Raising Healthy Pigs

1
Raising Healthy Pigs

• Gene Pirelli
• OSU Extension Swine Program Leader

2
Swine Production

• Health and Disease Prevention
• Housing

3
HEALTH
4
Swine Health is Influenced by the Following
Factors

• The Health Program
• Nutrition
• Management of the pigs

5
Just like humans, stress, along with viruses and
bacteria lead to illness
6
What are Viruses and Bacteria?

• They are microorganisms that invade the pigs
  body and make it sick.

7
Why do Animals Get Sick?

• Low resistance to disease
• High level of challenge

8
What is Resistance?

• Resistance is the ability to stay healthy and
  prevent disease bugs from making pigs sick

9
What is Challenge?

• Challenge is the type and amount of disease
  organisms in a barn or at a fair.

10
What is Immunity?

• Immunity is similar to Resistance.
• It is the pigs ability to resist disease.

11
Immunity is..

• Antibodies in the pig available to fight a
  disease.
• Important to protect the pig against disease.

12
Antibodies come from

• Sow
• Exposure to disease
• Vaccination

13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
Situations That Cause Illness

• Bringing newly purchased pigs home and mixing
  with other pigs.
• Taking pigs to the fair.
• Not separating sick pigs from healthy ones.

16
(No Transcript)
17
Types of Health Aids

• Vaccinations prevent respiratory and
  reproductive diseases (viral and bacterial)
• Antibiotics treat diseases caused by bacteria
• Parasite Control treat and prevent parasite
  infections, both internal and external

18
Vaccines

• Contain safe forms of microorganisms.
• These safe microorganisms cause the pig to make
  antibodies, but not get the disease.

19
How Long Does it Take for a Vaccination to
Protect the Pig?

• One to Two Days
• Ten to 12 Days
• 14-21 Days

20
It Takes.

• 14-21 days after the vaccination for immunity to
  occur.

21
Suggested Guidelines for Oregon Pork Producers

• Developed by the Oregon Pork Producers and Oregon
  State University.
• Contains suggested types of vaccines for the most
  common diseases in Oregon.

22
Vaccinations

• All Piglets
• 1-3days - iron
• 7 days - AR, Erysipelas, M. pneumonia if sow not
  vaccinated.
• 4 weeks - Repeat vaccinations. Also vaccinate
  for Actinobacillus

23
Vaccinations

• All Piglets
• Deworm between 4-10 weeks
• 10-12 weeks. Repeat Actinobacillus

24
Vaccinations

• Gilts Age 6 months to pre-breeding
• Leptospirosis, parvovirus and Atrophic Rhinitis
• Repeat vaccinations

25
Vaccinations

• Sows 4-6 weeks before farrowing
• Erysipelas and Atrophic Rhinitis
• Optional are Mycoplasma, TGE and E. Coli

26
Vaccinations

• Sows Prior to weaning of litter or at weaning
• Leptospirosis, parvovirus and erysipelas

27
Show Pigs

• At purchase time, ask what vaccinations have been
  given.
• Deworm two weeks after purchase.
• Vaccinate for erysipelas 30 days prior to show.

28
Vaccinations

• If buying pigs, ask what the owner what type of
  vaccinations were given.

29
Vaccinations

• Most vaccinations are available in combinations.

30
Parasite Control

• Important to follow a regular deworming schedule.
• Watch for lice and other external parasites.

31
If You Are Buying Animals Each Year

• Buy animals from a place that has a good health
  program or follow a recommended vaccination
  schedule when the pigs get to your farm.
• Even if purchasing only 1-2 animals, the cost of
  a 50 cc bottle of vaccine is cheaper than a dead
  animal.

32
If You Raise Your Own Animals

• Be sure to vaccinate for major diseases.
• This is especially important if you sell them or
  take them to shows.

33
Sick Animals

• Taking the temperature is the best guide. If the
  animal looks sick, it probably is sick.
• Treat quickly with the proper medication.
• Know when you are over your head in a situation.

34
Do You Know Where to Give Shots?
35
Intramuscular

• Use a spot on the neck just behind and below the
  ear.
• Never inject into the ham or loin.

36
(No Transcript)
37
Subcutaneous

• Use the loose flaps of skin in the flank or elbow.

38
(No Transcript)
39
What About Needle Sizes?
40
Intramuscular Injections Production
Stage Gauge Length   Baby pigs 20 or
22 5/8 or ½ Nursery 18 or 20 ¾ or
5/8 Finisher 18 1 Breeding Stock 16
or 18 1 or 1 ½
41
Subcutanous Injections Production
Stage Gauge Length   Nursery 18 or
20 ½ Finisher 18 ¾ Breeding Stock 16 or
18 1
42
Disease Prevention

• Clean and disinfect the pens after every batch of
  pigs.
• Use a commercial disinfectant.
• Avoid mixing pigs from different sources.
• Practice biosecurity.

43
Housing
44
Swine Housing

• Draft-free
• Ventilated
• Proper temperature range for age of pigs
• Properly designed
• Clean

45
Ventilation

• Ventilation is moving fresh air through the
  swine building or pen.
• Important in any size swine building.

46
(No Transcript)
47
Proper Temperature Range

• Pig Weight
• ---------------------------
• 50 pounds
• 100 pounds
• 215 pounds

• Temperature Range
• ---------------------------
• 70 - 82 degrees
• 62 - 80 degrees
• 50 - 75 degrees

48
Methods to Provide Heat

• Heat lamps or light bulbs
• Floor pads
• Straw
• Hovers

49
(No Transcript)
50
(No Transcript)
51
(No Transcript)
52
How To Tell If Pigs Are Cold?

• If warm, they lay in a pattern, if cold, they
  pile up!

53
(No Transcript)
54
(No Transcript)
55
Pen Size

• Growing and finishing pigs should have adequate
  space.
• Pigs under 40 pounds need 3-4 square feet each,
  pigs over 150 pounds need 8-10 square feet.

56
(No Transcript)
57
Pen Size

• The pen layout (W x L) should be rectangular and
  2.51 or 31
• Example 10 x 30

58
This information brought to you by
O. S. U. Department of Animal Sciences