“Farmers should situate pig farms where access is restricted”

What are the common pig diseases? We have swine erysipelas, brucellosis, swine dysentery (piglets), African swine fever less frequenty and many others.

Which of these diseases are the most fatal? The most common and fatal here is swine erysipelas. First it affects the swine, causes it to eat less, then the swine refuses to eat completely. This is very prevalent when the pens are dirty, when garbage or sewage is close to the pens and in pigs that people don’t respect prophylactic programs.

What do you mean by prophylactic program? In short, this is the process of preventing diseases in pigs. For example after crossing, vitamin is given to the sow. After farrowing in three days iron should be given followed by a booster on 7th day and then vitamins. When you wean the piglets between 6 to 8 weeks, you de-worm and administer antibiotics. As the pigs grow, you regularly de-worm, give vitamins and antibiotics depending on the physiological state of the animal. In this way you build the animal’s immune system.

Why is pig disease always a threat to most farmers in Fako? From 2006-2011 while working with the Confederation of South West Pig Farmers till date as a freelance vet nurse, the swine erysipelas has proven to be a deadly disease for pigs in Fako. From farm observation the vaccination program that ought to be at the helm of pig health assurance to the animals is not properly carried out as some farmers find it not necessary or they are simply sluggish to participate. For this vaccination to be perfect, the 1st and 2nd doses must be given between February and March. That’s before the first rainfall within 3 weeks.

Generally how can farmers avoid pig diseases? Farmers should situate pig farms where access is restricted only to the workers. The farm should be out of reach to stray animals; hygiene should be a priority, the provision of a footbath, thorough cleaning and disinfection of working materials and equipment. Farmers should respect medical prophylaxis from piglet to grown up pigs. And vaccinate the pigs.

In breeding seems to be part of the problem with rampant diseases? In breeding is when reproduction is done between animals of the same gene. The piglets from such reproduction are small, weak, cachetic, stunted or not healthy. They have weak immune systems. These types of animals are less resistant to diseases and unfavorable conditions.

What should farmers do? Farmers must verify the source of their breeding stock; they should get their stock from reputable breed producers. Make sure that the female and male stock has no genetic relation. Try to maintain this genetic gab for subsequent piglet production.

How is this possible? The farmer should name or code the animals with even names of countries in different continents; they could code, mark and even tag the animals to avoid errors. The animals can be put in deferent pens. The farmer should be very strict that no animal from the same genetic group should cross.

How can farmers identify good drugs? Farmers are not trained on pharmacology. Farmers should work with vet officials who are honest enough to use their skills and identify quark drugs in the market. It’s only vet officials that can make the difference between good drugs and pirated drugs common in the market today. All the same, farmers should be inquisitive enough when it comes to drugs to find out the origin of drugs before they are used on their animals.

There are farmers who complain that vet officials vaccinated their farms and the animals still died? Vaccinating the pig is not the end point of assuring that the pig will be free from diseases. First there is a peculiar question – was the vaccination program carried out without failures. For example, the cold chain of handling the vaccine must be respected. If this was not respected, the whole process is a failure. Above all, vaccination works well (antibodies-antigen reaction) works well when the animals’ physiological health is good. That is sick animals are not vaccinated. If you vaccinate an animal that is sick it will not succeed. The duration between the 1st and the booster dose of three weeks should be respected.

Appreciate pig farming in the South West? All over the South West a few structures are constructed respecting the norms of profitable pig farming. Pig farming is the leading livestock activity for poverty alleviation to families and a source of protein to the general population. But with the raising cost of inputs, I advise we start looking at pig farming as an economic activity. That is we don’t keep pigs for pleasure or social reasons as is the case with most farmers. Before setting a pig project we should put zootechnical priorities like getting good breeds, respecting prevention and treatment program, seeking to compose low cost high nutritional feed, work with consultants and take pig farming as an income generating activity.

Which pens are good to prevent diseases, suspended wooden pens or cemented floor pens? Both kinds are used to keep pigs but each of this has advantages and disadvantages. The cemented floor should not be left cold –it should be cemented with 15cm thickness in areas where it is difficult to drain. The pigs when places are cold in the rainy season should not be left in the cold. Frequent dry cleaning with less water will help. With the suspended pen the floor should be slanted and 2cm distance per board. It should be 1m high from the ground. There should be thorough cleaning between the planks and under floor waste should be removed. Waste disposal should be far from the pens. These pens should be constructed east-west direction to ensure proper aeration for fresh air to remove still air from the pens. All the two types of pens are good but it is good to consult a vet official before constructing.