Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 139

Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

Coughing in Animals (Pigs)

Contributed by the LIVESTOCK DIVISION

COUGHING in pigs is likely to be due to one of the following three causes—(l) Irritation of nostrils and throat by inhaled dust. (2) Bacterial infection by one or other of the different groups of organisms causing pneumonia ' or bronchopneumonia. .. (3) Parasitic infestation.

Effects of Dust

The effects of dust may : be seen during dry weather, especially where pigs are in bare runs or in houses with earth floors. The coughing is probably due to the irritation of the nostrils and throat. While some discomfort is caused to the animal, there is no evidence that dust of this type in itself can produce any serious effect on the lungs. It may, however, be a vehicle to .convey bacteria and so set up the second type of coughing.

Bacterial Injections

One type of bacterial infection is that due to salmonella - suipestifer organisms. This infection is one of the commonest diseases among young pigs from eight 'to 16 weeks old. While usually associated with insanitary conditions, it is liable to occur where any factor such as poor feeding, cold weather, poor housing, or changes in feeding operates to lower the vitality of the pigs. It is seen in three forms,

all of which may occur in one outbreak: —- (a) Highly acute type, with deaths occurring within one or two days. (b) An intestinal type, in which there is rapid loss of condition, diarrhoea, and pigs become gaunt and skinny. (c) A pulmonary type, with disturbance of breathing, which becomes hurried and jerky, some nasal discharge, and a certain amount of coughing. . In the pulmonary form, which gives rise to the coughing, there is present a varying degree of pneumonia, ‘with much or little of the lung tissue having become solid, and temporarily out of use. There is no specific treatment, although good results are claimed for Dagenan, a drug which, because of war conditions, is unfortunately not available for stock at present. Affected pigs should be isolated, kept in warm and well-bedded but sufficiently ventilated houses, not disturbed unnecessarily, and allowed milk with a little codliver oil. To control the outbreak, keep pigs in small lots of six to eight, and not in large herds, and correct any obvious faults of housing, feeding, or

sanitation. Do not introduce bought pigs directly into the herd, but keep them in isolation for a fortnight. Pasteurella infection, so-called “swine plague,” is another cause of pneumonia in pigs, causing similar symptoms, and is controlled in the same way.

Parasitic Infections

There are two principal types of parasitic infection due to the common large white worm or to lungworms. The large worm, Ascaris suis, is in the adult stage about 8 to 10 inches long, and is found in the small intestine. The eggs pass to the outside, and after, development are again swallowed by other pigs. The young larvae wander through the liver and the lungs, and in the latter situation they may set up a certain 1 amount of irritation and coughing.

The greatest amount of lung damage is done in the young pigs before and after weaning. Older pigs do not suffer in this way, but heavy .infestations of the adult worm in the intestine cause stunting and unthriftiness. It is fairly common to find the adult worms in the intestines of pigs at kill-, ing establishments. The number .of piggeries where loss has been known to occur from this cause is not large, but it will , increase as the industry becomes older. In some of the older countries this parasite becomes . a serious menace. Control of the parasite must include: — (a) A proper worm treatment 1 for sows and older pigs to get rid of egglaying worms from the intestines. (b) Strict cleanliness of farrowing pens (including washing of sows before farrowing). (c) Protection of little pigs during first few months by using fresh, clean runs.

Lungworms

Lungworm? are probably more important as a cause of coughing in pigs than any of the factors previously mentioned. There are two or three species, but all are fine, thread-like worms, 1 inch to 2 inches long, found in the bronchi and smaller air tubes of the lungs. They irritate the lining, mi——mi—mi—mi— llli—lltl—UN—nil—Illi—mu—uh—

causing coughing, and . there is exudation of mucus, which may lead to complete blocking up of certain tubes and cause what amounts to suffocation. Pneumonia may be present. The life history of all species is similar in that eggs or young larvae reaching the outside eventually enter the bodies of earthworms, in which

they reach a further stage of development. Pigs, in , turn, eat the earthworms, and the larval. parasites are liberated and reach the air passages of the new pig host, to complete the cycle. While many pigs harbour small numbers of lungworm without harm, beyond slight bronchial irritation, ; greater numbers interfere with health, and considerable mortality has occasionally been seen where the infestation , was severe. ■ '. No direct medicinal treatment is of value. Good feeding of a balanced type, including meat-meal or other suitable protein feed, will not only increase resistance, but will lessen the desire by the pig to root and thus eat worms. Regular changes of run will assist in keeping down the degree of contamination. It should be remembered that larval worms, either free or in the earthworm, remain. alive and capable of continuing the cycle for a period of at least some months. \ . Treatment for worms of the ascaris species should not be undertaken until it is certain that worms are present, and are the cause of trouble.

Answers to Correspondents

Worm Parasites in Calves

H.B. (WAIHI):—

Some time ago I asked you for a remedy for a disease you diagnosed as “black pock.” You recommended a 3 per cent, solution of salicylic acid in glycerine. I am pleased to say it was 100 per cent, efficient. After a cow had had it for five months it was cured in about five weeks. Now I would like your opinion on my calves. They were all turned out in good condition, but one was slightly dirty round the tail as if it suffered from indigestion," yet not one of my calves had what we cal? scours from milk. It was a bit thin, but; not really poor. It is still a bit that way, but now a couple more have got bad. One will almost certainly die. It is dirty round the tail , and does not. walk very straight, but is not staggering.It is just weak. In our district some farms are supposedlyinfested. with “lung worms.” I don’t know anything about them, but calves are liable to 'die up to, say, 18 months old. During the latter stages they seem to suffer from maggot getting inside them from behind. I lost one last year, and have seen one or two more die like that. I have 12 calves, and it seems about four are not too healthy. The worst I have was apparently healthy three weeks ago. They are now in hilly country,, but have access to swamps in gullies. They were reared in , a flat between ridges and hills, but have been on fairly low land. v lf you advise from above I will be' very pleased.

LIVESTOCK DIVISION:—

The trouble described affecting your calves is known as parasitic gastro enteritis, a condition caused by , worm parasites in the stomach and bowel. These parasites, in addition to their injurious effects on the calves, produce ah enormous quantity of eggs which, passing out with . the bowel contents, infect the paddocks and the animals feeding on them. •. Where the animals are heavily infected and their

health severely undermined another class ; of worm, the lung worm, is frequently found in the wind pipe and smaller air tubes of the lung, producing a condition known as “hoose” or “husk.” Where a likelihood of infection exists, preventive treatment by drenching the calves monthly before any symptoms develop is much more effective than later, when the animal’s system has received a check which is difficult to overcome. The bluestone drench is the one most commonly used. Starving is not necessary before drenching, although yarding for a couple of hours after is advised. . Unless medicinal treatment is used in conjunction with the feeding of concentrates, such as 1 to 2 lb. daily- of a mixture of crushed oats and linseed nuts, beneficial results will not be obtained. , ' , ' In addition to drenching and feeding, the calves should be moved to fresh, clean, hill pasture, and drinking water should be from troughs only. The calves should not have access to any swamp areas. . When the foregoing treatment is carried out, the general improvement in the health , of the calves will enable them to overcome the lung worms. Because of the location of these worms no simple method of treatments is

available. Sometimes a volatile agent, such as ether or chloroform, is used by pouring half a teaspoonful ' into each nostril and holding the calf so that the preparation is 1 inhaled. An alternative method is the injection into the wind-pipe itself of various mixtures; this is not easily carried out by the average farmer, as a special syringe, medicinal agents, and experience are necessary.

Feeding Value of Swedes And Turnips

SUBSCRIBER (MATAMATA) Will you kindly inform me through the “Journal” the relative feeding value between swede and soft turnip varieties, say, green and purple top, also Vilmorrin? Also, is there any risk in running in-lamb ewes on swedes? I have been putting them on in the morning and turning them off in the evening. ANIMAL RESEARCH DIVISION:— Swede turnips have a somewhat higher feeding value than soft turnip varieties, the difference, according to most authorities, being of the order of 10 to 20 per cent; in favour of the swedes. Vilmorrin is a variety of swede which possesses essentially the same feeding value as other varieties. In

general, swedes keep better; and. are, therefore, available for use when the soft varieties' have been finished. Turnips have the advantage of their softness, which enables animals to bite into them more readily, : so that they can be used with older animals which may have failing mouths. • In areas where both turnips and swedes can be grown a judicious selection of areas devoted to each variety enables use to be made of the softness of , the turnips and the keeping qualities of the . swedes, and thus permits turnips, to be made available over a longer period. As a feed for sheep, all varieties of turnip are chiefly a source of succulence and do not possess sufficient feeding value for use as - the sole ration. In-lamb ewes do. well on . swedes as part of their ration, but success in the use of this fodder depends on proper management of their feeding. Thus, the ewes must be allowed a run-off on a good paddock or, if this is not available, hay or chaff should be fed along with the swedes. ; . Feeding off swedes in breaks also helps, as the sheep then come on to fresh areas and obtain a mixture of tops and roots which is more nutritious /than roots alone. When no run-off or

supplementary' feeding is provided the ewes will suffer from . under-feeding and . will lose . condition. Weak lambs might be the result, and there . are even reports which indicate that antepartum paralysis might develop.

Feeding Pet Lambs

“BENNIE” (MAHENO):— Would you please tell me the ' correct feeding for pet lambs from birth? LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— There are two methods of dealing with an orphan lamb: — (1) If possible, provide a foster mother. If a ewe has lost her lamb, the latter should be skinned and the pelt placed as a jacket over the orphan lamb for a few days. This is usually. / sufficient to cause the ewe to adopt the lamb. Another way is to tie the ewe up in a pen with the lamb and suckle the lamb qn the ewe until -she takes to it. - • ••••>.. (2) If a foster mother is not available, the lamb can be raised on cow’s milk. Remembering that a ewe’s milk is high in fat, use the milk from a cow, giving milk rich in fat. i It need not be diluted with water. For the first few days the lamb must be given only small. amounts of milk, two to

three tablespoonfuls at a time, but fed often —every two hours for first day; afterwards, four to five times daily for first week at intervals of three to six hours. Subsequently, the time between feeds is increased, and one less per day is given. After the lamb is three weeks old feed three times per day. Lambs will make good growth if they are fed regularly and frequently and only small quantities given. The best way to feed is with a bottle and nipple, the bottle being warmed by immersing in water at about 120 deg. F. The bottles and nipples must be kept clean by washing and scalding. The most frequent cause of trouble is over-feeding; If the lamb is troubled with scours, reduce the quantity of milk and add a teaspoonful or more of lime water. If this should fail, add a teaspoonful of castor oil to the milk as often as may be deemed necessary.

Advisory Service on Veterinary Matters.

Farmers are invited to submit inquiries connected with the health of their stock, and the replies will be published under this heading.

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