Piglet Delivery Date Calculator

Swine Gestation Calculator: Predicting Your Sow's Farrowing Date

The **Swine Gestation Calculator** is an essential tool for pig farmers and breeders, helping to accurately estimate the expected delivery date (farrowing date) of piglets. Proper planning based on the gestation timeline is crucial for managing the sow's health, preparing the farrowing environment, and ensuring the highest survival rate for the litter.

What is Swine Gestation?

Gestation, or pregnancy, in swine is the period from the date of successful breeding (insemination or mating) to the date of farrowing (delivery). The standard gestation period for a sow is widely recognized as **3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days**, which typically equates to **114 days**. However, this can vary slightly based on the sow's genetics, age, litter size, and environmental factors, with the normal range falling between 112 and 117 days.

How to Use the Piglet Delivery Date Calculator

Using the calculator is straightforward:

1. Date of Breeding: Enter the exact date the sow was bred. If the exact date is unknown, use the best-estimated date.
2. Typical Gestation Length: Select the gestation length you wish to use for the calculation. The default is 114 days, but you can choose 112 or 115 days for a shorter or longer estimate.
3. Calculate: The calculator will immediately provide the **Expected Farrowing Date**, a safe range of delivery dates, the number of days the sow has been pregnant, and a detailed timeline of key pregnancy milestones.

Understanding the Gestation Timeline

While 114 days is the average, tracking specific milestones helps manage the sow's care:

• Day 0 (Breeding): The start of the gestation period.
• Day 10: Implantation of embryos into the uterine wall is generally complete.
• Day 30: The recommended time for an ultrasound or pregnancy check to confirm the sow is bred and estimate litter size.
• Day 45: Fetal bone development (calcification) is well underway.
• Day 90: A good time to administer pre-farrowing vaccinations or deworming treatments to ensure the health of both the sow and the coming litter.
• Day 110: Sows are often moved into the farrowing crate or pen to allow them to acclimate to the environment before delivery.
• Day 112-117: The window for the expected farrowing date.

Formula for Calculating Farrowing Date

The calculation performed by this tool is based on a simple date addition, which can be expressed as:

$$ \text{Farrowing Date} = \text{Breeding Date} + \text{Gestation Length (in Days)} $$

For example, using the standard 114-day length, if the breeding date is January 1st:

$$ \text{Farrowing Date} = \text{January 1st} + 114 \text{ Days} = \text{April 25th} $$

Knowing this timeline helps in preparing specialized feed (like a lactation diet), ensuring the farrowing facilities are clean and properly heated, and arranging for necessary labor assistance during the critical delivery period.