Critical Farrowing Care: Why Afterbirth Removal Matters

The hours immediately following farrowing are some of the most critical in pig production. While much attention focuses on the newborn piglets—ensuring they breathe, find the udder, and stay warm—there’s another crucial task that experienced pig farmers never overlook: the prompt removal of the afterbirth. This seemingly simple management practice can mean the difference between a thriving litter and a tragic loss.

Understanding the Afterbirth

When a sow gives birth, each piglet is followed by its placenta, collectively known as the afterbirth. In nature, many mammals instinctively consume the afterbirth, a behavior thought to restore nutrients lost during labor, eliminate birth scents that might attract predators, and stimulate maternal bonding. However, in domestic pig production, allowing this natural behavior can trigger devastating consequences.

The Cannibalism Connection

The most alarming reason for immediate afterbirth removal is the behavioral chain it can set in motion. When a sow consumes the placenta, she experiences the taste and texture of fresh tissue. In the confined, stressful environment of modern pig production, this experience can trigger an aberrant behavioral pattern where the sow fails to distinguish between placental tissue and her own offspring.

How It Happens

The connection between placenta consumption and piglet predation isn’t just folklore—it’s a well-documented phenomenon in swine management. Once a sow tastes the afterbirth, the sensory experience can override her maternal instincts, particularly if she’s stressed, first-time mother, or has certain genetic predispositions. The result is savaging behavior, where the sow actively attacks and consumes her piglets.

This tragic outcome often begins with one piglet. The sow may bite at a piglet that’s struggling or squealing, drawing blood. The taste and smell then reinforce the behavior, leading to systematic attacks on the entire litter. Even experienced, previously gentle sows have been known to savage their litters after consuming the afterbirth, making prevention absolutely essential.

Breaking the Chain

By removing the afterbirth immediately—ideally as soon as each piglet is born and before the sow can reach it—farmers break this dangerous behavioral chain before it starts. This simple preventive measure protects the entire investment in the litter and, more importantly, prevents animal suffering.

The Infection Hazard

Beyond the behavioral concerns, leaving afterbirth in the farrowing pen creates serious health risks that compound over time.

Rapid Decomposition

Placental tissue is rich in proteins, blood, and fluids that make it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. In the warm, humid environment of a farrowing house, decomposition begins within hours. The tissue quickly becomes a putrefying mass that harbors dangerous pathogens including E. coli, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Clostridium species.

Multiple Routes of Infection

The decomposing afterbirth threatens health through several pathways. The sow’s reproductive tract remains vulnerable for days after farrowing, and bacteria from decomposing tissue can cause uterine infections leading to metritis or mastitis. These infections not only threaten the sow’s life but also compromise milk production, starving the piglets of essential nutrition and antibodies.

Newborn piglets are born with immature immune systems and are extraordinarily vulnerable to environmental pathogens. They lie in close contact with the pen floor where decomposing tissue sits, exposing them to infectious agents that can cause diarrhea, septicemia, and respiratory disease. In the crowded quarters of a farrowing pen, disease can spread rapidly through the entire litter.

Environmental Contamination

Beyond the immediate health threats to the sow and her litter, decomposing afterbirth contaminates the farrowing environment. It attracts flies and other pests, creates offensive odors, and can harbor pathogens that persist even after cleaning, potentially affecting subsequent litters housed in the same facility.

Best Practices for Afterbirth Management

Successful afterbirth removal requires vigilance during farrowing. Farmers should monitor the farrowing process closely, removing each placenta as it’s expelled or shortly thereafter. The material should be placed in sealed containers and disposed of properly according to local regulations and biosecurity protocols.

Clean, dry bedding should be provided immediately after removal to ensure the farrowing environment remains hygienic. The farrowing area should be disinfected once the process is complete, and the sow and piglets should be monitored for any signs of infection or abnormal behavior in the days following birth.

The Foundation of Piglet Survival

Immediate afterbirth removal exemplifies how seemingly small management practices can have outsized impacts on animal welfare and production success. This simple act of removing tissue that would naturally be consumed in the wild prevents behavioral disasters and infectious disease, giving piglets their best chance at survival and the sow her best chance at being a successful mother.

For pig farmers, afterbirth removal isn’t optional—it’s a fundamental responsibility that protects their animals, their livelihoods, and the success of their breeding programs. Understanding why this practice matters helps ensure it never gets overlooked in the busy, demanding environment of the farrowing house.