THIS Mistake Kills Piglets - Don't Make It On Your Farm!

THIS Mistake Kills Piglets - Don't Make It On Your Farm!
We've made a tragic mistake on our farm in dealing with some of our piglets.
PLEASE watch this if you are farrowing piglets on your farm and don't make the same mistake as us.
Video Where We Fixed This: • Farrowing Pigs On Past...
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[@toddcaskey9984]

Living and learning, I lost 2 pigs before one due to pneumonia, and one to stress & dehydration. Both totally my fault. The best you can hope for is to learn from your mistakes. 😋 Very brave letting 1,000 's know , and dealing with all that. Great job buddy! Now go give that better half of yours a big hug for putting up with your ass 🤪 . Take care ! Todd

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Will do! She’s a patient woman. 🤣

[@Rhodietoo]

We changed from group farrowings 5 per paddock - to making temporary single pens in a row, using two strands of polywire 3 meters apart, with a cross wire and spring gate between huts. At 10 days old, we open up the cross fences and let the groups mingle. Using this system, and with strict bed maintenence, I have averaged 26/pigs weaned per sow with commercial sows (Duroc/Landrace to Large white boars) and between 20 - 24 with the heritage sows - saddlebacks 24, Tamworth 22 and Middle white 20, but we did increase the Middle white to average 22 with three years of selection. bringing them in line with the Tamworth.

[@kevinault7424]

Thank you for being so transparent and sharing your ongoing knowledge with the rest of us.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. Appreciate y’all watching

[@squarecountyhomestead]

We remember our mistakes more than our achievements. Thanks for the info!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Indeed we do! And I’ve learned a big one here. Appreciate y’all watching

[@mattnuevo6334]

This is a reality of raising pigs. I lose piglets every farrowing.. sometimes more, sometimes less. I try to remember that this is what happens in nature, and it’s part of the reason they have so many babies. The impulse is to save them all, but I’ve learned not to interfere.. and humbly accept the losses.

[@bautistafamilyfarm]

It is always sad to lose piglets or any farm animal, but we all learn from our mistakes. Thanks for the video

[@DEADMANzRUNNING]

I know exactly what you mean..I’m not long in this business/hobby....I’ve had to suffer losses and the comment about our own laziness is spot on! Humans should half the the tenacity of a pig...maybe it would increase production from lower loss ratios...my local butcher one told me that the only guarantee to not loosing animals is to “not get any” great video information here for the inexperienced person entering blindly

[@user-ck7ro7ep3d]

We're going to be spending a lot of money to import registered, quality pigs to our new farm in Puerto Rico so thank you so much for sharing your harsh lesson.

[@jhordans808homestead7]

I truly appreciate your honesty and transparency about your farming journey. I am new to raising livestock (2-Kunekune Pigs), 18 week old piglets. I have so many questions and concerns. We don’t get winter weather here but we do get A LOT of rain. Trying to be organic but we have very limited suppliers and resources.I had them shipped in from the mainland so I am concerned about them adjusting to the severe temperature and weather difference. They finally started sleeping in their shelter, out of the rain. Huge learning curve for me. I so appreciate your honesty and integrity because it’s not easy raising animals.Thank you so much!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. Good luck with your animals.

[@youjustdontgetit8117]

Hogs and pigs are outdoor animals...they will survive...let then do what they do best and that live naturally...their instincts and actions will show and teach you what they need...being pigs its food and water...they don't need cover or anything.. amazing animals...they will adapt...

[@greenthumbprepper8653]

Chuck. Your my Go To pig guy for information. I’m finally able to get the pigs I’ve been trying to raise this coming spring. Thank you for your honesty. I’m sorry for your loss. And I’ll make sure to heed your advice. Have a great Saturday

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Congrats on the pigs! Thanks for watching

[@Green_Heart_Family_Farm]

Thank you very much for sharing. We've had four Kune Kune sows give birth over the last few months. The first three did great, no losses, but the last one, who was late, lost more than half the litter. We suspected the issue was competition against the larger piglets, and your video makes us even more confident that was our mistake. We will be putting up a separate paddock for late moms next time.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Sure sounds like a similar issue. Thanks for watching

[@ronaldclemons5520]

Thank you guys for sharing. My dad use to say we live and learn everyday. Some lessons are hard to swallow. Sorry for your loss, but I know things will be different next time. Blessings, and as always I’m praying for you guys🙏🏻

[@dayneholt4149]

We appreciate you and Sondra more than you know. ❤. Blessings

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. Appreciate y’all watching

[@randalb1386]

Thanks for the education Chuck. Sorry to hear about the loss of the piglets

[@rspranchinmontana]

Thank you for sharing. We learn by mistakes and when we share our own with others? Thats a huge GIFT to all of us. We thank you my dear. Hang in there with nursing the two little piglets.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for the kind words. Appreciate y’all watching

[@markshepardsongs]

Thank you so much for your willingness to share your mistakes and lessons!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for watching. Big mistake on our part.

[@suzanneo1124]

Leadership and character is being able to admit your mistake, learn from the mistake, and pivot. Did you make a mistake, yep. Will you do it differently next time, no doubt. Don’t bear yourself up about it too much. Just do better and give the girls an extra bit of TLC and snacks.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for the kind words. We’ve sure learned from this one. Thanks for watching

[@jazzybel6230]

Although a sad video - cu do's to you for sharing your mistake, not a lot would. Hopefully it helps other avoid making this same error. Thanks again for sharing and sorry for your loss.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

It has been a tough lesson for sure. Appreciate y’all watching

[@bbricemobile]

Raised pigs most of my life, I think you are right. Mine were always farrowed by themselves then added to groups of like size and age, some with larger litters needed extra time to thrive. I worried for you with the second to last sow wondering if the older piglets would harass the new babies. We all learn, but its heartbreaking. Good luck going forward.

[@michellebarbour5777]

Sad but honest. Great for us all who make mistakes too. Honourable film.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thank you. It was a tough time.

[@3CreekFarms]

Chuck, this is the reason we love you and Saundra so much. REAL TALK. You show us as it is, where it is, how is it, in hopes that we can learn from it. Thank you so much.

[@moose7472]

I love the pasturing concept, and I hope you find the secret to success. My brother and I converted an old slaughter house for farrowing. We rarely lost any pigs during farrowing (not including stillborn). We made large custom pens instead of using crates. It was definitely more infrastructure, but so much more control of variables than what a pasture could provide. Best of luck!

[@CockrellRick]

Sorry to hear this, I learn soooo much from SPF. I heart goes out too you both. I know how hard it is to make this type of admission.

[@CockrellRick]

Oh and I so miss my 4:00 am CA time videos. You must have to go to great lengths to upload…

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks Rick. Yeah it takes about 12-18 hours just to upload now. It’s gotten my schedule way off. Appreciate y’all watching

[@CorrieGreen]

Thank you for sharing this video with us. I learn so much from you about pigs that I know will help me when I start breeding my girls. Farming is all about the good, the bad and the ugly and I appreciate you sharing all those things. I’m sorry your farrowing is having a bump in the road but know you are human and you are doing your best each day. Thank you for all you have taught me about pigs over the past year. I so appreciate you and Sandra. God bless. 💝

[@michaelwray4359]

Thank you so much sir for sharing this I’m just getting started with raising hogs and you have given me a more insight into raising piglets and hay we all got to learn from day to day thank you for being authentic most people would not have been honest like you God bless you and your family sir

[@AgnesMariaL]

We had a similar experience. Mom decided to give birth right at the onset of a nasty winter storm. I had prepared by making sure her nest was well sheltered, very deep and dry; i made sweaters out of old wool socks and had a tiny generator with heatlamp on standby. I put the sweaters on the first ones out once they were dry, but they wound up just crawling out of them, so i went to plan b and ran the genny for the lamp. Well, that didn't work, either: even lowering it right down to the ground, it wasn't doing enough for the babies. There were three that were really struggling to stay warm while mom was working on getting through the delivery process, so i wound up bringing them into the house. They took the bottle no problem, and the plan was to put them on mom in the morning so they could get the good stuff that they needed. Well, i wound up having to go out for a few hours and left them with a sitter; i didn't think a couple hours would make a difference, but when i did finally get them onto mom, two just weren't taking to the teats; the third did, so i wound up leaving her and bringing the other two back in and bottle-feeding. I kept trying to get them back on mom, but they just wouldn't take - i was even hand-milking mom while holding their mouths open but they just kept squirming away - and they wound up not making it 😥 I'm certain it was the lack of getting that colostrum, because we have had bottle piglets before (mom was one from last winter) with success, but those weren't removed until 24+ hours after being born.

[@eo3700]

Same thing happened to me, my sow farrowed 4 piglet,where 3 were very strong and active but one seems to be strong but pre mature. this happens to be the first time it gave birth. 24hrs time I came to see the pre mature one dead due to the fact she lied down on it. Less than 36-48hours time, I came to see her eating two out of the remaining 3... I immediately removed the only one remaining, out it in another pen where the sow is farrowing 7, days later I observes that it keep getting skinny. Then I subjected it to milk, 1 egg, gylcose given twice daily, all mixed together and given using baby drinker after about two weeks the animal keep getting small and was not adding up in weight but was very active and strong. So I removed it from the pen where they are 7 because it is the smallest, took it to a pen where the sow farrowed less than 48 hours time, just for the it to drink the sow milk in less than 3hours the animal died, I watch helplessly as I don't know what to do. I saw it become restless after about 2hrs it drank that sow milk, water in that pen till it died.. Till now, I still don't know what best I could have done, I concluded that since after been subjected to that specially prepared delicacy from me for two weeks with no tangible success, I think it is lack of colostrum it couldn't get from the mum, caused the weak immunity. Finally can we have a WhatsApp group to share problems and seek solution as pig farmer... If u re interested, like this . Thanks..

[@Skashoon]

Thanks Chuck, I wasn’t even certain that two of my gilts were pregnant until 2 weeks before the first one farrowed. As a precaution I built a separate farrowing shed for her to isolate her. But I still had the other gilt with the boar. Two days after the first one farrowed, the second one farrowed, too. Fortunately, the boar was a good father and was moving straw to make a nest for them. I was quickly able to run a hog panel to divide the shed and isolate that sow and piglets from the boar. He can still see them and interacts with them through the panel. Even with this, 3 of the piglets died. I think mama rolled on them, despite having a piglet board installed. Learning as I go, thanks for your advice.

[@sandys.1891]

Thank you for your honesty. Who knows w/ today's craziness that may be the only way to get pork in the future is to raise yourself. I try to learn as much as possible on a wide variety of issues.

[@dwighthires3163]

Although sad, this kind of video is what benefits others more than a bunch of happy thoughts. Thanks for being willing to share your failure.

[@selfreder6283]

Thank you sir for being so genuine to us this is a good lesson.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching

[@patsfanb6]

Thanks Chuck, most definitely lack colostrum after berthing...I've had it happen to me back in the 90's..Now I stager the birth dates on my two sows.and put up the berthing sow. After farrowing...

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Exactly. I should have done that but was just lazy. No excuse on my part. Thanks for watching

[@MrsJPTheBulldogs]

Hate that happened but thankful you’re able to notice, share, and make changes for the future piglets!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks. Hope you guys are doing well!

[@MrsJPTheBulldogs]

@@SheratonParkFarms doing well - I’ll get with y’all after the first of the year about some beef 😎

[@youjustdontgetit8117]

Just had my first set of piglets late last night...so fun and exciting...

[@denmillheritagefarms2168]

Thank you for this video. I'm getting ready to farrow for the first time here on our new farm and your tips and videos are a huge help to me. You guys are in our prayers. God bless you

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Glad it’s helpful. Appreciate y’all watching

[@vangiefich]

I'm sorry you lost that litter. That's a really good reminder! Thank you.

[@Ezmoshe1]

Very honest, thanks for sharing.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks

[@barriebrownlandscapes]

Hi there…. This is my first time seeing your video….it’s excellent that you’ve shared that with everyone. I’m a pig breeder also and all of us make mistakes. Good bless you 🙏🏽

[@wendyjennings1502]

God bless you and prayers for your family and farm. Thank you for teaching and openly sharing your experiences. Grateful 🙏 I know this is a sad thing to work through.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

We have sure learned some lessons. Thanks for watching

[@wendyjennings1502]

@@SheratonParkFarms hows the piglets?

[@sonyasneed9493]

Thanks for the great advice. Just had a sow farrow 16 piglets yesterday. We are struggling. ❤

[@FarmBuilder]

Milk stealing can be a big problem with a late farrower.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Sure was in this case. You even cautioned everyone about this. Again, I was lazy and rationalized they would be ok. Big lesson learned.

[@thomasreto2997]

Thank you for sharing this as it may help my wife and I in the future.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Hope so. Thanks for watching

[@camicri4263]

I am sorry abot the piglets! Thank you for sharing though, hopefully someone learns and avoids going through the same sad experience! God bless you!

[@georgebayley8093]

Thanks for the video Chuck. Next time when the sows farrow, give the piglets 1cc of ironol each especially if the temperature is cool or cold.

[@edwardtobler8806]

We all make mistakes at some point in time I've done it befor with mine bud keep ya head up and move forward y'all stay safe out there

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks

[@cyndihenson635]

I’m sorry that that happened to you guys. I know it stinks, but thank you for the info. I’m just getting started raising pigs so this is definitely information that I need.

[@user-ov2wp6zk1f]

Thank you for this. Yes its not a happy video but it's a major learning for the rest of us.

[@tomaswilson2792]

Been there, almost the same age gap as you had. Very hard lesson to learn. Thank you for sharing.

[@Stella77_7]

Hey Brother we have ALL been there. If you are making mistakes your not going after success. We all learn and try out best to not make more mistakes. Older pigs sucking taking momma colostrum is unfortunate. And she may even reject her own. I think this is a common mistake for producers who raise pasture/wood pork. Yes I agree 2 hog panels is all you need with some poste or electric.

[@terrisuzuki6367]

Thank you for sharing. I’m sorry to hear about their loss.

[@SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY]

Forwarned is forearmed. Thanks for both! 😎 STOC

[@FreeAmerican]

I hate it when I make a mistake and it harms others. The easiest thing to do is to do nothing. The toughest thing to do is to attempt tactics and techniques that are are not common.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Exactly. And we learned a big lesson here. Thanks for watching

[@elpuga4825]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. It'll be very helpful for the future of my pigs.

[@Maybe_Crazy05]

I’m sorry that happened and pray the remaining babies make it.. To bad pigs aren’t like goats, I watched my goats toss a baby trying to nurse off of them that wasn’t theirs.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Yep. This mom just let whoever nurse. But we should have stopped them. Big lesson learned.

[@edwardsfamilyfarmsnc]

I am so sorry for your loss. We are praying for you guys. It is a tough, but I appreciate you sharing this mistake with us all. I am wondering a couple of things: 1) What breed are the red and black spotted sows you have? 2) How do you personally record when your ladies were bred? Thank you for all that you do!

[@SheratonParkFarms]

They are Berkshire/Duroc cross. We put the boars in and record that date. A pig will carry for 115 days so we mark that on the calendar Knowing that pigs come into heat every 21 days we then know that all of the females should farrow within 21 days of that initial mark on the calendar.

[@edwardsfamilyfarmsnc]

@@SheratonParkFarms thank you! I appreciate your response!

[@robertsmoot-technologymana536]

Thanks for sharing Chuck! You are in many prayers and thankful you are sharing. I am getting closer to my first farrowing experience (1-3 weeks). I only have the one pair and she is isolated with pig fencing so I shouldn't have the issue you have had. Hoping that the temperatures stay a little warmer as they have lately, but prepared for cold. Best wishes!

[@charliebarger8193]

Thank you for what you do. Your amazing. Keep your head up and drive on. We all learned something. That’s the main thing.

[@AlleyCat-1]

Try using goat's milk to feed them with. I had good success using a calf bottle with a sheep goat nipper to feed the piglets & feed them often. Sorry for your loss, been thru that.

[@melvinwoodruff905]

Thanks for your comments

[@dfishman76]

Thanks for sharing.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

👍

[@budhames5254]

Morning Chuck and Saundra

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Morning Bud!!

[@margitvarganemunkacsi9700]

Thank you for being honest, this is a great video to teach us.

[@canadacitypreppers]

That piglets is so comfy and docile ,

[@HisWayHomestead]

aw man... that's a bummer, thanks for sharing your experiences!!!

[@christinemarcotte9544]

This happened to my sons, but not round 2. Lesson learned

[@MaggieBanfill]

Thank you for sharing this experience. It is so helpful.

[@Dreamydazefarm]

Very good to know thank your for sharing hope y’all are staying warm

[@starwizardmanonthestarwiza2469]

Thank you for the value of your time

[@carolinahillcountry]

Great info as always! Thanks for showing the good and bad, success and failure.

[@CindyVine]

I lost a litter the exact same way! Hard lesson learned!

[@starwizardmanonthestarwiza2469]

Yeah I agree with you you definitely have to separate the mothers every time you have babies I tried to do it with two sisters and it didn't go very well at all I had to separate them immediately the one pig was killing the other babies.

[@Oddjob_00]

Thank you Chuck.

[@christymartin9404]

We all make mistakes. Live & learn

[@a.n.a.critters328]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@tammykaltreider]

I have an honest question regarding colostrum. ( not sure on spelling ). Do you ever milk and freeze some for emergency use and would it be too late to use with these two piglets? So sorry for your loss. I know these lessons are very hard ones to go through.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Have not but that’s an idea. Thanks!

[@bbricemobile]

@@SheratonParkFarms The structure of the porcine placenta precludes maternal antibody transfer to the fetus. Therefore, newborn piglets must ingest and absorb large amounts of colostrum during the first 24 h of life, before the gut epithelium closes

[@heatherlanclos3244]

In the case of not having colostrum, there's a multi species colostrum replacement you can typically pick up from Tractor supply.

[@douglasridgefarm]

Morning Chuck! Thanks for the reply on my last post. I have another question if you don’t mind. Are cedar or pine chips okay to use for mud control in my sacrificial area the pigs are in for winter? I remember Joel saying the area might get smelly and that’s due to the lack of carbon. Will the chips help with smell?

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Yes. Chips, hay, sawdust, peanut hulls or anything like that will help. The more, the better.

[@rickayers3150]

Yeah, good points. Can we get your milk recipe?

[@BJSmith-ll3uw]

Colostrum is important for pigs but not nearly as important as it is to ruminent babies. It's more about the calories than the antibodies for pigs. The older pigs were likely stealing too much. When we first started we didn't separate the sows at farrowing either. But after several trainwrecks, we have every since. After they are 10 to 14 days old we move them to group housing but even then I prefer to have 5 families or less per group. The sows seem to sink up and feed at the same time alot better. Thus discouraging the thieving.

[@kenlukaszewski9618]

how long to sequester? couple few days, like sheep?

[@laydenhollowhomestead]

I just finished up moving my sow that well give birth in a week or so

[@howlinhairyontheprairie8261]

We had the same thing happen here. 2 litters within a week 3rd a month later, lost the whole litter. Makes me a little nauseous still thinking about it.

[@MychelleSeymourHeyyouremember]

Me and my pigs just wanna get set free....Take Down the fence and give us a chance.

[@timlawson817]

I would not keep them piglets if no colostrum they wont do well and they will break the bank . I had one that eat along side of and same length of time 5 pig at 300 and the one with no colostrum 90 lbs. . It wasn't ever sick but didn't gain weight .

[@shanerobbins1501]

Are sows more prone to letting another sows piglets nurse than other types of livestock? Cows or Sheep?

[@myfarmproject449]

I lost 8 piglets out of 9 also due to.deficiency in nutrition of the sow.

[@ANewday19]

How do you remove a sick and dying four day piglet from the mother

[@serenityplantation7638]

Sometimes you need to fortify their milk if that happens before they become too weak

[@jameshahn6828]

This is good to know i will definitely separate them for know on thank you

[@dougherring829]

4week old piglets cannot be left nursing with newborns

[@michaeledward8264]

please what breed of pigs are these

[@mattshoemaker1553]

Where are you guys located at

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Northwestern North Carolina

[@josehernandez-qv8ny]

Does anyone know if he sells some of the pigs there, im looking to raise some

[@SheratonParkFarms]

We do from time to time.

[@Chelsey-Ann]

Hey, what's the breed name of the black and brown one?

[@elizabethblane201]

Do you mean that piglets from another sow started nursing her?

[@robinclarke9978]

Your not a farmer until you fill a forty acre field with corpses, meaning, your always learning but losses are usually down to inexperience.

[@fishawk90]

that piglet doesn't look well @ all. looks like a lot more than nutrient milk.

[@ashleydunham1231]

Do you cut the eye teeth after they’re born? I’ve heard it both ways…

[@SheratonParkFarms]

No we don’t.

[@ashleydunham1231]

Yay!! Then I won’t either! Lol

[@jackief54]

You should also get input from women who have given birth and breast fed their child. She will tell you that the poor mom pig needs seclusion with her newest born. Long story short, men seem to be calling the shots for birthing while it should be women. Men can't walk a mile those shoes.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

The first 6 pigs that farrowed and nursed together would beg to differ.

[@dougherring829]

No offense but your wrong they need to be bottle fed for atleast three weeks.

[@Pete-zq3dc]

Alot of people sugar coating your laziness here in these other comments. If you aren't willing to do things the right way then please sell the farm and do something else. You can do better, you even admitted it, you knew better. Lazy know it all attitude, and that's what you end up with. Tortured animals that suffer more than they should

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Thanks for the comment. You obviously have us confused with people who don’t learn from their mistakes.

[@Pete-zq3dc]

@@SheratonParkFarms here is a comment you made in one of your videos, even though many others tried to warn you, you just didn't care. Incredibly arrogant, know it all, I don't care what anybody says attitude to have. Try the humble route. Take some advice from others who have gone through it and that way your animals don't have to suffer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zme0c5aohph4g6s&ab_channel=SheratonParkFarms start at the 11:56 mark of that video. I hope you have learned your lesson on this and I hope you are humble enough to listen to others who have seasoned advice in the future.

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Well @@Pete-zq3dc in this case a farrowing crate would have done no good. If anything it would have made it worse by allowing other piglets to nurse on her. In this particular instance sequestering the mother and her piglets away from the other piglets is what we should have done. You don’t have to be so nasty. We are trying to be honest and show our mistakes so others can learn from them.

[@user-wv5fq8di2m]

@@SheratonParkFarms Pete's obviously a jack-a** - just waiting to strike. He's insecure, and it makes him feel good. Nuff said...