Ah, the joys of farming—especially when your pregnant sow starts to act like a drama queen! You know, those moments when your heart skips a beat as you spot a pregnant sow experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or even a wooden-like fetus. And let's not forget the malformed piglets and the weaklings that can turn a peaceful farm into a battlefield of worry. But fear not, for I, your trusty farming sidekick, am here to demystify these reproductive woes.

Understanding the Culprits

The root of these problems can be as complex as a family tree with too many branches. Generally, we can categorize the causes into two main groups: infectious factors and non-infectious factors.

Infectious Factors

Illness	Description
Pig Erysipelas	Causes sudden miscarriage, stillbirth, mummies, weaklings, and malformed piglets.
Brucellosis	Pigs of any age can abort, but it often occurs at the same age. Fetal necrosis or subcutaneous edema, abdominal fluid, and purulent placental inflammation may occur.
Leptospirosis	Infected sows may have mild anorexia, low fever, diarrhea, and may abort, stillbirth, mummies, and weaklings. The aborted fetuses are close to the same age, and the aborted stillborns are usually normal in development, but the skin is pale, jaundiced, and edematous, and some are mummified.

Non-Infectious Factors

Now, let's talk about the silent assassins that lurk in the shadows of your farm. These are the non-infectious factors that can turn your sows into reproductive drama queens.

• Feed Quality: Imagine feeding your sow a diet that's as exciting as a bowl of plain oatmeal. Not a good idea, right? Poor feed quality can lead to reproductive issues.
• Environmental Stress: Think of your sow's environment as her living room. If it's too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry, she might start throwing tantrums.
• Management Mistakes: Just like a clumsy guest at a dinner party, poor management can cause a mess.

Dealing with the Drama

So, how do you keep your pregnant sows from turning into drama queens? Here are some tips:

1. Monitor Your Feed: Ensure your sows are getting a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals.
2. Manage the Environment: Keep the temperature comfortable, the humidity in check, and the air clean.
3. Improve Management Practices: Be attentive to the needs of your sows and avoid common management mistakes.

Conclusion

Dealing with reproductive issues in pregnant sows is like navigating a minefield. But with the right knowledge and careful management, you can turn those drama-filled moments into peaceful ones. Remember, a happy sow is a productive sow!