VDPAM 445 Swine Topics Part 0: Walk through Dr. Alex Ramirez Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine Iowa 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: o F Growing Pig: o F Finishing Pig: o F
Normal Respiratory Rates Weaned Pig: breaths / min Growing Pig: breaths / min Finishing Pig: 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? pints / minute (nursery) quarts / minute (finishing)
Water Flow
Measuring water flow rates: Nursery: pints / minute (25-40 seconds to fill a pint container) Finishing: 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 #1CNS (strep) #2Lameness #3Diarrhea #4Pneumonia #5Off Feed
EARLY INFECTION Treatment NOW is more EFFECTIVE Video 8Video 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 21Video 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