Kody Hanner
This post contains affiliate links.
Why you should process piglets on your farm or homestead.
Processing is giving shots, castrating, clipping teeth, and clipping the tails of piglets, often within 48 hours of birth. This must be done promptly to avoid issues with the piglet’s health, now and in the future.
Many fairs and livestock shows require some of the things that are done when piglets are processed. Many of these things cannot be accomplished later or would require surgical intervention from a veterinarian. Reduced infections, injuries, disease prevention, and proper growth are all considerations when putting together your piglet protocol.
When should you process piglets?
Piglets must have iron shots within 48 hours of birth, so I try to go ahead and process them all at the same time. Once they are dry, nursing well, and moving around is when we get going. The earlier they have everything done, the less traumatic and easier to handle them. Piglets are stronger than you think!
How to give shots when processing piglets
Make sure they are tightly secured to reduce injury. Give an iron injection under the skin (subcutaneously, SQ) behind the ear. Do not give the shot in the ham as it may cause abscesses and ruin the meat. Iron shots are very important because piglets do not start producing iron right way and sows milk is deficient. We always give an antibiotic shot because our pigs are raised on dirt, so we want to reduce infection. Also, give the piglets as well as the sow antibiotics anytime the sow has a stillborn piglet.
How to clip teeth
Piglets have eight extremely sharp teeth at birth called needle teeth. These teeth need to be clipped so that they do not injure the sow while nursing or each other while playing. Flip the piglet over (still holding securely) Pinch their mouth open back by their jaw or wedge open a stick perpendicular to the jaw. Using snips, snip the needle teeth at the piglet’s jaw line. Make sure to get all 8 teeth!
How to castrate piglets when processing
Any boars that will not be retained for breeding need to be castrated. Flip the piglet over (still holding securely) and pin its legs up so that its testicles are bulging out. Using a scalpel, slit open the scrotum (sac) just large enough to slip the testicle out of the hole. Gripping the testicle with the vas deferens (tube) between two fingers, pull quick. This makes sure that the blood flow is pinched off and reduced the rest of heavy bleeding. Spray wound with iodine or other antiseptic spray.
How to process piglets (tail and ears).
For breeding records, many farms notch ears for identification purposes. We use tags at weaning for piglets that are going for show. If a piglet will be going to a feed lot, raised in highly populated quarters, or going to a livestock show the tail will need to be clipped. This is done so that other pigs do not chew on it causing injuries and infections. Clip the tails using snips about 2-3 inches long. Do not cut too short, otherwise it can cause problems in the rear legs.
After you process piglets
Put piglets back in with the sow immediately after processing to nurse. Watch piglets for any fever or difficulty walking. If you see anything that concerns you, contact a veterinarian. Piglets will scream like they are dying (they aren’t). This is a simple and easy task once you get the hang of it, to the point that my three teenagers not only did this on their own, but they also did all the video!
I handle any required vaccines and worming at weaning.
A great guide that I reference as needed is the Storey’s Guide to Raising Pigs.
Want to teach your kids about homesteading?
Introducing the only full-year agriculture science for homeschoolers and aspiring homesteaders!
Share this:
You might also enjoy
Episode 110: Nostalgic of a Homestead Childhood with Tiffany Noone
Tiffany Noone of Fern Woods Farm shares her story of getting started homesteading, nostalgia of a childhood on her grandmother’s farm, and her new children’s book coming out this summer!
Share this:
Episode 109: Blessed to call powerful women my homestead sisters
Through total exhaustion and jetlag, I share the beauty to praising and uplifting homestead women.
Share this:
Episode 108: Just Be You with Roxy Kilmer
Roxy Kilmer from Simply Seeded and author of new children’s book, Be You. Roxy is a fellow homesteader who teaches you to grow where you are planted!
Share this:
Episode 107: An Honest Homestead Mom Helping Parents Raise Self-Sufficient Kids
My goal was to teach self-sufficiency skills to the next generation, but it has also been laid upon my heart to teach parents how to instill in their kids a desire for self-sufficiency. I would like to tell you some of my story of an honest homestead mom.
Share this:
Episode 106: An Honest Talk About Raising Boys With Durenda Wilson
Raising boys often makes us question why in the world they were designed the way they were. But as Durenda Wilson, author of Raising Boys to Men, so hilariously puts it, stupidity is not sustainable.
Share this:
Letting our kids get enough play and how to provide the best type of play.
The question of letting our kids play enough might sound strange coming from such a strong advocate for kids working on the farm and personal responsibility.
