Hello I have a cross gilt that weighs about 230 and has no pay lean in her. But all of a sudden she locks up. Stays standing stiff ear directly up and won’t move a muscle for about a minute or longer. Then all of a sudden she can walk again like nothing is wrong with her. My kids have showed pigs for about 5 years and I have never seen this. What is it.

How old is she how long has it been going on? Sounds like she might just be in heat.

She’s a July pig. She has come into heat once before. I had someone else tell me that it’s muscle cramps. She was starting to come into heat again right now.

Maybe about 3 weeks. It has only happened a hand full of times But just afraid if she locks up at show time.

Three things can cause this:
1. Stress gene. If it’s this the pig usually does
2. A gene in the Duroc and Hampshire breeds (usually not fatal)
3. Lactic acid build up in the muscle, couple with either calcium or potassium depletion. There is a product called lactanase. (NOT lactase). Lactanase breaks down lactic acid (lactase breaks down lactose). Lactanase is an enzyme packaged in a small foil pack. You can find it on the horse section

It’s not a drug, will not test. It is a naturally occurring enzyme. Mix with water or feed dry mixed into feed