How to select piglets? Prevention methods for common diseases such as infectious and parasitic diseases

We call pigs that have grown to about 30 kg piglets. Many pig farms bring in piglets for their breeding operations. Among the common and frequently occurring diseases at the piglet stage, apart from yellow and white scours and edema disease caused by Escherichia coli, as well as paratyphoid and piglet anemia, most of the remaining infectious diseases and parasitic diseases can all be contracted during the fattening stage, and their incidence rate far exceeds that of the piglet stage, posing a tremendous threat to the pig industry. So pig farmers and pig farms everywhere should take note: How to select piglets? How to prevent common infectious diseases, parasitic diseases and the like? Read on and you will know clearly.

So what are the specific methods?

1. Carry out immunization against infectious diseases according to schedule. For newly purchased weaned piglets, their vaccination status should be carefully ascertained, and necessary booster vaccinations should be given; for infectious diseases that occur seasonally, the herd should be immunized one month in advance; for infectious diseases for which no effective vaccine currently exists, drug prevention should be carried out 15 days in advance.

2. Carry out regular deworming with drugs. Parasitic diseases are extremely harmful to fattening pigs. Apart from intestinal parasites, there are swine cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, and eperythrozoonosis, among which toxoplasmosis can also cause seasonal and regional outbreaks. Most parasitic diseases currently have no effective vaccine, so deworming and prevention must be carried out regularly through drugs. Manure from pig farms should be piled up for fermentation, using biological heat to kill worm eggs.

3. Prevent common diseases by strengthening feeding management. Many common diseases, such as trace element deficiency, vitamin deficiency, and mold poisoning, can be completely prevented by feeding high-quality complete compound feed. Therefore, the nutrition and hygiene of feed and drinking water should be strengthened.

4. Some infectious diseases can be prevented by adding drugs.

5. Follow a strict hygiene and disinfection system. Thanks to good facilities and conditions, the pens of intensive pig farms are easy to clean and disinfect. The pens of free-range farm households have poor hygiene conditions, so they must be cleaned frequently and fresh soil or fresh straw must be added frequently, manure must be piled up for fermentation, disinfectant must be sprayed in the pens regularly, and the ceilings, inner and outer walls, and passages of the pens must be thoroughly disinfected on a regular basis. Where conditions permit, screen windows should be installed on the doors and windows and in the exercise areas of the pens to keep out mosquitoes and flies and reduce disease incidence.

Apart from doing a good job of disease prevention, the most important thing is still to select healthy piglets of good breed. To select good piglets, you need to do the eight observations:

1. Observe the spirit: lively and energetic, bright eyes, tail swinging freely, and a crisp squeal.

2. Observe the manure: droppings come out in clumps, moderately soft, with no mucus.

3. Observe the skin: coat and skin ruddy, with no red patches or ringworm spots.

4. Observe the appearance: no external injuries or deformities.

5. Observe the breed: in recent years, the more common practice has been to use Landrace and Large Yorkshire boars crossed with local sows to produce piglets, and in some cases Duroc is then crossed with two-way crossbred sows to produce three-way crossbred pigs. Among white-haired crossbred pigs, piglets of Landrace cross generally show fine hair, a long snout, slightly large ears held forward and level, and a relatively slender body. Large Yorkshire crossbred piglets have a slightly longer snout, medium-sized ears held semi-upright, and a slightly thicker and longer body. Those with fine brown hair all over and occasional black patches are Duroc crossbred piglets. Two-way crossbred pigs have strong adaptability, fast growth, and a high lean meat rate, and they sell well. They are the more ideal choice. Three-way crossbred piglets contain little local pig blood and have high requirements, so they are not very easy to raise. But they have more lean meat and grow fast, so those with good conditions can raise three-way crossbred piglets.

6. Observe the body type: generally choose piglets with a broad snout, a deep mouth cleft, a broad forehead, large eyes, thin ear shells, firm and upright ear bases, a flat and broad back with a double ridge, thin and elastic skin, slightly sparse and glossy hair, a long body, a deep chest, broad hindquarters, and sturdy, slightly tall legs.

7. Observe the source of the piglets: find out clearly where the piglets come from and check whether they come from a non-epidemic area.

8. Observe the epidemic prevention and quarantine certificate: in recent years, veterinary departments in various places have attached great importance to prevention and quarantine. Piglets are vaccinated according to regulations and quarantined before transport, so at the time of purchase you can ask the seller to show the prevention and quarantine certificate.