production dz pigs

Legislation required

§ Register with APHA as a pig keeper

§ Require license for any movement of pigs on/off premises

§ Require walking license from APHA

§ Identify all pigs with ear tag/shoulder tattoo

§ NO FEEDING OF WASTE-MEAT PRODUCTS TO PIGS – to prevent introduction of FMD, ASF, CSF

Routine procedures

Allowed:

§ Castration – at 10d of age, analgesia required (no tearing of tissues allowed)

o  Early castration – 10d old

o  Surgical castration at 4-6m

§ Teeth clipping – only if <7d, to reduce the corner teeth

NOT ALLOWED:

§ Nose ring – interferes with natural rooting behaviours

§ Tail docking – only if evidence of injury to tail by biting

Housing

§ Space to turn around, stand up, lie down and rest, and able to see other pigs

§ Enrichment materials available

All age groups

§ Erysipelas – initial course 2 injections, 6m booster

o  Doesn’t prevent against erysipelas-associated lameness

Breeding gilts and sows

§ Parvovirus – vaccinate before first breeding of gilt

o  Causes small litters + mummified piglets

§ Piglet enteritis- pregnant gilts/sows vaccinated against E. coli 3w before farrowing

Worming

§ Benzimidazoles

§ Avermectin – if need to cover mange also

§ Every 4-6m

Failure to eat

Causes:

§ High temperature, e.g. heat stress

§ Doesn’t like food offered

§ Already eaten too much

§ Insufficient water provided

Weight problems

§ Overweight – even pot-bellied pigs should not have stomach on ground

o  Causes sores on pressure points ® self-inflicted scratches and skin fold infections

o  Arthritis ® difficulty moving

o  Ideal BCS = 2-2.5 <8y, 2.5-3 >8y

§ Underweight – poor conditions, incorrect diet (should eat 1% BW per day)

o  Consequences: liver and kidney damage

Sedation

§ Ketamine, butorphanol, xylazine/detomidine IM, top up with ketamine

IM injections

§ Base of ear

IV access

§ Marginal ear vein

NSAIDs

·    Meloxicam

Antibiotics

·    Lincomycin – infectious causes of lameness

·    Oxytetracycline – leptospirosis

·    Penicillin/amoxicillin – respiratory disease in pigs

Causes

§ Incorrect/inadequate feed

§ Iron deficiency anaemia – pale, incr. HR/RR

§ Endoparasitism

§ Chronic enteric/respiratory disease

§ PCV-2 associated disease

§ PRR