Keeping Your Pigs Healthy: Essential Tips and Advice

David Madsen, DVM

SwinePro Associates, LLC

PIGeducate.com

•

VETERINARY-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP

•

YOU, THE CLIENT THAT OWNS PIGS, THE

PATIENTS, HAVE STARTED A PROFESSIONAL

RELATIONSHIP WITH A VETERINARIAN THAT:

•

1. HAS BEEN TO SEE YOUR PIGS AT LEAST ONCE

A YEAR

•

2. IS AVAILABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS

AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP

•

3. BUILDS A HEALTH PROGRAM THAT YOU

AGREE TO FOLLOW.

•

“FOR USE BY OR ON THE ORDER OF A LICENSED

DVM”

•

ALL INJECTABLES

•

VETERINARY FEED DIRECTIVE: ALL “MEDICALLY

IMPORTANT” (FROM A CLASS OF DRUGS USED

IN HUMANS).

•

EXEMPT FOR FEED: Tiamulin (Denagard),

FENBENDAZOLE, BMD

•

1. PIGS EAT LIKE A PIG. WHENEVER ONE

DOESN’T, SOMETHING IS WRONG!

•

2. MALE PIGS (BOARS & BARROWS) EAT 15%

MORE PER DAY THAN GILTS AND BARROWS GET

FATTER FASTER.

•

3. WATER, COOL & FRESH, IS THE MOST

IMPORTANT NUTRIENT. POOR WATER, BAD

APPETITE.

•

4. PIGS DON’T REALLY LIKE TO WALLOW IN THE

MUD. THEY 

DO

 LIKE TO STAY COOL & MUD

HELPS.

•

1. APPETITE STOPS

•

2. COUGH OR SNEEZING

•

3. FORCED BREATHING (THUMPING)

•

4. GAUNT

•

5. CHANGE IN STOOL- TOO HARD OR TOO

LOOSE

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6. LAME ESP. IF JOINTS SWELL

•

7. SKIN COLOR CHANGE OR SPOTS ON SKIN

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8. VOMITING

•

1. SORE THROAT, REDUCED WATER

CONSUMPTION. OFTEN PRECEDES RESPIRATORY

INFECTIONS

•

2. MAY ACCOMPANY FEVER-TAKE

TEMPERATURE. SHOULD BE 101-103⁰ (DEPENDS

ON ROOM TEMP.)

•

3. CHECK WATER SOURCE AND FEED FRESHNESS

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4. INVESTIGATE APPETITE REDUCTION VS. NONE

•

1. CLEAR, WATERY DISCHARGE W/ SNEEZING

PRIOR TO COUGH DEVELOPMENT IS A SIGN OF

SWINE INFLUENZA VIRUS INFECTION (SIV)

•

2. SHORT, DRY, PERSISTENT COUGH VS. DEEP

HARSH, “BARKING” COUGH SEPARATES SOME

DISEASES

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ALL PIGS COUGH OR SNEEZE ON OCCASION,

JUST LIKE US. NO WORRIES. WORRY IF IT

BECOMES REGULAR & CONTINUAL

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1. MIGRATING ROUNDWORM LARVAE-ADULTS

DO NO HARM EXCEPT PROVIDE MORE EGGS TO

MAKE MORE WORMS. LARVAE EXIT INTESTINES

AFTER BEING EATEN, MIGRATE THROUGH LIVER,

DIAPHRAGM, LUNGS, GET COUGHED UP AND

RESWALLOWED TO BECOME ADULTS.

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2. CAN CAUSE EXTENSIVE LUNG DAMAGE, EVEN

DEATH FROM PNEUMONIA.

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3. EGGS LIVE OVER IN SOIL FOR YEARS

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4. BEST REASON TO MOVE PENS ANNUALLY IF

ON DIRT.

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5.DRY, HACKY, FREQUENT COUGH.

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ROUNDWORMS – Ivomec for adults only

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 LARVAL ROUNDWORMS- Feed Safeguard

(Fenbendazole) for 3 days as topdress

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WHIPWORMS – Tramisol or Safeguard –NOT

Ivomec

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ROTATE LOTS ANNUALLY ON DIRT

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CLEAN PENS WELL BETWEEN GROUPS IF ON

CEMENT

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COUGHING BEGINS ABOUT 14 DAYS AFTER

EXPOSURE TO EMBRYONATED EGGS

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FENBENDAZOLE TOPDRESS FOR PIGS

(SAFEGUARD)

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CATTLE SAFEGUARD PELLETS

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EQUINE SAFEGUARD PASTE

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ALL ACCORDING TO PIG WEIGHT & GIVE 3 DAYS

IN A ROW

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PIGS ARE THE SECOND MOST POPULAR 4-H

PROJECT IN MONTANA BEHIND SHOOTING

SPORTS

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CLAY PIGEONS ARE A BIG PART OF SHOOTING

PROJECTS

•

CLAY PIGEONS ARE SEVERELY TOXIC TO PIGS’

LIVERS …ONLY A HALF A CLAY BIRD, WHEN

EATEN BY A PIG, IS ENOUGH TO KILL THE PIG

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CALLED “PITCH POISENING”, THE PINE TAR BASE

IS BOTH TASTY TO THE PIG AND RAPIDLY TOXIC

TO THE PIG’S LIVER

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1. EASILY PREVENTABLE WITH PROPER

VACCINATION

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2. DRY, “HACKY” COUGH, GETS WORSE OVER

TIME

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3. CHRONIC MILD TO MODERATE PNEUMONIA

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4. MAIN EFFECT IS SLOW GAIN

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5. COMBINATION WITH OTHER AGENTS (PRRS,

SIV, CIRCO) 2 + 2 = 5

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6. BE CERTAIN PIGS YOU PURCHASE HAVE BEEN

VACCINATED!

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CHRONIC, IRREVERSIBLE VIRUS

•

ENTERED PIG HERDS VIA MUTATION OF

PREVIOUS VIRUS IN EARLY 21

st

 CENTURY

•

HUGE ISSUE & RAPID SPREAD IN 2006

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GOOD VACCINES IN 2007

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EASILY PREVENTABLE VIA VACCINATION

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ASSUME 

ALL

 PIG HERDS CARRY IT

•

REQUIRE 

VACCINATION OF EVERY PIG YOU BUY

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COMBINATION OF M.HYO & CIRCO IS

EXCELLENT ESP. MERCK PRODUCT

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1. FAST ONSET, QUICKLY OFF FEED & H2O

BECAUSE THROAT HURTS

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2. STARTS W/ CLEAR, RUNNY, NOSE, THEN MILD

COUGH, THEN LOUD, HARSH “BARK”

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3. COUGH IS VERY CHARACTERISTIC

(DIAGNOSTIC)

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4. NO TREATMENT FOR ANY VIRUS

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5. FOCUS Rx ON SECONDARY BACTERIA W/

INJECTABLE ANTIBIOTIC AND GOOD NURSING

CARE (WARM, DRY, DRAFTFREE, REDUCE FEVER)

•

1. OFTEN IN FALL W/ DROPPING TEMPS- PIGS

AREN’T THE BRIGHTEST CRITTERS- WILL GO TO

SLEEP WHERE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WHEN

THE EVENING IS WARM, THEN STAY ALL NIGHT

AND GET CHILLED. SIV IS OFTEN PRESENT IN

THE PIG WAITING FOR A STRESSOR LIKE

CHILLING

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2. BEST REASON TO KEEP TEMPS CONSTANT

AND COMFY YEARROUND.

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1. MOM’S COLOSTRUM PROTECTS AGAINST SIV

FOR ABOUT 8 WEEKS

•

2. THIS PROTECTION ALSO NEUTRALIZES

VACCINE. HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2 MO. OLD

•

3. SEVERAL VERSIONS (H1N1, H3N2, H1N2), SO

VACCINE AGAINST 1 MAY NOT PREVENT

ANOTHER

•

4. THE “MONTANA ADVANTAGE” – LONG

DISTANCES BETWEEN PIGS, LESS EXPOSURE

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5. HAULING TO MULTIPLE SHOWS LOSES THAT

ADVANTAGE

•

1. PIGS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN

TRANSMISSION TO PEOPLE(AND VICE VERSA)

•

2. PIGS ARE THE “MIXING VESSEL” WHERE 2 OR

MORE STRAINS OF PEOPLE &/OR BIRD

INFLUENZA MAY COMBINE TO CREATE A NEW

VIRUS

•

3. IT IS RARE BUT CAN HAPPEN THAT YOU CAN

GIVE SIV TO YOUR PIGS 

OR

 THEY CAN GIVE IT TO

YOU.

•

4. VERY COMMON THAT YOU HAVE THE

INFLUENZA AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR PIGS

AND THEY ARE 2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIRUS

•

DISEASE TRANSMISSABLE FROM ANIMALS TO

PEOPLE OR VICE VERSA

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INFLUENZA A, ERYSIPELAS, STREPTOCOCCUS

SUIS

•

INFLUENZA A STRAINS COMMONLY INFECT

BIRDS AND MOVE AROUND THE GLOBE.

•

AVIAN STRAINS CAN DIRECTLY INFECT PEOPLE

OR CAN MIX WITH HUMAN OR PIG STRAINS TO

BECOME A “NEW” STRAIN THAT HAS NOT BEEN

EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

•

THE “NEW” STRAIN CAN NOW INFECT NAÏVE

SUBJECTS

•

THOSE OF US WITH A LONG FARM ANIMAL

EXPOSURE HISTORY, ESP. PIGS OR POULTRY,

HAVE SOME IMMUNITY TO INFLUENZA

•

MOST FOLKS HAVE LITTLE OR NO EXPOSURE

NOR IMMUNUTY, SINCE FEW FOLKS FARM

•

EXHIBITS BRING PIGS, BIRDS, AND PEOPLE

TOGETHER FOR A SHORT TIME EACH SUMMER

•

THE SIGNS WARNING EVERYONE TO WASH

THEIR HANDS AND NOT BRING FOOD INTO THE

LIVESTOCK BARNS ARE “JUST IN CASE” AN

UNEXPECTED INFLUENZA STRAIN IS PRESENT

•

1. STOMACH ULCERS- GIVEN CREDIT FOR DOING

MORE HARM THAN THEY DESERVE

•

2. 

EVERY

 TIME A PIG FAILS TO EAT FOR MORE

THAN 24 HOURS (INCLUDING WHEN THEY RUN

OUT OF FEED OR WATER), LOCAL IRRITATION OF

A PART OF THE STOMACH LINING STARTS.

•

3. THIS CAN PROCEED TO AN EROSION OF THE

LINING WHEN THE ABSENCE OF FOOD PERSISTS

&/OR WHEN FINELY GROUND FEED IS FED

•

4. THE END RESULT CAN BE A BLEEDING ULCER

& DEATH

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1. ENCOURAGE APPETITE

•

2. OFFER MORE COARSE FEED THAN

PELLETS(THE PELLETS DO NOT CAUSE ULCERS-

QUALITY PELLETS REQUIRE GRINDING GRAIN

VERY FINE. FINE GRIND ENCOURAGES ULCERS)

•

3. WHOLE OATS, STEAMED ROLLED OATS,

WHOLE GRAIN ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE

•

4. TAGAMET (FAMOTEDINE) FED DAILY FOR A

WEEK

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5. OMEPRAZOLE (PRILOSEC) DAILY

•

6. ALL VOMITING IS 

NOT 

AN ULCER

•

1

. ILEITIS- 

USUALLY IN PIGS OVER 180-200 LB+

•

2. STARTS AS MILD TO MODERATE DIARRHEA,

USUALLY DARK DUE TO DIGESTED BLOOD, MAY

DEPRESS APPETITE. OFTEN DARK STREAKS OF

MANURE DOWN THE HAMS

•

3. RESPONDS WELL TO TYLAN 200 INJECTIONS

OR LINCOMYCIN 300 INJECTIONS 3-5 DAYS IN A

ROW. DENAGARD (TIAMULIN) VIA DRINKING

WATER IS EXCELLENT, ESP. FOR UNAFFECTED

PENMATES.

•

GIVE IN DRINKING WATER

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MOST EFFECTIVE

•

NOT COMMONLY USED IN MONTANA

•

SUGGESTED THAT A CLUB LEADER ORDER A

BOTTLE IN EARLY SUMMER AND LET EVERYONE

KNOW WHERE IT IS. SHARE AMONG THOSE IN

NEED.

•

TYLAN 200 AND LINCOCIN 300 ARE MORE

EASILY OBTAINED AND ARE GOOD FOR Rx BUT

REQUIRE DAILY INJECTIONS FOR 3+ DAYS

•

1. 

SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM -

YELLOW

DIARRHEA, OFF FEED, LOW FEVER, GAUNT. NOT

HIGHLY FATAL WHEN TREATED W/ NAXCEL OR

EXCENEL INJECTIONS OR EXCEDE. MAY

CONTINUE TO EAT. NEOMYCIN VIA WATER.

•

2. 

SALMONELLA CHOLERASUIS

 SKIN OF BELLY

OFTEN UNIFORMLY REDDENED, HIGH FEVER,

EARS MAY BECOME RED/PURPLE AT EDGE.

QUICKLY FATAL. NAXCEL/EXCCENEL/EXCEDE.

NOT MUCH DIARRHEA SINCE PIGS QUICKLY

STOP EATING

•

1. WHIPWORMS- IN COLON, MAY SEE BRIGHTER

RED BLOOD SPECKS. TREAT WITH TRAMISOL OR

SAFEGUARD. IVOMEC WILL NOT WORK.

•

2. DYSENTERY- AFFECTS LARGE BOWEL, BLOOD

& MUCUS IN MODERATE DIARRHEA.

DENAGARD IN WATER OR FEED TO TREAT

•

PED (PORCINE EPIDEMIC DIARRHEA)

•

PRIMARILY A WINTER DISEASE, DISASTROUS IN

NURSING PIGS, SELDOM AN ISSUE AFTER 40 LB

•

IN HOG DENSE AREAS OF U.S.

•

MANY, MANY AVENUES OF TRANSMISSION

•

NO TREATMENT

•

BOTTOM LINE-IF YOU BUY A PLUMP 40+LB PIG,

IT HAS NOT HAD PED AND, IF IT GETS PED AFTER

THAT, NOT MUCH WILL HAPPEN EXCEPT

EXTREME DIARRHEA WITH VOMITING FOR A

FEW DAYS & WEIGHT LOSS (WILL REGAIN)

•

1. 

HEMOPHILUS PARASUIS

 USU. IN YOUNG

PIGS. VERY MILD, DRY COUGH. SUDDEN

DEATH.MAY SHOW RAPID BREATHING BUT

CONTINUE TO EAT. TREAT W/ BAYTRIL, EXCEDE,

NAXCEL, EXCENEL. TREAT ALL PIGS AT SAME

TIME.

•

POST MORTEM SHOWS LOT OF FLUID IN HEART

SAC, CHEST CAVITY, “CHICKEN FAT CLOTS” OF

YELLOW FLUID OR “SPIDER WEB” MATERIAL IN

ABDOMEN.

•

RECOVERED PIGS MAY GROW SLOWLY DUE TO

ADHESIONS IN CHEST

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ERYSIPELAS   

ACUTE OR CHRONIC

•

ACUTE- HIGH FEVERS (107⁰), GAUNT, MAY BE

LAME, MAY SEE “DIAMOND SKIN” LESIONS

•

TREAT WITH PENICILLIN, THE 

ONLY

 APPROVED

USE OF PENICILLIN IN PIGS. 52 DAY

PRESLAUGHTER WITHDRAWAL. NAXCEL ALSO

GOOD.

•

CHRONIC- AFTER ACUTE OR VERY MILD ACUTE.

•

MAY CAUSE ARTHRITIS, ENLARGED JOINTS,

HEART VALVE LESIONS THAT CAUSE

“THUMPING” & SLOW GROWTH. 

NOT

 A

COMMON CAUSE OF LARGE JOINTS

•

MYCOPLASMA HYORHINIS, M. HYOSYNOVIAE,

H.PARASUIS

(AGAIN. VERY COMMON)

•

ACUTE LAMENESS, JOINT SWELLING.

•

TREAT W/ NAXCEL OR EXCENEL AT FIRST SIGN

OF LAMENESS. WAITING UNTIL SWELLING

APPEARS OFTEN IS TOO LATE.

•

IF THEY’RE LAME, 

DO SOMETHING!

•

OCCURS ON LIGHT COLORED SKIN

•

SIGNS ARE REDDENED SKIN, MAY PROCEDE TO

WEEPING SERUM, CRACKING

•

VERY CHARACTERISTIC SUDDEN FLINCHING,

MAY DROP TO THE GROUND WHEN TOUCHED,

MAY WALK AND REPEATEDLY DIP THE BACK.

•

SOME CALL IT “DIPPITY-PIG” AND DREAM UP

ALL SORTS OF CAUSES…IT’S SUNBURN.

•

TREAT AS YOU WOULD YOURSELF- ALOE, LOCAL

ANESTHETIC, CALAMINE

•

IT WILL SCAB & PEEL-PREVENT VIA SHADE.

MUD?

•

SUDDEN INCREASE IN # OF CASES, ESP.

MIDWEST. HAS BEEN IN U.S. A FEW YEARS

•

1

ST

 FOUND 2015 IN SHOW PIGS IN SD & IA

•

RAPID SPREAD TO MANY HERDS IN MANY

STATES. CURRENT ESTIMATE IS THAT 30% OF

U.S. PIGS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED

•

CAUSES BLISTERS ON NOSE AND AT CORONARY

BAND OF THE FOOT WHERE HAIR MEETS THE

TOENAIL.

•

BLISTERS RUPTURE LEAVING OPEN SORES

•

SORES MAY BE PAINFUL ENOUGH TO CAUSE

TEMPORARY LAMENESS OR RELUCTANCE TO

EAT

•

NO TREATMENT. FAST RECOVERY.

•

PROBABLY LIFETIME IMMUNITY BUT MAY BE

CARRIERS FOR UNDETERMINED TIME.

•

LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE FOOT AND MOUTH

DISEASE (FMD), A DREADED FOREIGN ANIMAL

DISEASE

•

REQUIRES VIRUS IDENTIFICATION AT A FEDERAL

LAB TO DISTINGUISH SVV FROM FMD

•

MANDATORY QUARANTINE TO PREMISES OF

AFFECTED PIGS AND ALL THAT HAVE BEEN IN

CONTACT WITH THEM

•

FEDERAL VETERINARIANS MUST BE CALLED TO

DO THE DIAGNOSTICS

•

RESULTS IN NO LESS THAN 48 HOURS

•

AFFECTS ONLY PIGS. NO SPREAD TO PEOPLE OR

OTHER ANIMALS

•

AFFECTED PIGS RECOVER QUICKLY AND GO

ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS

•

PIGS THAT ARE INVESTIGATED  AND PROVEN TO

HAVE SVV ARE FREE TO MOVE AS SOON AS

DIAGNOSTICS ARE IN. MAY BE AS QUICK AS 2-3

DAYS

•

RECOVERED PIGS MAY MOVE INTERSTATE IN 14

DAYS AFTER DIAGNOSTICS

•

IF A SINGLE PIG IS FOUND AT A PREMISE LIKE

YOUR FAIRGROUNDS, 

ALL

 THE PIGS ARE

QUARANTINED TO THE SITE UNTIL AFTER

DIAGNOSTICS ARE COMPLETED.

•

CAN’T GO HOME, CAN’T GO TO SLAUGHTER

•

MONTANA BOARD OF LIVESTOCK

RECOMMENDS ALL PIGS BE INSPECTED BY AN

ACCREDITED VETERINARIAN AT ARRIVAL TO THE

SHOW 

BEFORE

 UNLOADING.

•

QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION OF NOSE & TOES

•

PIGS WITH LESIONS GO BACK HOME

•

ALL “CLEAN” PIGS CAN STAY

•

MOST LIKELY TO ORIGINATE OUTSIDE OF

MONTANA (THIS YEAR ONLY)

•

MOST LIKELY TO ARRIVE AS FEEDER WEIGHTS

•

THOSE THAT GO TO MULTIPLE SHOWS AND ARE

EXPOSED TO MANY PIGS HAVE MORE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE INFECTED

•

STRESSORS SEEM TO BRING THE SIGNS ON

MORE QUICKLY. MULTIPLE SHOWS STRESS PIGS

•

PROTECTION OF THE U.S. ANIMAL INDUSTRY

FROM FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASE ENTRY

ACROSS OUR BORDERS IS VITAL TO OUR

ECONOMY, OUR INDUSTRY, AND OUR FOOD

SUPPLY.

•

ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT THE LESIONS

FOUND ON ANY PIG 

ARE NOT FMD 

IS

MANDATORY AND A PART OF GOOD

CITIZENSHIP.

•

DON’T FEEL PICKED UPON IF A PIG OF YOURS

SHOWS LESIONS & MUST MISS THE SHOW…BAD

LUCK, YES, BUT FAR BIGGER ISSUES ARE AT PLAY.

•

1.RESTRAIN THE PIG- SQUEEZE BEHIND A PANEL,

PICK UP (IF SMALL), OR SNARE

•

NUTRITION A-Z IS A MONTHLONG MEETING

•

CERTAIN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TO KEEP

YOUR FEED SUPPLIER ON HIS/HER TOES

•

PIGS WILL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING AND WILL

CERTAINLY BITE TO TASTE EVERYTHING

(PEOPLE’S FINGERS INCLUDED)

•

THE PIG’S SENSE OF SMELL IS HIGHLY

DEVELOPED AND USED TO FIND AND IDENTIFY

ITEMS TO EAT

•

PIGS REQUIRE 10 AMINO ACIDS TO BE ADDED

TO THEIR RATION IN THE FORM OF PROTEIN

SUPPLEMENTATION. SOYBEAN OIL MEAL

(SOM)IS MOST COMMON, BUT FISHMEAL,

SPRAY DRIED PORCINE PLASMA, BLOODMEAL

AND OTHERS ARE COMMON.

•

THE YOUNGER THE PIG, THE MORE ANIMAL

PROTEIN IT REQUIRES. AS IT AGES, VEGETABLE

PROTEIN CAN BE USED.

•

BOTTOM LINE- 

READ THE LABEL

. IF YOU HAVE A

50 LB PIG AND ARE SOLD A BAG OF FEED FOR

75-150 LB PIGS, REFUSE IT!

•

IT’S BETTER TO FEED A FEED INTENDED FOR

LIGHTER WEIGHT PIGS TO HEAVIER PIGS THAN

A FEED FOR HEAVIER PIGS TO LIGHTWEIGHTS.

•

IF YOU KEEP A GILT TO BREED, A FINISHING

FEED IS GOOD FOR GESTATION. LIMIT FEED 4 ½

LB /DAY UNTIL 2-3 WEEKS PREFARROW, THEN

INCREASE TO 5-6 LB

•

STARTER FEEDS MEANT FOR 25-50 LB PIGS ARE

GOOD FOR LACTATING SOWS. FEED ALL THEY

WANT. BE AWARE OF ANTIBIOTIC

WITHDRAWAL. (NON-MEDICATED IS BEST).

•

GRAINS ARE PRIMARILY AN ENERGY SOURCE

(CALORIES) WITH SOME PROTEIN, SOME

MINERALS, A FEW VITAMINS

•

CORN, BARLEY & WHEAT ALL HAVE SLIGHTLY

DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND MUST HAVE

OTHER ITEMS (PROTEIN, VITAMINS, MINERALS)

ADDED TO 

BALANCE

 THE RATION FOR THE 

AGE

& SIZE

 OF THE PIG

•

UPDATE TO THE NEXT RATION AS PIGS REACH

CERTAIN WEIGHTS. FOLLOW MANUFACTURER’S

DIRECTIONS.

•

DON’T

 ADD ITEMS ON YOUR OWN

•

PROPER VITAMIN & MINERAL

SUPPLEMENTATION IS CRITICAL

•

A V-M PREMIX IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART

OF THE RATION ON A PER POUND BASIS BUT IS

ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. DON’T CUT CORNERS

•

CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, VIT. D BALANCE IS

CRITICAL FOR PROPER BONE & CARTILAGE

DEVELOPMENT. IMBALANCE CAN LEAD TO

LAMENESS, POOR GROWTH.

•

THE PIG CAN MAKE ITS OWN B VITAMINS BUT

MUST HAVE THE FAT SOLUBLE ONES (A,D,E,K)

ADDED

•

ASK FOR EXPERT ADVICE IF YOU’RE UNSURE

•

THERE ARE FEEDS AVAILABLE SPECIFICALLY FOR

SHOWPIGS & SUPPLEMENTS CLAIMED TO

CHANGE THE SHAPE OF ALMOST ANY PIG.

SOME WORK, SOME DON’T . IT DEPENDS MORE

ON THE PIG ITSELF THAN ON WHAT’S IN THE

BAG.

•

IF YOU BUY A LIGHT-MUSCLED, NARROW

TOPPED PIG AT 50 LB, YOU’LL HAVE A LIGHT-

MUSCLED, NARROW TOPPED PIG AT 260 LB,

REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEED IT…GENETICS

ARE CRITICAL.

•

“MEDICALLY IMPORTANT”DRUGS ARE THOSE

THAT ARE ALSO USED TO TREAT HUMANS OR

ARE FROM A FAMILY OF DRUGS THAT INCLUDE

SOME USED IN HUMANS

•

TO BE INCLUDED IN ANIMAL FEED, THESE

DRUGS NOW REQUIRE A VETERINARY FEED

DIRECTIVE (VFD).

•

A VFD IS A WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION FROM A

VETERINARIAN TO A FEED MANUFACTURER

DETAILING THE ADDITION OF AN ANTIBIOTIC TO

THE FEED FOR YOUR PIGS.

•

CTC, OTC (CHLORTETRACYCLINE, OXYTET)

•

ALL PENICILLIN COMBINATIONS

•

ALL SULFA COMBINATIONS

•

ALL NEOMYCIN COMBINATIONS

•

PULMOTIL (AS BEFORE)

•

TYLAN

•

LINCOMYCIN

•

2

ND

 BEST CHOICE FOR TREATMENT – INJECTION

ALWAYS 

THE BEST CHOICE.

•

ALL EXCEPT TIAMULIN (DENAGARD) REQUIRE A

VETERINARY PRESCRIPTION FOR USE.

•

Rx REQUIRES A VCPR.

•

INCLUDED ARE ALL TETRACYCLINES,

PENICILLINS, NEOMYCIN COMBOS,

LINCOMYCIN, TYLAN, SULFAS.

•

IT MIGHT BE WISE TO INCLUDE A COPY OF

PRESCRIPTION OR VFD IN 4-H RECORDS IN

ANIMAL HEALTH SECTION.

•

PIGS’ EARS ARE 

NOT

 HANDLES. NEVER LIFT OR

PULL A PIG BY ITS EARS.

•

IF A PIG LIES DOWN OR REFUSES TO MOVE, A

SHARP 

SLAP

 WITH BOTH HANDS AT THE SAME

TIME IS THE MOST ACCEPTABLE WAY TO MAKE

IT MOVE. REPEAT AS NECESSARY.

•

NEVER

 WHACK THEM WITH YOUR KNEE. YOU

CAN TURN THEM OR PUSH THEM WITH A KNEE.

DO NOT STRIKE, WHACK, SLAM WITH A KNEE.

•

FOR MANY SPECTATORS, SHOW DAY IS THE

ONLY EXPOSURE TO ANIMAL AGRICULTURE.

DON’T LET THEM THINK WE’RE NOT KIND TO

OUR PIGS.

•

DRY, DRAFTFREE, WARM

•

HOW WARM? 40-80 LB PIG MUST BE IN A

HEATED AREA @ 70+ DEGREES. BEST BE IN A

HEATED ROOM BUT AREA HEAT W/ A

HEATLAMP WILL DO IN A PINCH.

•

THE PIG(S) WILL TELL IF (S)HE IS

COMFORTABLE…IF THEY ARE IN A PILE OR

DEEPLY BURROWED IN BEDDING, THEY’RE

COLD.

•

CLEAN, FRESH WATER & FEED NEARBY

•

VISIT PIGeducate.com for many more facts and

in-depth training about pigs.

•

WHAT YOUR PIG NEEDS YOU TO KNOW

•

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