DIPPING NEEDED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 76, 11 March 1933, Page 11

DIPPING NEEDED

TO CURE PIG MITE USE OF OIL AND WATER. LIFE CYCLE OF THE MITE. In connection with the report appearing in other papers about mange-mite in pigs, farmers in Hawke’s Bay who have pigs as a sideline have little to fear provided reasonable precautions and suitable treatment are adopted.

The itch mite, which causes mange and scabies attacks most animals, but it is only recently that cases of mauge mite in pigs have occurred. A number of pig breeders in the Manawatu and Taranaki districts have had cases of mange mite in their herds, and a few cases have occurred iu Southern Hawke’s Bay. The life history of the mite has to be understood before the causes of successful control can be fully grasped. As in most other parasitic diseases, control depends upon the stoppage of one stage of the life cycle of the mite, and having broken the life cycle, the trouble ceases.

The mites burrow beneath the skin of the pig at the soft parts, and once

established the mites begin to lay eggs in tunnels which they make in the skin. Each female mite lays from fifteen to fifty eggs, these eggs taking from three to six days to hatch, depending upon the conditions. The hatched out mite is a six-legged stage, and in a few days this moults, giving rise to an eight-legged form. Two iurthcr moults follow, and the mito then becomes mature. The whole period of life, from the laying of the egg to the production of the full grown mito takes approximately nine days. Multiplication of the. itch-mite is very rapid, and it has been estimated that in the short period of six months a single pair of mites may give rise to several millions of mites. Pigs infected with the mites are noticed to rub and scratch against posts, fences, etc., the itching being caused by the toxic substances which are secreted by the mites. As the mites feed, they form bard pimples, which contain a yellowish fluid, and if these pimples are broken by the pig while scratching, bacteria enter into the open spots, and sores are started. Although not usually fatal to the pig, the loss of condition caused by the mites is considerable, and if possible the mites should be prevented, or elso controlled in the early stages. The condition may exist for several years in the one animal, so it can easily be imagined the condition such a pig would be in.

During the winter months the colder conditions cause a lull in the proceeuings, the mites going to sleep till tho weather warms up once again. With the return of the warm weather they commence again with renewed activity, and any condition that the pig has put on during the lull is soon lost. This is both a contagious and infectious condition, the mite being spread by carriers, or else by direct contact. This is one of the worst features of the system of a number of farmers possessing a community boar for their sows. The boar has only to become infected, and he very soon spreads the mites far and wide, each sow that is put to him taking a few mites back to her respective piggery. Farmers should make sure that any pigs which they introduce into their herd are not affected with mites, and if a community boar is used, he should make sure that the boar is also clean. Mites are able to exist on tho ground or elsewhere for about a fortnight before they die. Consequently, if a sow or boar effected with mites is shifted from one pen to another, no further pigs should be put in tho vacant sty for at least a fortnight. Although previously recommended by the Department of Agriculture, the use of lime and sulphur in conjunction for the treatment of the mange mito is now superseded by' tho use of oil. The lime-sulphur method, although fairly satisfactory, is neither as efficient, nor as cheap as the use of oil. Any oil may be used for the mite, fuel oil being recommended by the Department, costing about 8d per gallon. A hole is dug in the ground, to a depth slightly greater than that of the pig, and this is filled with water. Sufficient oil is then added to cover the surface of the water to a depth of from three to four inches.

Tho pig is then immersed in the dip, and after a couple of minutes it is allowed to scramble out. Where large numbers of pigs are being run, the construction of a small permanent concrete dip is advised, similar to the modern sheep dip. The effect of tho oil is to cover the pores of the skin with a coating of oil. These covered pores prevent the entrance of air into tho skin, and as air is essential to the mites, the lack of it causes them to die. Although the closing of the pores is rather uncomfortable for the pig, the resulting freedom from mites fully compensates for it. Further dipping can be done in about ten days of the first dipping, as this will kill any mites which have hatched out in the interim.