What causes cracked pig hooves? A detailed guide to prevention and treatment methods
In cold regions during winter, cracked pig hooves disease often occurs when raising pigs. Cracked pig hooves refers to a limb and hoof disease in which the pig hoof shell cracks or has cracks with slight bleeding. After pigs contract this disease, they move with difficulty, their growth is hindered, and their reproductive capacity is reduced. So what causes cracked pig hooves? Come to QinNong Web and take a look at the prevention and treatment measures for cracked pig hooves.
1. Causes of hoof cracks
There are many causes of cracked pig hooves, including nutritional factors, feeding management factors, feeding environment factors, and climate and seasonal factors. Among them, the main causes are climate and seasonal factors and nutritional factors. In winter, when the climate is cold, the capillaries on the pig's body surface begin to contract, leading to reduced secretion of fatty substances. The hoof shell then receives no protection, so its elasticity weakens and its brittleness increases. Combined with constant movement and friction, cracks then appear. Nutritional factors refer to a lack of vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and other trace elements in the pig's feed, which can very easily lead to hoof cracks. For example, manganese deficiency easily causes hoof deformation and transverse cracks; zinc deficiency causes side cracks; vitamin D deficiency causes poor bone growth and easily leads to osteomalacia, which causes uneven force on the hooves when the pig walks and results in hoof cracks.
2. Preventive measures
Different preventive measures should be taken for each cause of hoof cracks. For example, if the cause is nutritional deficiency, the proportion of trace elements in the feed should be improved to ensure balanced nutrition. If the cause is climate and season, ways should be found to raise the temperature of the pig house. When the temperature is low and humidity is high, daily inspection work should be done well. Once the hooves become dry and hard, with reduced elasticity and increased brittleness, maintenance work can be carried out. The specific method is to apply some oily substances on the outside of the hoof shell, such as vegetable oil or cod liver oil. For hooves that have already become deformed, trim them promptly, maintain sufficient light, and allow the pigs a certain amount of exercise. For hoof cracks caused by rough ground friction, the floor environment of the pig house can be improved by leveling the floor or laying a thick layer of bedding straw on the floor so that the pigs can reduce friction with the ground.
3. Treatment methods
Once symptoms of hoof cracks have appeared, the first thing to do is clean and disinfect to prevent bacterial infection and greater losses. For pigs with hoof cracks, wash with physiological saline or with water that has been boiled and then cooled, and wipe clean with sterilized cotton balls. Then disinfect with alcohol or a low-concentration potassium permanganate solution. After disinfection and drying, sprinkle some penicillin powder or apply erythromycin ointment to the cracked wound. Change the dressing 2-3 times per day, and continue for 5-6 consecutive days.
The above are the causes of cracked pig hooves and prevention and treatment methods brought to you by QinNong Web. That is all for the content about cracked pig hooves. We hope it can help you. To learn more about pig farming knowledge, please stay tuned to QinNong Web.