What is the gestation period of pigs?

The average gestation period of a sow is 114 days. TNAU gives 112–115 days, ICAR gives 114–116 days on most farms, and ICAR-IVRI notes it can vary from 109 to 120 days.

What is the gestation period for pigs in months?

About 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days — that is 114 days, just under four months. Add 114 days to the mating date to get the expected farrowing date.

Why do piglets need iron injection?

Sow's milk is low in iron and copper, so piglets reared indoors on concrete floors become anaemic (piglet anaemia or 'thumps') — they become weak and breathe with difficulty. An iron dextran injection in the first days of life prevents this.

Pig Gestation Period & Piglet Iron Injection

Pig gestation period

How long is a pig's gestation?

A sow is pregnant for an average of 114 days. TNAU gives the gestation period as 112–115 days; ICAR puts it at 114–116 days with little variation between farms; ICAR-IVRI notes it can range from 109 to 120 days. So be ready a few days before the due date.

Gestation period for pigs in months

The easy rule is 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days — 114 days, just under four months (Purdue University veterinary extension).

How to calculate the expected farrowing date

Add 114 days to the date of mating (or add 3 months, then 3 weeks, then 3 days). Example: a sow mated on 1 January is due on about 25 April. Write the date on the pen card so the farrowing pen is ready in time.

Care of the pregnant sow before farrowing

Deworm the sow 2–3 weeks before farrowing, before she enters the farrowing pen (TNAU).
Clean and disinfect the farrowing pen and keep it empty for a week; scrub the sow's underside, sides, feet and udder with soap and water just before moving her in (TNAU).
Shift her to the farrowing pen about a week before farrowing (ICAR); TNAU advises at least 3–4 days so she settles in. The pen should be dry, well ventilated and lit.
Give light bedding of chopped straw 2–3 days before farrowing (TNAU).
Just before farrowing, reduce the ration to half and include a laxative feed such as wheat bran (TNAU).

Signs that farrowing is near

In the last week the vulva may become swollen and red; the udder fills with colostrum 24–48 hours before farrowing (Purdue).
Milk comes from the teats when pressed (TNAU).
In the final hours she becomes restless, may build a nest, urinates and dungs often and breathes faster; 15–60 minutes before the first piglet she lies down on her side (Purdue).

Piglets usually come every 15–20 minutes. If the sow strains for more than 30–45 minutes without producing a piglet, call your veterinarian (Purdue).

Iron injection for piglets

Why piglets need iron

Sow's milk is deficient in iron and copper, so piglets develop anaemia (“thumps”): they become weak and breathe with difficulty (TNAU). Piglets kept on concrete or wooden floors cannot pick up iron from soil, so they need supplements; untreated anaemia causes about 10% of pre-weaning deaths (Queensland Government).

When and how many times do you inject iron in piglets?

All sources below advise a first injection in the first 2–4 days; the Indian sources also advise a second injection. Exact days and doses differ:

Source	First injection	Dose	Second injection
ICAR-IVRI (Indian Farming, 2018)	Day 2–3	150–200 mg iron dextran, deep intramuscular	Day 14
ICAR RC for NEH Region (Indian Farming, 2026)	Day 4	150–200 mg iron, preferably in the neck	Day 11
TNAU Agritech Portal	Day 2	50 mg iron (Imferon 1 ml), intramuscular	May be given at 5 weeks
Merck Veterinary Manual	First 3 days	100–200 mg iron dextran, intramuscular (common commercial practice)	Not stated

Dose in ml: iron injections come in different strengths. Read the mg of iron per ml on the vial and work out the volume for the dose your veterinarian advises — for example, TNAU's 50 mg dose is 1 ml of Imferon.

How to inject piglets iron

Use sterilised needles and syringes and clean the injection site (Queensland Government).
Inject deep into the muscle (ICAR-IVRI) in the neck, behind the ear — not the leg, where it can cause lameness, staining and infection (ICAR; Queensland Government).
Hold the piglet, pull the ear forward or turn the head to stretch the neck skin, push the skin forward with the needle and inject into the muscle; withdraw the needle and release together so the dose does not leak out (Queensland Government).

Avoid overdose

Too much iron can kill newborn piglets. The risk is higher in small piglets or if a piglet is injected twice by mistake, and in piglets from sows short of vitamin E (Merck Veterinary Manual). Mark or record treated piglets, and ask your veterinarian about vitamin E for sows in late pregnancy.

Piglet care timeline: birth to weaning

Age	What to do
At birth	Wipe the piglet dry and clear mucus from the nose and mouth. Cut the navel cord leaving about 5 cm and dip it in tincture of iodine or povidone-iodine. Keep piglets warm — use an infrared lamp or bulb in cold and rainy weather.
First hours	Healthy piglets suckle within 10–30 minutes; help weak ones to a teat. Make sure every piglet gets colostrum — ICAR advises 200–250 g per piglet within 12–16 hours.
Day 1–2	Clip the needle teeth so they do not injure the sow's udder.
Day 2–4	First iron dextran injection (see the table above).
Day 11–14	Second iron injection as per ICAR schedules (TNAU: at 5 weeks).
2–3 weeks	Piglets start eating dry feed — offer creep feed (pig starter) in a corner they can reach but the sow cannot.
3–4 weeks	Castrate male piglets not kept for breeding (TNAU) to prevent boar odour in meat.
6–8 weeks	Weaning (TNAU: 7–8 weeks; ICAR-IVRI: 6–8 weeks). Intensive farms may wean early, at 21–28 days (ICAR NEH).

Vaccinate piglets as per the schedule advised by your veterinarian (TNAU). For doses and vaccination plans suited to your area, consult the local veterinary hospital or your nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).

Frequently asked questions

How many times do you inject iron in piglets?: ICAR institutes advise two iron injections. ICAR-IVRI advises 150–200 mg iron dextran on day 2–3 and again on day 14; ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region advises 150–200 mg on day 4 and day 11; TNAU advises 50 mg (1 ml Imferon) on day 2 and says a second injection may be given at 5 weeks. Follow the schedule your veterinarian gives for the product you use.
How to inject piglets iron?: Give iron dextran as a deep intramuscular injection in the neck muscle behind the ear, not in the leg. Turn the piglet's head to one side or pull the ear forward to stretch the skin, push the skin forward with the needle, inject into the muscle, then withdraw and release so the skin covers the hole. Use sterilised needles and syringes and a clean injection site.
What is the gestation period of pigs?: The average gestation period of a sow is 114 days. TNAU gives 112–115 days, ICAR gives 114–116 days on most farms, and ICAR-IVRI notes it can vary from 109 to 120 days.
What is the gestation period for pigs in months?: About 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days — that is 114 days, just under four months. Add 114 days to the mating date to get the expected farrowing date.
Why do piglets need iron injection?: Sow's milk is low in iron and copper, so piglets reared indoors on concrete floors become anaemic (piglet anaemia or 'thumps') — they become weak and breathe with difficulty. An iron dextran injection in the first days of life prevents this.

National Livestock Mission (NLM) — 50% capital subsidy for pig breeding farms (piggery entrepreneurship).
Find your Krishi Vigyan Kendra for pig-rearing training and advice.
Time for giving iron injection in piglets (farmer Q&A)
Gestation period of pig (farmer Q&A)

Sources

Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. This guide is general information; doses depend on the product and your herd. Confirm with a veterinarian before treating animals.

Pig gestation period and piglet iron injection: sow and piglet care guide