How to carry out differentiated management in pig farms in autumn

Piglets: preventing diseases caused by temperature changes

Problems prone to occur in weaned piglets in autumn

The diarrhea rate of piglets increases in autumn. From the hot summer to the cool autumn, the temperature drops considerably, and the temperature difference between day and night reaches 10°C, which easily causes diarrhea in weaned piglets and affects their growth. When piglets are weaned, their thermoregulatory ability is not yet fully developed, and they need a comfortable ambient temperature of 26°C~28°C.

Respiratory diseases occur severely. Entering autumn, in order to regulate the temperature and humidity of the pig house, ventilation is very important. On the one hand, if ventilation is poor, harmful gases in the pig house such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are not only unpleasant but also highly irritating. They are highly corrosive to the pigs' eyes and respiratory mucosa. Pig herds living in this environment have a greatly increased chance of developing respiratory diseases. On the other hand, if ventilation is excessive, cold air entering the pig house can easily cause respiratory diseases such as coughing in piglets. The suitable humidity for weaned piglets is 65%~70%. Excessive humidity can cause diseases such as dermatitis and mange, while excessive dryness can increase dust and induce diseases such as asthma and atrophic rhinitis.

Feed mildew affects the production performance of piglets. There is a lot of rain in autumn, and stored feed is prone to mildew. If farmers mix their own feed, they must frequently check the quality of corn and fish meal, deal with problems as early as possible, and under no circumstances feed severely moldy feed, strictly preventing poisoning.

In addition, if pigs eat too late around nightfall, overeat, and sleep on the spot after eating, the distended stomach contents, exposed to the cold at night, lead to abnormal fermentation of the stomach contents, which can cause fever and refusal to eat in pigs. When feeding at night, it should be done at fixed times and in fixed amounts, and pigs should have sufficient time to digest after eating. If feeding is late, they should be given appropriate exercise or the feeding amount should be reduced.

Feeding management and preventive measures

First, temperature is the most important thing. Heating facilities should be prepared before the temperature changes. As long as the temperature changes abruptly, nighttime insulation work can be strengthened, so as to be prepared and reduce the losses caused by natural factors to a minimum. Repair the pig house well and seal tightly the leaky parts of the pens to prevent cold wind from invading.

Coordination of insulation and ventilation. The best way to reduce humidity and improve the air in the pig house is ventilation, and the most effective measure for ventilation is to open a vent on the ceiling, so that without opening doors and windows, a large amount of moisture and harmful gases in the house can be discharged as quickly as possible and fresh air can be brought in. However, ventilation must be controlled: ventilate more on sunny and warm days, and less on cloudy and cold days, so as to coordinate ventilation with insulation.

For the prevention of respiratory diseases, the main considerations are improving the environment and necessary drug prevention. How to transition the pig herd from ventilation through large open windows to weak ventilation in a closed house requires constant attention to climate changes and timely adjustment of air volume through opening and closing windows.

Transmissible gastroenteritis and epidemic diarrhea are common infectious diseases in autumn. If piglets are vaccinated two months in advance, the antibodies in these pigs' bodies can still resist the threat of pathogens after they grow up, greatly reducing the harm of the disease.

Supplement creep feed as early as possible before weaning to improve piglet immunity. It is recommended to supplement at least 600 grams of piglet feed per piglet before weaning, so that the gastrointestinal digestive system function of piglets is strengthened before weaning, to adapt to feed intake after weaning, especially plant-based feed. Establish immune tolerance to crude protein in feed and reduce allergic reactions to dietary antigens. Using microecological preparations in feed can improve the gastrointestinal environment, prevent piglet diarrhea, and improve piglet immunity and disease resistance.