Success rebreeding sows following C Section

Breeding questions, sow talk, semen management, baby pig basics
Post Reply
drjohn
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:01 pm

Success rebreeding sows following C Section

Post by drjohn » Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:21 pm

I have two sows, both farrowed as 13 month old gilts end of January. Both required c-sections, which were successful, and one weaned 10 and the other 11 piglets. What experience do people have with breed back after c-section? They have both had several good heat cycles and have much more skeletal frame (and more reasonable body condition) than for first farrowing. Any experience is appreciated.

rbburg1212
Showpig Specialist
Showpig Specialist
Posts: 144
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:11 pm

Re: Success rebreeding sows following C Section

Post by rbburg1212 » Fri Jun 28, 2019 11:55 am

I re-bred a Hereford this past year. Her first litter was a C-section and then she had 10 on her own this past February. Her C-section was due to piglet size. I asked the vet when he was done about re-breeding her. He told me she could have pigs on her own, just hope they aren't as big.

This past April we had another C-section on a cross gilt. She was moderate framed, big boned and a tank. The vet said there is no way she will have pigs on her own. He stated that we could bred her again but would have to schedule a C-section. He said you can C-section a sow twice, then they are done. It has to do with cutting each horn of the uterus only once.

drjohn
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:01 pm

Re: Success rebreeding sows following C Section

Post by drjohn » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:00 pm

I am curious (not critical, honestly curious) about the criteria your vet used to make those determinations. I am a DVM myself, although most of my experience is with cattle and horses, and my swine experience is limited to commercial settings where farrowing problems of this nature are virtually non existent.

In my experience I am unaware of a limitation on the number of uterine incisions regarding future reproductive ability in livestock. I have firsthand knowledge of cows that have had as many as 8 c sections and rebred well (clubbys, double muscled, research cows), with all of the incisions on the left uterine horn. Also, I was trained to remove no more than 3 piglets from any single uterine incision during a sow c-section to avoid unnecessary trauma and contamination of the uterus through multiple entries of the arm and excessive manipulation to move piglets greater distance through a gravid uterus. So my sows had two incisions in each horn, one a third the distance from the uterine body, another about a third of the distance from the tip of the uterine horn.

Obviously if there is a better technique, I should adopt it. I've asked around quite a bit among my veterinary colleagues, and have yet to find any who have show pig repro experience outside of a one-of case that was atypical and complicated from the start (and unfortunately few real success stories). I appreciate the benefit of your experience and would like to learn more about the criteria that limit show-bred sows' reproductive life.

User avatar
swi
Power User
Power User
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:00 pm

Re: Success rebreeding sows following C Section

Post by swi » Sat Aug 24, 2019 9:07 pm

I have had 2 gilts that needed a C-section on their first litters. Vet. (2 different ones working at the same clinic) said there should be no reason they should not be able to farrow on their own in the future. One had a second litter normal birth, then would not rebreed again. The other sow had her fourth litter this Summer, the last three normal. Both vets made one incision on the right side, then made one incision in each uterine horn.

Post Reply
cron