Piglet birthweights and the order of farrowing.

The relationship between birthweight and order of farrowing was determined from the records of 202 attended farrowings. Statistical analysis of all individual birthweights showed the first-born piglet to be heavier (P<0.05) than the last-born. The order of farrowing might not be entirely random, as further evidenced by a delayed expulsion of stillborn piglets; 70 per cent of these births occurred during the last third of the farrowing period.