VDPAM 445Swine Topics

Part 0: Walk through

Dr. Alex RamirezVeterinary Diagnostic and

Production Animal MedicineIowa State University

IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT PIG !

• Currently, we are identifying the correct pig 60% of the time

• Generally, the tendency on many sites is to treat

pigs that do not show signs of sickness

• On some sites, we fail to identify and treat pigs that are sick

• Use of the correct drug

• Use of the correct dose amount

• 88% of sites are using lower than the dose required for the drug to be effective

• Importance of follow up treatments

• Correct injection site

Drugs and Dosage:

Identification and Treatment

Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges

Weaned Pig: 102.1 - 103.1o F

Growing Pig: 102.2 - 103.2o F

Finishing Pig: 101.8 - 102.8o F

Normal Respiratory Rates

Weaned Pig: 25 - 40 breaths / min

Growing Pig: 30 - 40 breaths / min

Finishing Pig: 25 - 35 breaths / min

How to evaluate a

ROOM /BARN

of pigs

STOP !

LOOK !

LISTEN !

EVALUATE :

Environment

Pig Comfort

Feed Delivery

Water Supply

• Video 1• Video 2

How to evaluate a

PEN

Nursery and Finisher

Use a systematic approach !

Do it the same way every time !

EVALUATE :

Pig Comfort

Pig Health

Waterer position / flow

Feeder adjustment

• Video 3• Video 4

Environment:

Are the pigs comfortable?

Are they cold (piling)?

Are they hot?

Are there drafts present?

Think about the environment from

the pig level, not yours!

Water supply:

Are the nipples at the proper height

(top of the shoulders)?

Is the water flow appropriate?

1.5 - 2.5 pints / minute (nursery)

1 - 1.5 quarts / minute (finishing)

Water Flow

Measuring water flow rates:

Nursery:

1.5 - 2.5 pints / minute

(25-40 seconds to fill a pint container)

Finishing:

1 - 1.5 quarts / minute (finishing)

(20-30 seconds to fill a pint container)

Nipple Height

Feed supply:

Are the augers operating correctly?

Are the feeders adjusted properly?

Is the feed in the feeder trough free of mold and manure?

Feeder Adjustment

Good

Excess FeedWet Feed

The pigs CAN tell you how they feel !!

How do these pigs feel ?

How the pigs feel is determined by:

Not only the temperature but the combination of humidity and the air speed (drafts) with the temperature !

• Video 5• Video 6• Video 7

What are these pigs telling

YOU ?

They are chilled

either because they are

sick

or

the barn is too cold or drafty

5 Most Common Symptoms

• #1 CNS (strep)

• #2 Lameness• #3 Diarrhea• #4 Pneumonia• #5 Off Feed

EARLY INFECTION

Treatment NOW

is more

EFFECTIVE

Video 8 Video 9

Slightly more advanced

"Dog Sitting"

Treatment NOW

is more

EFFECTIVE

Video 10

More advanced

Treatment NOW

may still be

EFFECTIVE

Video 11

ADVANCED

Treatment NOW

most likely

TOO LATE !!

Video 12

Early , Mid, and Late Stages

Video 13

Lameness and

Swollen Joints

# 2 LAMENESS

Both rear legs have swollen joints

Notice that the pig stands with the rear legs more under its body than normal pigs to try to take weight off of the joints that are painful.

Video 14

Pig with swollen joints on the left, normal pig on the right.

Notice the differences in the pigs posture and movements.

Video 15

This swollen joint is warm to the touch, soft and fluid filled.

Video 16a

Finishing Pig

Not Lame with

Firm, swollen joints

= Recovered infection or

injury

No treatment !

This pig can't compete with other pigs for

food and water!

It must be pulled!

#3 Diarrhea

Diarrhea in a Nursery Pig

Video 18

"THUMPING"

or

Labored Abdominal Breathing

# 4 PNEUMONIA

Notice how this pig is using its abdominal muscles to breath!

Not just the muscles of the chest.

This is a THUMPING pig!

Video 19

Increased respiratory rates due to causes other than pneumonia usually don't use the abdominal muscles like this pig.

This pig has pneumonia !

Video 20

LOSS OF

BODY CONDITION

# 5 OFF FEED

Notice the pig's backbone just beginning to show.

Just beginning to lose body condition from not eating.

Video 21 Video 22

OTHER SYMPTOMS

• Tail Biting• Navel Sucking• Greasy Pig

TAIL BITING

Is this a primary

or

secondary problem ?

Video 23

This is most likely a

secondary problem in

this pig…

It is not healthy…

Loss of condition

and depressed

TAIL BITING

(Finishing Pig)

Is this a primary

or

secondary problem ?

Video 24

This is most likely a

primary problem in

this pig .......

It is healthy..

in good condition

It may need to be pulled to

keep it from getting worse!

NAVEL SUCKING

Video 25

Possible causes of Navel Sucking:

1) Pigs that are weaned too early.

2) Improper environment causing pigs to be uncomfortable.

The pig that is doing the navel sucking should be removed from the pen!

Swollen navel due to infection

- Must be treated VERY EARLY

Video 26

Greasy Pig

Video 27

Mange

Video 29

Video 28

Don’t forget that not everything is disease!

Acknowledgements

• I would like to recognize others for their significant contributions to this presentation:– Dr. Locke Karriker– MKS Productions