texas Agriculture Journal about a year ago I think.

Personally, it has helped me tremendously. I am a show pig breeder and these piglets as a whole are not "average" frame from my experience. I also have an open barn and my sows/gilts farrow July-Aug in 100+ degree temps. I do have a mist system set up for the mommas, but still it is not a cool, controlled environment. In other words, less that ideal. Before this product I would say that almost all of my females were tiring out before the completion of their farrowing. With this product, when they start....they start. When you start to see fluid, it is heads up there will be a piglet on the ground almost always within an hour, no more that 2. When they push, they push. Good strong, longer push.

So if there is greater that a 20 minute interval, it is usually something wrong with presentation; not the momma. In most cases a big head, big shoulders and need to snare and give a tug to get the piglet out (show pig boar influence). Sometimes, the rear legs are tucked up under themselves and need to be untangled. Sometimes they stack. All of these would have needed help anyways, I just know that if there is a delay, do not screw around there is something else going on and they need help. So I get in, get it sorted out, get out. Give a small dose of oxy next to the vulva when I know I have pulled until clear and watch the momma just keep going with pushing.

For the most part they do not tire out on me at all. I always have had an issue with once the placenta starts to pass I don't mess around with looking for a piglet as long as I see good contractions and placenta passing and then see the big chunk come. But I bet that on at least a third of my litters I get placenta...small to medium section, baby, then big piece. It is the baby in between that I am frustrated with because I bet that 3/4's of these are born dead.

Last Sep...2 litters. Both sows. Game Changer spot boar. Godzilla berk boar. Spot sow started 2300 and finished around 0145 (10 piglets). Berk sow started 0150 and finished with last piglet at exactly 0250 (12 piglets). Berk actually had a 10 min delay from Piglet 11 and 12 and a little placenta passed. 0250m She shot out a nice looking dead piglet and a big section of placenta.

With this stuff you usually don't have babies every 3-4 minutes but when they come, they start coming. I always have a second hand around because with this berk sow, babies were shooting out before I had the mouth wiped cleared on the previous baby.

Bottom line: never ever farrowing without it. Don't want poor calcium load to 1) complicate a complicated show pig farrowing and 2) If there are issues these mommas keep pushing a whole lot longer. They do not give up. May need a little oxy along the way but not like before by any means.

Very helpful thank you

[rbburg1212]

I agree with the above post by mtbkmom. We use Trans-Rite. I've also seen the small amount of placenta followed by a dead piglet then a large amount of placenta. Usually that dead piglet also has a small cord. It never fails that dead piglet always seems to be really nice looking! Our farrowing season kicks off Sunday, hope the Trans-Rite does its job again this year.

[jimhilton]

Been using this product several years and I would agree with above posts. See great results with older sows reducing time of labor.

[carpspigs]

I have farrowed with and without and will not farrow without ever again I love the product !!

[EMC]

I have some of this left from last year. Think it's good or should I just throw it out?

[tyrus007]

Should be okay as long as it did not get wet. It is prilled so it can withstand some envirment. We usually put ours in an enclosed bucket. No problems from season to season

[EMC]

I agree, Its been sealed.

[pigboy07]

I have some of this left from last year. Think it's good or should I just throw it out?

Spoke to a rep on this he said if it's been sealed shelf life is a few months. I had old stuff and bought a new bag and noticed a huge difference in terms of smell. The old I had while it was sealed up and dry had zero smell, while the new bag just had that fresh smell to it and had a brighter white compared to my old.