What symptoms appear when pigs eat moldy feed?
Moldy feed poisoning is a toxic disease caused by animals eating moldy feed, clinically characterized by neurological symptoms. So, what are the symptoms of pigs eating moldy feed?
1. What are the symptoms of pigs eating moldy feed?
Poisoned piglets often have an acute onset, showing central nervous system symptoms, and die within a few days. Older pigs have a longer course of disease, generally with normal body temperature, reduced appetite in the early stage, listlessness, emaciation, and red patches on the skin of the muzzle, ears, inner sides of the limbs and the ventral side; in the later stage, they stop eating, and develop abdominal pain, diarrhea, rapid emaciation, and stunted growth. Pregnant sows often suffer miscarriage and stillbirth. Boars may have balanoposthitis, swelling of the penis, etc.
2. Prevention and control measures
1. Treatment
There is no specific therapy for moldy feed poisoning. After onset, immediately stop feeding the moldy feed, switch to high-quality feed, and carry out symptomatic treatment at the same time. For acute poisoning, after enema and gastric lavage with 0.1% potassium permanganate solution, warm physiological saline or 2% sodium bicarbonate solution, administer a saline laxative orally, such as sodium sulfate 30-50 grams, water 1 liter, taken orally once. Intravenously inject 5% glucose saline 300-500 milliliters, 40% urotropine 20 milliliters; at the same time, subcutaneously inject 20% caffeine sodium benzoate 5-10 milliliters, to enhance the pig's disease resistance and promote the discharge of toxins.
2. Prevention
Mold prevention methods: the key to preventing feed from becoming moldy and deteriorating is to control moisture and temperature, make the grain dry as soon as possible, and store it in a dry, low-temperature and well-ventilated place.
Mold removal methods: there is currently no satisfactory method; for slightly moldy feed, soak it in 1.5% sodium hydroxide solution or plant ash water, or wash it repeatedly with clean water until the soaking liquid is clear and colorless, but feed treated this way still contains certain toxic substances and should be fed with caution.
To avoid pigs being poisoned by eating moldy feed, pay attention to ensuring the feed is fresh in normal times; if the feed is found to be moldy, it is best not to feed it to pigs anymore.