Weaner pigs - managing them effectively Flashcards
1
Q
What are targets for weaning?
A
- Weaned / sow > 12.7
- Weaning weight > 7.5kg (@~28 days)
- Bigger pigs fare better post weaning
- Aiming to wean > 100kg / sow
2
Q
What are the best type of feeders?
A
- round so that all piglets can see each other eating - social = eat more
3
Q
How can you tell if a pig is dehydrated?
A
- look at eye - very sunken if dehydrated
4
Q
What can go wrong with weaning?
A
- Too young / small
- Failure of gut development
- Hypothermia
- Infection pressure too high
- Stress – space, allowances
- Loss of condition – tucked in
- Navel sucking
- Vices
- Susceptible to disease
5
Q
What can cause poorer pigs from farrowing?
A
- Continued damaged gut - cocci
- Lowered weaning weight - E.coli, rotavirus, clostridia
- Joint ill
6
Q
What post weaning problems can lead to gut problems?
A
- Dietary + feeding changes
- Temp changes
- Draughts
- Inadequate hygiene
- Overeating
- historical GIT damage
7
Q
What can cause enteric infections?
A
- Mostly E.coli + Salmonella
- Tx = water medication + antibiotics
8
Q
CS of E.coli?
A
- Sudden onset watery scour
- Loss of condition - dehydration
- Affect distal small intestine
- Mild pyrexia
- Sudden death
9
Q
CS of Salmonella?
A
- Low grade scour
- High mortality necrotic enteritis
- Distal small intestine + LI affected
- Aggressive Tx - Ab
- Px = water acidification
10
Q
What are other enteric possibilities?
A
- Nutritional imbalances
- Early ileitis
- Early colitis
- Rotavirus
- PCV2
- PED - notifiable (porcine epidemic diarrhoea)
11
Q
What are nervous diseases of weaners?
A
- Bacterial meningitis - streptococcus suis, Glaesserella parasuis
- Oedema disease - E.coli - shiga toxin
- Water deprivation
- Middle ear disease
- Toxicities
- Notifiables
12
Q
When do pigs tend to get meningitis?
A
- Trigger point 2-4weeks post weaning
- Give steroid + hydrate
13
Q
How can you treat oedema disease?
A
- Toxins = difficult to treat
- NSAIDs
- Vaccinate from 4days of age
14
Q
What is water deprivation / salt poisoning?
A
- Severe dehydration - usually in grower / finisher
- causes increase salt content in CSF
- Rapid rehydration = swelling of brain - osmosis
- Tx = slow rehydration + steroids
- High mortality
15
Q
What is middle ear disease?
A
- CS = head tilt + shaking
- Indistinguishable from early meningitis
- Tx = antibiotics + NSAIDs
