RT, ND & ASBO (Pigs 8) Flashcards
What does Farm Assurance schemes involve?
- Quarterly visits
- Animal health & welfare
- Training & refresher training
- AM usage
- Trichenella assessment
- Derogations
- Reporting concerns
What are some features of Pig Bhvrs?
Not easy to handle
Very short sighted
Ears block vision
Need to investigate (‘nose’) everything
Independently minded
Defensive ‘fight rather than flight’
‘Alarm call’ sets off herd reaction
what are some characteristics fo enrichment for pigs?
- Edible or feed-like – so that pigs can eat or
smell them, preferably with some nutritional benefits
*Chewable – so that pigs can bite them and also provides information on taste/odour
*Investigable – so that pigs can investigate
them, allowing pigs to root with their snout
*Manipulable or deformable – so that pigs can change their location, appearance or structure
Characteristics of pig enrichment pt 2?
- Of sustainable interest
– enrichments should encourage the exploratory behaviour of pigs and
be regularly replaced, replenished or rotated with different materials, to maintain this over time
*Accessible – for oral manipulation to all pigs at all times and presented at a height that pigs can easily interact with them, yet be kept clean
*Given in sufficient quantity – for any pig to gain access when they are motivated to do so, and so as not to generate competition between pigs
*Clean and hygienic – or pigs will rapidly lose interest in enrichment materials that are soiled with dung, to ensure enrichments do not compromise the health of the pigs
Tail biting TX?
- If tail swollen MUST give systemic ABs
- If unsteady on legs, cull as abscess in spine
- Separate from pen both affected & bully pigs
Excess mounting ?
Minimise disturbance during the day
Reduced riding = improved welfare
Split sexing in finishing phase
Castration
What can we do about excess mounting?
Improvac GnRH vaccination
◦ 2 doses 4 wks apart,
◦ 2
nd dose 6 wks prior to slaughter.
Control & Exclusion sides of biosecurity?
transmission between uk farms of what pathogens?
What notifiable/ exotic diseases are you worried about?
What is Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea
A very pathogenic Asian PED strain crossed to North America and caused
massive disease and mortality problems.
How can disease be transmitted?
- Pigs
- People – Stockman, Contractors, Vets, Lorry Drivers
- Vehicles – Pig Lorries, Feed, Deadstock, Visitors, Tractors, Postman etc.
- Wildlife – Rodents, Birds (Including migratory!)
- Feed
- Human food – The Ham Sandwich Theory!
- Semen
- Airborne
C & D - what are the s5 steps?
Remove organic matter
Use a detergent
Clean thoroughly – top to bottom
Dry
Disinfect
Approach to potential cases?
- Knowledge of diseases
*Previous experience - Clinical presentation
- Distribution of cases on farm
- Response to treatment
- Gut instinct
- No cost to reporting –
What temperatures should make you suspicious of notifiable dx?
ASF 40-42oC
CSF 40.5 – 41.5oC
FMDV 41oC
Aujesky’s 40.6 – 41.7oC
What happens when you make the call about a potential notifiable dx?
YOU REMAIN ON FARM
Veterinary Officer will consult, initially over
the phone
If deemed necessary the VO come out to the unit and discuss the case with you
Suspect animals examined
Other stock inspected
Restrictions may be served
Basic information gathered
Blood and PM samples taken
Consultation vs report case?
Consultation cases…This means that a formal restriction notice is not served
The field vet is consulting with the private vet (who is also on-site) to see if there
are grounds for suspecting the notifiable disease.
Once it is deemed that there is suspicion then restrictions are served and the
investigation becomes a report case
Describe the African swine fever?
Large, complex, enveloped DNA virus
Asfarviridae family – ticks vectors play a part in transmission
Signs of Swine fevers?
- Pyrexia >41oC
- Reduced feed intake
*Apathy
*Tachypnoea - Diarrhoea
- Conjunctivitis
- Cyanosis of ears and skin
- Nervous signs
- Death
Describe ASF subacute form
- Fever
*Weight loss / anorexia
*Respiratory signs - Mortality 30-70%
*Chronic -
*Low virulence
*Decreased weight gain
*Respiratory signs
*Mortality <30%
ASF PME?
- Ascites
*Pleural effusion - Petechiae
*Splenomegaly
*Mesenteric oedema
*Haemorrhagic lymph nodes
*Lung oedema and congestion
How is ASF spread?
- Illegal / legal meat trade from infected areas
- People, fomites, vehicles
- ‘Bread roll / ham sandwich theory’
- Swill feeding (illegal in UK)
- Wild boar – direct
- Indirect – soft ticks
Describe CSF virus?
RNA virus – Pestivirus of the Flaviviridae family
Affects domestic and wild boar
Direct & indirect transmission of CSF?
Direct transmission
◦ Contact
◦ Vehicles
◦ Semen
Indirect transmission
◦ Illegal swill feeding
◦ Local infection
