Prevention of Pig Losses on the Farm

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 79, Issue 6, 15 December 1949, Page 589

Prevention of Pig Losses on the Farm

IN the last issue of the “Journal” an article contributed by the Livestock Division dealt with the causes of the losses of pigs through condemnation at the works and how these losses could be reduced by the correct treatment of the conditions and diseases causing carcasses to be condemned. This article by the Livestock Division, which will be concluded in next month’s issue of the “Journal,” describes the treatment and prevention of ailments and parasitic conditions resulting in losses on the farm, which are probably greater than those recorded in the works.

FROM existing data it appears that 25 to 30 per cent, of all pigs born in this country perish before the litter is weaned. Most of them are either born dead, die very soon after birth, or are overlain, and many farmers feel that there is very little they can do about such losses. However, the significant differences in results achieved by some farmers and those obtained by others indicate that production can be increased through knowledge of the eitfalls and the application of this nowledge in attention to detail in management. It is certain that no other aspect of pig management will repay attention better than the study of the causes of losses in litters. If these losses were reduced to even half, it would mean that the present production of pigs could be obtained with 10,000 fewer sows or, alternatively, better use of the present number of sows would provide an extra 100,000 pigs for fattening each year. The causes of most of the losses in young pigs are given below, together with notes on prevention and treatment where specific troubles are involved. Pig producers with sick pigs are entitled to receive the assistance of the local pig council supervisor to obtain the advice of a qualified veterinarian. Most pig producers today are members of a veterinary club, and thus advice is more readily available than it has ever been before. Proper diagnosis of the trouble is essential, and no written advice can take the place of the personal services of a veterinarian in treating ailments of animals. Inadequate Feeding of Pregnant Sow Inadequate or improper feeding of the sow results in poorly-developed piglets, which lack constitution and resistance to infection. ' They are weakly, make poor attempts to suckle, and are much more liable to succumb to inclement weather within the first

day or two. Survivors are more liable to overlying by the sow and are highly susceptible to scours, navel-ill, and other specific troubles affecting suckers. Though sows may become too fat during their dry period, a far more common fault is that they are undernourished, and though they may appear to be in fair order at farrowing, they have not had adequate protein-rich feed in the latter part of pregnancy to build up body reserves and well-developed piglets. Quality rather than quantity is required in the sow’s ration, and during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy she should have at least 2 gallons of skimmed milk or 21b. of meat meal daily in addition to the grazing and other bulk feeds she may be getting. It is a mistake to leave individual feeding until the sow is brought in to her farrowing pen at, say, 3 weeks before she is due to farrow. Thus, individual dry-sow feeding bails in the piggery layout should be used more widely than they are today. In the final week the bulk of the ration should be reduced and, though the sow’s bowels should be kept normal through exercise and access to grazing, she should be kept on a light ration until she has settled down again after farrowing. A gradual increase in the ration to a maximum after. 3 weeks or so is then sufficient to maintain the sow in good condition and avoid digestive upsets which may interrupt her milk supply and make her more liable to overlie her piglets. Management at Farrowing Though there is . little an attendant can do to help a sow at farrowing, observation of the farrowing may well

be worth the trouble, provided the sow is used to the attendant and is not upset by his presence. Normally if the sow has been properly accustomed to her farrowing quarters and provided with a little short bedding, she will make her farrowing bed and should not then be disturbed; nothing but clean water shoud be put in her trough. If the observer notices that the sow is listless or clumsy or exhibits any cannibalistic tendency, he may, in a quiet manner, give such assistance as may be necessary or remove the piglets until farrowing is complete and then return them to the sow for suckling. If a high proportion of the litter is overlain and there are no complications such as milk fever or other abnormal symptoms which could cause overlying, it is possible that the sow is of a careless, poor mothering temperament, and it is therefore not worth persevering with her as a breeding sow. A draughtproof farrowing house of Bft. x Bft. floor area with control yard as recommended in plans obtainable from the Department of Agriculture or district pig councils is a help in reducing losses. Though there is some difference of opinion about farrowing rails, bedding, etc., it is felt that under New Zealand conditions, where attention at farrowing is frequently impracticable, they are worth the small cost involved. A limited amount of short bedding only should be used. A floor with a slope of Bin. in sft. to a hover board or farrowing rail, under which the piglets get protection, is recommended in some overseas countries. Experience with this type of floor in this country is as yet insufficient to make any recommendation upon it.

Troubles in Sows at Parturition

Abortion When abortion occurs pigs are born prematurely and before they are capable of separate existence. The most common cause is nutritional disorder through deficiencies in the feed supply, sudden changes in diet, or unwholesome feeds. Frights, slips, rough handling, and overcrowding can cause violent contraction of the womb, re-, sulting in abortion. It is suspected, however, that the germ causing contagious abortion is responsible for . a certain amount of temporary or permanent sterility in pigs in New Zealand. By proper care and feeding cases of abortion occurring among sows in New Zealand can be avoided. Retained afterbirth is frequently a complication, and this is explained in a later section of this article. The sow should be allowed a rest after being cleaned up and not put back to the boar until the second or third heat period after treatment. - Milk Fever If, immediately before or within a day or two after farrowing, sows show symptoms of abnormal excitement or drowsiness, grinding of teeth, or frothing or dribbling that are accompanied by loss of appetite, and unsteady gait, paralysis, and semi-consciousness progressing to complete coma, milk fever should be suspected. It may be distinguished from septic infections after farrowing by the fact that. the sow’s

temperature is normal (102.6 degrees F.) or slightly subnormal. This disease is caused. by a sudden fall in the calcium level in the blood, and this can be corrected by an injection of calcium boro gluconate given in the same way as is used in treating milk fever in cows. The injection for a sow consists of Joz. of calcium borogluconate boiled in 3 fl. oz. of water. After it has been cooled to blood heat it is injected under the loose skin of the neck, elbow, or flank and is massaged into the tissues. Only occasionally is a second injection necessary. Borogluconate may be obtained from any chemist. • Inflation of the udder may be practised if no calcium gluconate is on hand. ' No teat siphon is required. The teat is placed in the end of the connection. The teats should be carefully cleaned with a mild disinfectant solution before inflating. Milk fever is rare in sows on dairy farms, but has been seen where sows were heavily fed, such as on properties where swill or garbage is used. Eversion of the Womb Symptoms of eversion of the womb are obvious, and immediate action is required if loss of the sow is to be prevented. The everted womb must be caught up in a clean towel previously rung out in a disinfectant solution at correct strength, and the sow must be got into a position where

her hindquarters can be elevated by means of ropes on her hind legs preparatory to replacing the womb. The everted mass must be thoroughly cleaned and any swelling reduced by running cold water over it and gently massaging until the size 'is reduced so that it can be returned to its proper position. Flood the passage with a warm antiseptic solution and leave the sow with her hindquarters elevated until the discomfort of the operation has subsided. Siphon out the solution, then put two tape stitches across the vulva, or insert two safetypins to prevent a recurrence when the sow gets on her feet again. Keep the sow’s bowels open and avoid bulky feeding for some time. Prevention lies mainly along the lines of avoiding too. fat condition in sows at farrowing and ensuring that constipation is never allowed to develop. ■ Constipation 1

Sows should have access to grazing, and if at any time before farrowing a tendency to constipation is noted, this should be immediately countered by giving 1 to 31b. of molasses in the feed as required. If the constipation develops suddenly just before farrowing, a dose of up to J pint of liquid medicinal paraffin should be given. Retention of Afterbirth If the ration of the in-pig sow has contained grazing or other greenfeed and any cereal meals used have been properly balanced with minerals, the afterbirth should normally come away easily soon after the birth of the last pig. Serious consequences, including temporary or permanent sterility and even blood poisoning and death, may follow unless • action is taken to facilitate proper cleansing. Whatever is done, pulling, which will tear the delicate membranes of the womb, must be avoided. A full dose of opening medicine, such as 2 or 3oz. of Epsomsalt, according to the size of the sow, may be given in water or the first light milk feed. A douche with a warm disinfectant ‘solution at correct strength for internal use may be helpful. This must be run in through a funnel and rubber tubing and siphoned off after a few minutes. Troubles in Sows after Parturition Failure of Milk Supply

Failure of the milk supply may be caused by hormone failure. This can be corrected only by injection, and a veterinarian should be consulted for this purpose. Obvious troubles at parturition, as outlined above, may be responsible for delayed lactation or poor milk . .supply, as may .be poor feeding of the sow before ' farrowing. The way each of these causes may be avoided has been outlined. If none of these is the cause, the inherited milking propensities of the sow are poor and. she is not worth persevering with as a breeding animal. In fact, the strain from which she comes, and particularly the sire and dam, should be suspect and only used for future breeding purposes if the general performance level of sows bred is satisfactory.. ... •

Mastitis Mastitis may occur at farrowing time or at any time during the lactation. It may take the acute or chronic form in the same manner as it occurs in the dairy herd. In the acute form opening medicine should be given and fomentations, followed by thorough drying and massaging with camphorated oil, applied to affected udders. Although the sow’s teat has not a single milk canal, penicillin infusion into the gland is practicable with care, and this is the best treatment available. Acidosis A nutritional disorder resulting in an acid condition of the blood, acidosis usually occurs in heavy milking sows which are fit at farrowing time and quickly “milk off” the fat. Incidence is highest in winter or early spring, and exposure to cold is an important predisposing factor. Symptoms may easily be confused with those of chronic indigestion. The sow may do her litter well for a time and then, after dullness and diminished appetite, lose condition rapidly and develop marked sluggishness and constipation. She may dry off, develop abnormal milk fever or paralysis, and even die unless treatment is given. If given in time and the food supply is adequate to meet the drain on the sow, 21b. per day of molasses in the feed for 10 days, followed by 11b. per day, will prevent the trouble. In advanced cases a course of glucose may have to be given, both through the mouth and by injection, in the same manner as described in the section about milk fever. Paralysis Acidosis, as well as milk fever and tuberculosis of, or injury to, the spine, may cause paralysis in sows. Lack of assimilation of calcium to replace the heavy drain of this mineral in the sow’s milk may be a cause. If the sow has had access to good grass or other greenfeed, or if some milk by-products have been included in the diet, the calcium supply should be assured. Two tablespoons of cod-liver oil may be given daily if greenfeed is scarce. Paralysis is a condition to be prevented by good husbandry; cure is unsatisfactory. If this treatment does not give relief and injuries are not the cause, it is probable that the sow has a tubercular or other infection of the spine and she should be destroyed. Troubles in Sucking Pigs Navel-ill (Joint-ill) Though the visible symptoms of navel-ill do not show up until the pig is a week or more old, the cause is the entry of germs through the navel and possibly also through the mouth at birth. Joints swell and become very painful, resulting in the affected piglet doing badly. It may even result in the death of the piglet. Farrowing quarters should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before each sow farrows, and the navel cords of piglets may be dipped in tincture of iodine at birth. If the cord is heavy a ligature may be applied 2in. from the navel and the cord severed below this. White Scours The frothy white scour resulting from a germ infection can be very

serious, and when . established in a piggery may be difficult to eradicate. Preventive measures only are of any use. Thorough disinfection of the farrowing quarters and care of the sow to ensure that strong piglets with high disease resistance are born offer the best means of avoiding this trouble. An internal disinfectant may give good results in some cases. Digestive Scours Digestive scours are of dietetic origin and, if they occur before the piglets are taking food on their own account, must obviously be due to improper feeding or health upset of the sow, which must be found and rectified as early as possible. Deficiency of gastric secretion may occasionally be the cause of scours in piglets. This can be cured by two doses of 1 teaspoon of lactic acid. Chills should be avoided, as they may cause the onset of scours. If the scours occur after the piglets have started consuming food from the creep or other trough, the cause probably lies in unsuitable or unwholesome food. Creep troughs should be cleaned out daily and the meals used should be low in fibre and easily digestible. Skimmed milk or whey should always have roughly the same degree of acidity and should not be left in the trough for longer than the time between feeds. If any is left when feeding is repeated, this should be emptied out before the new feed is put in the trough. Anaemia Often the first sign of anaemia is a scour in plump, fast-growing pigs of 10 days to a fortnight old, with heavy, jerky breathing, followed by general weakness and refusal to suck. Soon the lining membranes of the eyes and mouth show a bleached appearance, the coat becomes harsh and “starey,” and, unless treatment is given, death may occur in a few hours or in a week or two. The trouble seldom occurs in litters that are born and run outside, and is caused by lack of iron, and possibly other minerals, in the sow’s milk.

Where pigs are farrowed indoors and the weather prevents their being allowed access to outside runs a sod should be dug and placed in the farrowing house or yard. Piglets rooting in this will secure the minute amounts of iron and other minerals they require. The turf should be changed as necessary. Some means must be found of dosing each affected piglet. Probably the best method is to paint on to the sow’s udder several times a day the following mixture: 3oz. of sulphate of iron, 1 drachm of copper sulphate, 1 pint of molasses, and 1 pint of warm water; Worms Piglets infested with worms may scour, but this condition will not respond to any of the treatments given in the preceding sections. It will be dealt with in the concluding section of this article in the next issue of the “Journal.” General Ailments of Piglets Other troubles in piglets include pigs born with very little or no hair and too weak to live. lodine deficiency is the cause in these cases, and dosing of the pregnant sow during the latter half of pregnancy is necessary. Two tablespoons weekly of a mixture of 1 drachm of potassium iodide and a quart of water given in the feed is all that is required. Piglets born with sharp eye-teeth injure one another in fighting, particularly round the mouth, and a condition known as “scabby mouth” may result. Some pig keepers favour snipping off the offending teeth, but unless these are actually causing injury to the ' sow’s udder, it is probably better to treat the wounds on small pigs with tincture of iodine or other antiseptic, such as acriflavine. Damage is frequently caused in snipping off the eye-teeth which is worse than that resulting from injuries to other piglets in fighting. Chorea, “shivers,” or “trembles” may vary from very slight spasmodic shivering to such incessant and violent trembling that the piglets cannot hold on to a teat to suckle, but the cause

is unknown and no treatment is available. It does not appear to be hereditary, and any pigs which can be reared should be saved. There appears to be no reason why they should not be used for breeding. The usual tendency is for the trouble to disappear gradually after the first few days. " Losses of whole litters sometimes occur after a day or two during which they appear to be getting along well; quite suddenly the piglets start to shiver and then lapse into a coma, death taking place in a few hours. The cause in- such cases is usually ascribed to shortage of sugar in the blood, possibly resulting from a form of acidosis in the sow. Early administration of glucose by mouth or injection into the belly .cavity gives a certain measure of success. . “Snuffles” or piglet, influenza is not uncommon. It may occur at any stage of the pig’s life and the only way of dealing with it is by good nursing, a warm bed, and nutritious food. It is caused by a virus closely related to the virus of human influenza. Pigs affected develop a temperature, run at eyes and nose, and may develop a husky cough. They lose appetite and whatever food is offered must, be nutritious and appetising. It may be worth while using whole milk in the creep for this purpose. The disease is-highly infectious, and isolation is necessary to prevent spread. This, together with good nursing and nutritious food, is the'essential in dealing with the . trouble. Care must be exercised to ensure that pigs which have apparently recovered are not exposed to chills, or pneumonia or pleurisy may become a complication. Piglets may show rupture in various sites. The usual ones in both sexes are near the navel and under the flank; in addition, it occurs in the scrotum of males. Rupture near the navel or under the flank requires a fairly difficult operation to correct and, to enable the pig to be taken to porker weight, it is usually sufficient to ensure that it is not fed on too bulky a ration and is not allowed to become constipated. A scrotal rupture can be corrected by an experienced operator when castration is carried out. Rupture, like the rig or cryptorchid condition and rose or whorl on the coat of the pig, is an inherited fault and is a sign that both parents are carrying the factor which determines the development of the fault. Neither should therefore be used as a parent of any animal required for breeding. Castration There is no reason why losses should result from castration or abscesses, which cause loss when • the pig is slaughtered, develop, provided a few simple rules are observed. The first is to castrate early; from a fortnight to a month old is usually the right stage, a little variation being desirable to allow for weather and other conditions at the • time. For instance, if pigs are running out it is best to wait for dry weather; in hot weather select the cool part of the day. It is best to have an assistant to hold the pig securely, though with a- ..properly-constructed • castrating

“trough” it is possible to carry out the operation successfully single handed. Preparation for the operation is important. The knife, of proper design for castrating, should be sharp. It should be sterilised by being boiled and then placed in strong disinfectant for 5 minutes. The skin of the scrotum and the operator’s hands should be thoroughly washed and disinfected. A bold cut should be made over the lowest part of the scrotum while the testicle is held tightly into this end of the pouch (this is, naturally, the top of the pouch, as the pig lies on its back). In this way the testicle should come quickly and cleanly through the cut. It is then grasped by the hand, and the cord, which is held taut, is scraped along its length close to the skin with the sharp edge of the knife. In this way the blood vessels are not severed .by a sharp cut and bleeding is restricted to a minimum. The other testicle is removed in the same way. With young pigs no further dressing of the wound should be necessary. Certainly no strong or irritant disinfectant should be used; acriflavine or iodoform powder is suitable. The pig should be set down on its feet when released and not simply allowed to sit down on the ground. The pen in which the newly-castrated pigs are kept shoud be clean and dry. Three distinct types of infection may invade castration wounds if methods have been faulty. These result in either (a) simple abscesses, (b) necrotic ulcers, or (c) schirrous cord. Though the aim must be to prevent these complications developing, they should not be neglected if they occur. Abscesses must be lanced’ at the lowest point when “ripe,” and after the pus is .expelled the cavity must be carefully irrigated with a reliable antiseptic. Irrigation may have to be repeated and drainage facilitated for several days to ensure that the abscess heals and does not simply close and form again. Necrotic ulcers will be described in the section on necrosis in the second part of this article. Schirrous cord, which is more difficult to detect, is a fibrous thickening of the stump of the severed cord. If slight, it may pass unnoticed until the pig is dressed at the works. ■ In serious cases it may develop to the size of a man’s fist, and, travelling inward, may cause peritonitis. Unless the pig can be kept in isolated, clean, “hospital” conditions, it is probably best not to attempt surgical correction, but if a careful watch is kept and the infection noticed at an early stage, a method of curing the condition exists in the administration of 10 grains daily of potassium iodide until signs of iodine poisoning begin to show. After an interval of a week or so this treatment can be continued for a further period if necessary. ■ Rickets Pronounced cases of rickets are evident through the curved, misshapen limb bones which result. Stiff, enlarged, “coarse” joints may be the result of a mild form of the trouble, which arises through lack of assimilation of cal-

cium, either because of its absence from the feed or the lack of vitamin D, which is necessary for the assimilation of the mineral. The body can manufacture its own vitamin D by exposure to sunlight, and therefore it is chiefly in housed pigs that the trouble occurs. In countries where- grain feeding is used extensively the trouble is much more prevalent than in New Zealand, where calcium-rich dairy by-products form the basic feed supply. The danger of rickets is greater during autumn and winter when little or no dairy by-products are available and the alternative foods are not rich in calcium. At the same time pigs are frequently kept indoors to a greater extent at that time of the year. If rickets appear in suckers which are kept indoors during winter, affected pigs should be given J to 1 teaspoon of cod-liver oil, or other vitamin-rich fish-liver oil. Up to 1 or 2 tablespoons per day may be required by older pigs, which must be kept indoors. In addition, when dairy byproducts are in short supply, finelyground limestone should be supplied. If home-grown corn, cereal, and root crops are being used, the most convenient form in which to supply the necessary calcium is to mix 3cwt. of finely-ground limestone, lewt. of common salt, and lcwt. of superphosphate, and supply this either as a 3 per cent, mixture in the cereal meal used or as a lick in a separate box. It must be remembered that with whey feeding acidity develops fairly rapidly and requires to be checked; lib. of finely-ground limestone should be stirred into each 40-gallon drum of whey. Investigation into Spread of Chukor THE assistance of farmers and residents of rural districts is sought by the Department of Zoology of the University of Otago in an investigation it is carrying out into the distribution and spread of the chukor, a game bird which was introduced into New Zealand from India about 20 years ago. The points on which the Department of Zoology requires information are:— 1. Where the birds are found at present. 2. The year in which they appeared in those places. 3. Information about their early distribution. ■ Any information which might be helpful in this investigation should be sent to the Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Otago Museum, Dunedin. SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS Renewals of subscriptions to the “New Zealand Journal of Agriculture” should be paid to the nearest office of the Department of Agriculture. Subscribers can ensure continuity of delivery by paying their subscriptions as soon as possible after receiving their renewal notices and at least one month before the old subscription expires. When -payment is made the renewal notice should accompany the subscription to ensure that the correct details are recorded.