Mini pigs giving birth

Question
I would like to receive some good avice for the happy birthing of my 2 female pregnant miniature pigs.
They both gave birth last year, and were both housed separately with sufficient heat, water and food, and in a clean environment.

One of the mothers ate all of her young.
The other mum`s litter all died naturally in the night leaving one remaining - a very happy pig called Peru!

Firstly how can I be sure when the litters are to arrive (the male was with both pigs over a longish period of time)? One mum has enlargened teats and the teat pouch is now trailing on the ground?
And secondly, how can I avoid all of these mortalities?

Many thanks for your advice
worried pig owner Liz!


Answer
The short answer here is that both pigs need to see a vet at once.

It is extremely rare for a mother pig to eat her children, the jaw structure makes it difficult for them to "bite" and kill prey... normally it is not the parent pigs who injured the young but an intruder into the enclosure, like a raccoon, fox, or coyote. Even the bite of a large rat can kill a small piglet. Of course the mother will "investigate" if her children are injured or killed, so you might see her fussing over the carcasses, but not "eating" them. If the mother did indeed "eat" part of the carcassess, then something seriously wrong and the mother pig needs to see a vet at once.

It's also very unusual for a whole (or almost whole) litter to just "die naturally". This could be malnutrition, an infectious disease, or serious genetic problems such as inbreeding. Again, this mother pig needs to see a vet at once.

Normal gestation for a pot-bellied pig is 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days. Females can get pregnant within days of giving birth. If the teat pouch is trailing on the ground then either the sow is overweight (which could be part of the mortality problem) or she has an internal problem and needs to see a vet.

Considering the high mortality rate and difficulty in finding good homes for pot-bellied pigs, it may be best to have your male neutered and enjoy the pigs without piglets.