As many of you know, Mrs. Marvin the famous sow, delivered 16 piglets at the Cargill/Nutrena Small Animal Experience during the 2011 Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden. We often are asked, "What is involved for piglet delivery at the fair?" We tell them the farrowing plan is long, precise, complicated, laborious, logistical and totally exciting!
The plan began at the 2010 fair, her fifth fair, where Mrs. Marvin gave birth to 11 healthy piglets. Many things are taken into account for a fair delivery. The sow must be remain a gentle and friendly animal and enjoy people, especially young children. Safety for fair patrons, Mrs. Marvin, and her young are our biggest concern
Piglet gestation is three months, three weeks, and three days. A mother sow typically nurses her young for six to eight weeks. She has an estrus cycle every 21 days. The planning is year-long and must be extremely precise in counting of days for each event to happen in a timely manner
Physical labor involves daily feeding and watering, health care, bathing, cleaning of her pen and loading and transporting her for visits to a selected boar for timed breeding and to the fair. The logistics become creative and the need for many human helping hands has been met by family members and friends.
We see excitement and awe from both the volunteers who assist in the planning stages as well as the fair visitors who enjoy the miracle of birth and the sight of newly born healthy piglets!
While waiting at the fair for the birthing process to begin, patience is demanded. She has her favorite veterinarian on-call 24/7 just in case she needs more help than we can provide. She waits with inquisitive human faces watching her.
We answer question after question about production animals and agriculture. "Yes, she only goes to the 'bathroom' in one corner of her pen every time." "No, she won't be laying eggs." "No, the dad isn't here today." "Yes, she was selected to be a mother sow because she has 13 teats. The babies will get their nutrition from her milk." "Yes, she has a market sale meat tag, but was kept for producing young." "Yes, she has a nutritionist and she eats a special ration prepared of corn and added ingredients made perfect for a pregnant sow."
At one point during the waiting hours, Mrs. Marvin suddenly jumped up and walked a circle around her pen sniffing the people. She stopped at one girl and stayed. The girl confirmed she had just eaten curly fries and not yet washed her hands. Mrs. Marvin had smelled one of her favorite fair foods! Of course, she also enjoys tasty Moo-Wiches.
It was during the Tanya Tucker concert Thursday night at 8:45 p.m. that I was texted, "Mrs. Marvin has started making her nest." She uses her front legs to gather much of the bedding in her pen into one pile. She then makes a hole in the center and lays down. At this point her udder was also full of milk. By 9:30 p.m., labor contractions began. The crowd was anxious.
Mrs. Marvin's timing was her own and didn't coincide with fair opening hours. The night crew started their watch at 11 p.m. The birthing crew went to sleep anticipating a long night and day ahead. By 1:14 a.m. on Friday morning the first piglet, a gilt, arrived. The birthing crew rushed in and baby pigs arrived all morning at: 1:55, 2:20, 2:34, 2:42, 3:18, 3:30, 3:35, 3:41 the first boar, 3:52, 3:52, 4:15, 4:28, 5:04, with the fifteenth piglet delivered at 5:22 a.m. Surprisingly, over three and one half hours later at 8:53 a.m. another piglet was born to make 16, which now included 13 gilts and three boars!
The smallest two were adopted Saturday night and sent to their new home with baby bottles and milk replacer. The new owners are experienced with animal care and were thrilled with the opportunity to feed these piglets, even though it meant feedings would be every 45 minutes!
Mrs. Marvin and her piglets are doing well. The babies are adventurous in discovering their new surroundings. Watch for one or two of them at the 2011 fair!
ABOUT WINDOW ON MY WORLD
Window On My World is an occasional essay in Monday's Bellingham Herald that allows Whatcom County residents to share their passion for what they do, an idea or cause they support. Send your Window On My World, which must be no more than 700 words, to Julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com. Submissions become the property of The Bellingham Herald.
