IIn her presentation Anita gave a lot of interesting tips and tricks for the farmer. She started her presentation with tips for a smooth birth process. You can read those tips below.
Tips smooth birth process
· A smooth birth process is completed within 3 to 4 hours. If it takes longer, the number of stillborn piglets increases and there is a negative impact on the sow itself.
· The birthing process runs more smoothly when the sows feel safe. That means a predictable environment in which the sows can communicate with each other.
· Rest during birth is essential. Therefore, bring the sow into the farrowing pen at least 5 days before farrowing and house the gilts and sows together in the same farrowing pen. If you put gilts between older sows that already know the farrowing pen, they can ‘reassure’ the younger animals. Any noise or noise causes unrest. Therefore, do not turn on the radio loudly and do not treat litters in the farrowing pen while sows are still farrowing.
· The condition of the sow (not too fat, not too lean), heat stress, nest building behavior and freedom of movement of the sows are also important. The sow’s need for exercise is greatest just before farrowing. The farrowing process of free-range sows can be up to 1 hour shorter than sows that are locked in a stall. In addition, if you give sows the opportunity to perform nest-building behaviour, for example by giving them a jute cloth, they will lie down more and there is less risk that they will kill piglets.
colostrum intake
Anita then treated the colostrum intake. Colostrum is important for quickly restoring the body temperature of the piglets after birth and provides them with the necessary antibodies. After all, piglets are born without antibodies. The colostrum is continuously available to the sow for the first 12 to 24 hours after birth.
However, six hours after the birth of the first piglet, the concentration of antibodies in the colostrum has already decreased by 50%. A quick colostrum intake is therefore essential! Ideally, a newborn piglet can reach the sow’s udder to drink within 15 minutes. It is also important that the piglets drink their own mother’s colostrum, because some antibodies only have an effect if they come from her. Finally, it is important that all piglets in the litter can take in approximately the same amount of colostrum. Too much variation in colostrum intake within a litter is unfavorable. Piglets that do not absorb enough colostrum are vulnerable piglets that can easily spread diseases within their littermates.
Anita also recommends moving piglets as little as possible. If you do, always move between 24 and 48 hours after farrowing. The piglets must be able to take colostrum from their own mother during the first 24 hours and after 48 hours the nipple rank has already been determined. If you move them afterwards, it will cause extra unrest.
Spreading germs
Finally, Anita elaborated on the spread of germs such as PRRSV in the farrowing pen. Germs can spread directly from piglet to piglet or via materials such as needles and castration blades, boots or other items. Anita had some tips for that too:
· Use a new needle for each bridle.
· When castrating, use 2 blades that you alternately place in a disinfectant tray.
· Avoid bleeding when docking the tails. If blood is visible, it means that the docking has been done poorly and you run the risk of germs getting into the blood.
· Put on plastic shoes when you step into a pen.
Anita concluded her presentation by pointing out to us the risk involved in mixing litters. When piglets are moved frequently, there is a very high chance that germs will spread within the company. If you do not mix litters, the spread in final weights usually remains the same, but you do have healthier animals. With good biosecurity measures you can succeed in breaking through the contact structures as much as possible.
PRRSV
Dominiek made it clear that the severity of the symptoms of an infection with the PRRS virus depends on many factors. For example, the virus strain, environmental factors such as management and the barn climate, but also the prevention of other infections in the piglets play a role. After an infection, an animal only builds up protective antibodies against PRRSV after about four weeks. The pig therefore has difficulty inhibiting the virus immediately.
If piglets are infected with both PRRSV and one or more other pathogens at the same time, the PRRS virus will multiply more in the animal. On the other hand, the PRRS virus can also ensure that the other germs with which the animal is infected can also multiply more easily. As a result, the symptoms in the piglets will always be much more severe if PRRSV and other germs co-occur.
As an example, Dominiek talks about PRDC or the porcine respiratory disease complex. PRDC causes cough, fever, reduced performance, increased mortality and increased antibiotic use and is economically one of the most important diseases in pigs. Contamination with several germs at the same time also causes symptoms within this complex. PRRSV is one of the pathogens very commonly implicated in PRDC. In addition to the germs, management, housing and the barn climate also play a role here in the severity of the symptoms.
Optimization management
To tackle PRRSV, whether or not in combination with other infections, in the piglet department, Dominiek recommends starting with the optimization of management and keeping the infections under control. Vaccination can be a tool, but good biosecurity is crucial!
Dominiek cites the following biosecurity measures as examples: all-in/all-out working, limiting mixing of piglets at weaning, avoiding overcrowding, appropriate management of sick animals, control of other infections, good quality feed and drinking water, following walking lines , proper cleaning and disinfection, and good pest control… He also recommends taking a closer look at the stable climate, housing, acclimatization of the breeding gilts, semen and the filtration of incoming air. Last but not least, it is equally important to work out a good PRRSV vaccination policy tailored to the company together with the company veterinarian. Dominiek readily admits at the end of his presentation that biosafe working is a daily challenge. But he emphasizes how crucial it is for a successful pig farm.
You can view the full presentation of Anita Hoofs and Dominiek Maes on the website www.sdrp-prrs.be. You can also find out which type of PRRS manager you are on the same website. Your answers to the questionnaire give a picture of the PRRS situation as you experience it.
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