The video captures a real‑time discussion among Rebecca, Cliff Davis, and a third speaker about a gilt’s first farrowing under rainy, cold conditions. Rebecca describes finding the sow breathing heavily with afterbirth still present and worries about a stuck piglet. Cliff and the other speaker reassure her that heavy breathing and afterbirth are normal for a first‑time sow and advise minimal intervention, recommending observation for the next 12‑24 hours. They discuss managing newborn piglet hypothermia: placing hay, eliminating drafts, and using a heat lamp rigged safely above the pen. The sow’s nutritional needs are highlighted—approximately 20 lb of feed per day for a new mother. The participants assess the sow’s mothering quality, noting that all eight piglets survived, the sow built a wide nest, and she is gentle, which are criteria for keeping the sow. Practical on‑farm safety tips (heat lamp placement, avoiding overheating, monitoring sow’s rest) are interwoven throughout the informal, supportive conversation.
Chapters
It was raining really bad, and so I peeked out our window and I could see piglets, nursing piglets already happening. She had what looked like afterbirth hanging out. I don't know if she's done as I just found her. She was breathing heavy and I was concerned because I was afraid that maybe she was still in labor. I just didn't want to get to a spot of like there being a pig, a piglet stuck or something like that, and her stalled in labor. I don't really know what to do at that point. Like, I didn't really want to stick my arm into her. It's raining. I had Henry on my back, and then the mama pig was getting frustrated because Henry started making noise and she would get irritated, and I didn't want her to, like, squash her babies on accident because we were there. What should I do? Should I do anything?
Rebecca texted me, but what am I gonna do? I'm at the dentist with Gideon. So I text a couple of my buddies. So breathing heavy is real normal. That whole farrowing experience is pretty tough on gilts. It's their first time, their heart rate's up, their endorphins are flowing as a natural pain relief. Uh, she's doing everything right.
It's a common thing for folks to want to intervene a little bit too early. So I always recommend just let the sow be for a while. But if she's passed afterbirth, after a time being, she's done. She should be good to go. Just monitor her for, you know, the next 12, 24 hours, especially if she gets up, starts moving around. She'll be good to go. You'll have a good sow and hopefully a good litter of piglets.
He texted his pig people and that was normal. So then that, okay, that was that, like, check that off the box and it was okay. The wind was just really whipping and it, it, it was like my hands were a little chilled. Just, you know, being out here. Then I noticed that some of the piglets were shivering, and not all of them, but just one or two. It's just concern because I didn't want them to die from cold exposure because the wind.
So I texted my buddy Cliff Davis and he said as long as there's not a draft, they'll be okay. So I said, Rebecca, put up some hay around them and I'll go get some heat lamps at Tractor Supply. I've gotten back. Rebecca handled it nicely. She said they were shivering. Uh, well, they're not shivering anymore. She said mom was breathing hard. She's not breathing hard anymore. She's made a good wide nest. Look at that nest! Oh my word, those piglets are adorable. And she's a good mom. You never know what the first time. As far as she had 8 babies, they're all surviving. She's ministering to them all. That's a good line of hold spot right there. Well, let's feed her first. She's hungry. My mentor Cliff Davis tells me a new mama needs 20 pounds of food a day. Look at that swellage. Holy smokes. Rebecca, the mama, of course, is worried from their shivering. Wanted me to get a heat lamp. I did get one, clamped it and rigged it safely to the bin above. I don't think they need it, but it's all about the garden of peace. If Mama wants it, that's what she gets. Like, they are clamoring towards that. It's a good warmth coming off that. I don't want it to get too hot, and then Mom won't want to be over there. Look, you did a good job, Mama. All right, all right, all right. Big mama pig. Just heard a squealing. We're gonna check on them tonight. Well, it's not because she's laying on them. I wonder if it's too warm in there. She's not in there. Are you hot in there, honey? I don't think it's hot in there. I don't think it's hot in there. I think she's just getting a break. It's how lively they are though. They are up and at them. She's been laying down over in the corner. Did you turn off one of these? Two of these? Maybe she just wants a break because she's laying on her underling. I'm gonna turn off one of them. Rebecca, they're almost 24 hours old.
Yeah.
How'd they do last night? Wow, what a good mama. First farrowing can be rough, and you don't really expect a lot of litters.
A lot of—
as long as she takes care of just one, if she has at least one, takes care of it, she's a keeper. We've had to put them down before because they were bad moms. Yeah, but this one, look, she had 8 And they all survived. That is a ton of food. Not sure what that was about, but We got her back in. Now's our chance. Now this is one reason we got old spots, is because they're notoriously gentle. You could pick them up too. Oh, maybe can't. Just be aware. And there's a trough over your head too.
Okay, okay, they squeal and she comes.
They're all Who turned on that other heat lamp?
I turned it off.
Hey, buddy. Well, Beck, it's the coldest part of the day and they're not stripping. They're going to you, huh? You like that little patch on his eye? Her ass?
