Swine Health: Beth Ferry MSU Extension Pork Educator
Swine Health: Beth Ferry MSU Extension Pork Educator
Health
Beth Ferry
MSU Extension Pork Educator
What Affects Pig Health?
• Environment
Resources • Nutrition
• Animal Care
Management
What is your job?
• Good Observation
• Key to managing health,
production and animal
behavior
• Most be done EVERYDAY!
• One of the hardest thing
to do well
• Who do you talk to when
something is wrong
Things to look for!
• Is your pig getting up
• Does your pig eat
• How does your pig move
• What does the hair coat look
like
• Check the eyes, ears and
nose of the pig
What are Major Diseases in the Pork Industry?
• PRRS – Porcine
Respiratory
Reproductive Syndrome
• PEDv – Porcine Epidemic
Diarrhea Virus
• SIV – Swine Influenza
Virus
PRRS
• Was found in the 1980s and originally
called Mystery Swine Disease
• Also called blue ear pig disease
• Officially named in 1991
• Affects the macrophages – “disease
fighters”
• Makes pigs get sick easier
• Many different PRRS strain identified
What does PRRS Do?
• Piglets Sows
• More diarrhea. Go off feed
• Less viable piglets. A reluctance to drink.
• Increase in respiratory No milk and mastitis ‐ significant
symptoms.
infections
High rate of abortions.
• Growing pigs Farrowings are often 2‐3 days early.
• Go off feed Respiratory/breathing issues.
• Mild coughing. Mummified piglets. 10‐15% may die
in the last 3‐4 weeks of pregnancy.
• Hairy wasting pigs.
Stillbirth levels increase up to 30%.
• In some herds there are no Very weak piglets at birth.
symptoms
What should show pig people do?
• Minimal PRRS virus signs in exhibition pigs
• Michigan is a PRRS “light” state
• We have PRRS on our farms
• Most strains do not cause many issues
• Vaccines available – this should happen at the sow
farm
• Estimated to cost the US pork industry is over 6
million dollars a year.
• $12 to $15 per pig marketed
PEDv
• New disease to the United States –
found April 2013
• Causes severe watery diarrhea in
pigs and vomiting.
• The first strain of PED virus found
in the United States is 99%
homologous (similar) to the Asian
strain which remains virulent.
• At this time multiple strains are
suspected in the US
What does PEDv do to pigs?
• Cause increased vomiting and diarrhea in pigs
• Death is caused by dehydration
• Piglets
• Mortality in piglets is high (up to 80%) due to dehydration
• Sows
• Mortality in sows is lower, diarrhea present
• Growing pigs
• Clinical signs of fever, vomiting and diarrhea
• Increased mortality but not significant like in suckling pigs
Is PEDv in Michigan?
• Yes!!!
• First found in the summer
2013
• Wide spread this winter
• Intially thought to spreads via
trucks and trailers, manure
and other pigs
• Possible aerosol transmission
• Possible feed contamination
Still lots of questions regarding PEDv out there, no good answers!
What should show pig people do?
• There is no treatment NOR effective vaccine
available for PED
• Focus should be made on prevention and
control = BIOSECURITY!
• Minimal contact with other pigs/areas with pigs
• PED and TGE mimic each other in clinical signs
and a true diagnosis of PED will require
sampling and testing
• Contact your veterinarian if you see signs of
PEDv
SIV
• Influenza is a virus that acts like a common
cold in pig
• Various different strains are present
• Some strains are zoonotic – can be transferred
from animals to humans
• In 2009, 2012 and 2013 we saw zoonotic
strains of SIV in human and pig populations
What does SIV do to pigs?
• Happens most often during low immunity or
high stress
• Transport
• Commingling of pigs
• Off – feed events
• Fever
• Dry (Bark) Coughing
What should show pig people do?
• Treatment of symptoms, not viruses
• Pain, fever
• Vaccination program
• 2 dose vaccine available
• First dose around 21 days of age, second dose 3 to 4 weeks
later
• Will not eliminate all SIV strains but will decrease
symptoms
• Helps protect pigs and people – reduction of clinical
signs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAGHXMq9ttw&feature=player_embedded
Testing for different diseases
Prevention
• Biosecurity practices
• Keep pigs separated from avian species
• Isolate new pigs from the rest of the herd before
we introduce them into the new herd
• Use clean and disinfected trucks and trailers to
transport pigs
• Change boots and clothes when you come into
contact with other pigs
• Practice good hygiene – wash you hands!
Final Thoughts!
• Remember as a youth pork producer it is your
responsibility to protect the health of your
pigs and the people that come into contact
with pigs!
Questions!