How to prevent and treat runt pigs? Pig farmers need to master these methods
Runt pigs, commonly known as "cushion-nest pigs", "little old man pigs", "iron pigs". During the growth and development stage, pigs suffer from the influence of certain adverse factors, their development is stunted and growth stops. Although such pigs are old in age, they are very small in size, with rough and messy bristles and extreme emaciation, forming a body shape that is pointed at both ends and large in the middle; they eat feed but do not gain meat, causing @#@227@#@ to suffer great losses.
1 Manifestation characteristics
Runt pigs mainly show a small, thin and weak body, stunted growth and development, abnormally excited spirit, restlessness, rough back hair, dull skin without luster, decreased elasticity, hunched back and arched waist, anorexia, dry and hard feces, and some sick pigs have alternating constipation and diarrhea. Undigested feed can be seen in the feces. Some runt pigs have pica, liking to gnaw on wall soil, etc., and body temperature shows no obvious change. After being fed for a long time, they only eat feed but do not gain meat, and the mortality rate is very low.
2 Preventive measures
2.1 Prepare complete-price feed for various types of pigs according to pig feeding standards. Achieve comprehensive nutrition, fresh quality, no mildew or spoilage, and no toxicity. Prevent a single feed type, achieve a reasonable combination of green, rough and concentrated feed, and pay special attention to the balanced supply of protein, amino acids, minerals and vitamins.
2.2 Strengthen the feeding management of sows during pregnancy and lactation. Feed according to body condition: multiparous sows are mated at 70% body condition and give birth at 80% body condition. Do not rush to feed after giving birth; feed less and add frequently. After 1 week, provide the sow with sufficient nutrition to increase milk production, so that the suckling piglets can get enough breast milk.
2.3 Scientifically assist delivery and nursing, and reasonably fix the teats for piglets. Piglets should be supplemented with iron and water at 3 days of age; start feeding early at 5-7 days of age. The farrowing house should be kept clean, hygienic, dry and warm, and the barn temperature should not be lower than 17°C. The piglet heat preservation box should be 32°C-28°C in the first week, and 28°C-25°C from the 8th to 35th day. Weak and small piglets are best fixed to the front teats.
2.4 Do a good job in weaning piglets and minimize stress. Achieve the "three transitions" of feed, environment and feeding management. Suckling piglets should start feeding early, be weaned in the original pen with the same litter, and be restricted in food at the beginning of weaning, and appropriately increase the temperature of the weaned piglet barn.
2.5 Do a good job in the prevention of various diseases, establish and improve pig immunization procedures, and give preventive injections on time. Regularly deworm internal and external parasites to reduce the occurrence of diseases. Once a disease occurs, treat it promptly and effectively.
2.6 Strengthen the selection of boars and sows. Special attention should be paid to the trait of sow teats. For the two rows of teats in pigs, it is best to select those arranged in parallel, and the total number of effective teats should be more than 7 pairs, with no accessory teats or blind teats. Each teat must be full, and it is best if they turn outward in a splayed shape.
2.7 Strictly prevent inbreeding, and the increment of the inbreeding coefficient in each generation shall not exceed 2%. When selecting or purchasing breeding pigs, the pedigree should be strictly examined, and the breeding pigs should have no blood relationship with each other as far as possible. In commercial pig farms, crossbreeding between different breeds or lines should be advocated to produce heterosis and reduce the incidence of runt pigs.
2.8 Strictly reorganize the pig herd. Timely cull old, weak, sick and disabled pigs. The annual replacement rate of boars and sows is 25%. In principle, sows should be culled after 7 litters, and boars can only be used until.
3 Treatment measures
Runt pigs that have already formed should be gathered together and treated promptly. The feeding environment should be improved, and the pens should be warm in winter and cool in summer. Keep them dry, clean and hygienic. Change the bedding frequently, feed complete-price feed, and supplement a certain amount of green, juicy feed every day.
Introduce one treatment method for reference: On the first day, remove external parasites from pigs, spray the pig body, pig pen walls, ground, utensils, etc. with 2% trichlorfon, once in the morning and once in the evening. On the second day, remove internal parasites, inject levamisole intramuscularly at 8 mg per kg of body weight. On the third day, no medication is used. On the fourth day, each pig is injected intramuscularly with 2 mL of inosine and 500 micrograms of vitamin B12. After that, once every other day. Generally, after 3 injections, the pig's skin becomes rosy, the bristles become glossy, and appetite increases.
For runt pigs of the small-belly type, 2.5% calcium phosphate can be added to the feed; for runt pigs of the big-belly type, vitamin B1 can be injected intramuscularly; for pigs with dry skin, inject vitamin A and vitamin D injection intramuscularly; for pigs with sarcoptic mange, trichlorfon and lysol mixture can be used for treatment, that is, 1 part trichlorfon, 2 parts lysol, and 100 parts warm water, stir evenly and apply to the affected area, once a day, for 2 consecutive days. Repeat once after 7 days to recover.