An adult female or mother pig is called a
sow. If the pig is a virgin or has not given birth,
she is called a gilt. A gilt is usually less than a
year old.
A young female pig is reproductively mature
around the age of eight months. Sows typically
give birth to eight or nine piglets with each
litter, with some litters having as many as 12
piglets. If there are more piglets born in a litter,
they are usually smaller. Once the piglets are
born, the mother and babies are separated into
their own stalls to prevent the sow from
accidentally lying on or rolling over one of her
piglets.