CASE STUDY – 100%
PIGLET MORTALITY IN A PIG BREEDING FARM
Owner : Francis ,Olacken H, Veloor , Trissur
Farm started in 2004
4 sows- Large white (LW) x 1 boar LW
Out of F1 20 sows retained for breeding rest sold
In 2005 ================
20 LW X 1 Boar –Duroc (D) –from university pig farm
–Mannuthy (trissur)
150 x 2 average piglet / year crop
In 2010 ================
25 of the LW x D piglets retained for breeding 1 boar (D) introduced from Kappad (government
farm)
Piglets show staggering gait, nose diving when falling..
cured by neurobion and amidose M inj. Joint edema .. lameness.. cured with
intacef
In 2012
================
25 of LW x D cross sows (avg 250 Kg) x 1 LW boar (225
Kg) introduced from Kappad (on prof .
vinods advice to reduce duroc blood)
Litter size avg 15 max-15 min-8
Farrowing time increased to 10 hr (earlier 2 hrs) litter die
completely after 2 days of birth. Summer season . heat stress suspected. Inj
Pitocin not useful.
Sows gradually disposed after farrowing (160Kg only 3 of the
stock left now – 20 days to farrowing)
In 2014 ================
25 new LW sows (70-100Kg,some bought some from descendants
of own stock kept in another farm) x 1 boar (60% duroc) 45 days past mating
Other notes
Farmers observations-If warmth provided the piglets manage
to survive (2 out of a litter of 10) but still their growth is stunted
White discharge was noted in last part of urine in one of
affected sows when 1 month pregnant. Piglets appeared to have an yellow film
over them. Piglets cry more compared to normal ones.
Vets observation: Management is excellent – the farmer has
learned from experience and even improvised cages to suit his needs. The farm
in tissur, Kerala was kept as breeding stock (piglets raised in distant farm in
tamilnadu for fattening and disposed. Sow appears excellent in condition.
Piglets on postmortem didn’t show any developmental defects. Mastitis not seen
udders healthy. Farmer used to make average 1lakh profit before the problems
began. Well acquainted with procedures of teeth nipping, castration, iron
administration etc.
Mail to
Professor Swaraj Rajhowa , ARS scientist AICRP on pig
guwahati assam,
District Animal Husbandry Officer, Trissur
Director, Animal Husbandry
For kind guidance
