Nursery Feed Management (3)
Third, the health management of nursery pigs is a critical aspect of pig farming that directly affects growth performance and survival rates. It typically involves four main components: water and medication, feed and medicine, vaccination, and daily disease management. 1. Water and Medication Weaning is a highly stressful period for piglets, making it essential to reduce stress to ensure successful rearing. Although piglets may initially be reluctant to eat, they usually adapt quickly to drinking fountains. Adding electrolytes and vitamins to their drinking water can significantly help them cope with stress and improve immunity. The most effective way to administer these additives is through a dosing device connected to the water pipeline, which ensures accuracy and ease of use. However, due to the high cost of such devices, some farms choose to install valves in each nursery’s water inlet and connect the dosing system only when needed. This approach allows for flexible and efficient administration. After weaning, piglets lose the protective antibodies from their mother's milk, making them more vulnerable to infections. During the first 1–2 weeks post-weaning, broad-spectrum antibiotics can be added to the drinking water to prevent bacterial diseases. The choice of drugs should vary depending on the season and local disease outbreaks. It is crucial that the medications are fully soluble in water; otherwise, they should be stirred regularly to avoid sedimentation, which could reduce effectiveness or even harm the pigs. 2. Feed and Medicine Copper and zinc are essential trace elements that support growth and have antibacterial properties. In the 1980s, copper was widely used in weanling pig diets, often leading to black-colored manure as an indicator of feed quality. Some manufacturers added excessive copper to feeds unnecessarily, causing environmental pollution. Later, zinc replaced copper and proved more effective in preventing E. coli infections and improving growth rates. However, long-term use of high-zinc diets is not recommended. Many farms also add antibiotics to early weanling pig feed to prevent diarrhea. However, since newly weaned pigs consume little feed, this method is less effective than administering medication through water. In later stages, most farms purchase branded feed, making it difficult to add medicines. If the feed is custom-made or processed by the farm, adding medication becomes easier. In farms with poor health conditions, respiratory diseases often appear around two weeks after weaning, when maternal antibodies begin to wane. To manage this, some farms preemptively add medication to feed 7–10 days before symptoms appear, especially if there is a known risk of disease outbreaks. Drugs prone to resistance should be used in short, concentrated doses to avoid overuse. 3. Vaccination Vaccination is a key strategy to prevent high-risk diseases such as swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. For low-risk diseases, vaccination may not be economically viable. Maternal antibodies provide initial protection to piglets, but their levels decline over time. If vaccines are administered too early, the antibodies may neutralize the vaccine, leading to immune failure. Conversely, if given too late, the piglets may already be infected. Therefore, antibody testing is essential before setting up a vaccination schedule to determine the optimal timing. Regular monitoring of antibody levels ensures that the vaccination program remains effective. In large-scale farms with good hygiene, vaccination is usually limited to essential vaccines like swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. Other vaccines may be used based on seasonal needs or specific disease risks, such as pseudorabies. Farms with poor biosecurity or unsuitable layouts may require more vaccines to control bacterial diseases. Common vaccines include those for Haemophilus parasuis, Mycoplasma pneumonia, atrophic rhinitis, pleuropneumonia, and streptococcal encephalitis. However, it is advisable to minimize the number of vaccines, especially bacterial ones, to reduce stress. When necessary, bacterial vaccines should be avoided during periods when the pigs are receiving other treatments like medication or water additives. At around 60 days old, nursery pigs should also be dewormed to improve growth and feed efficiency. 4. Daily Disease Management Most nurseries use slatted floors and open feeding systems, so the workload is relatively light. However, farmers must remain vigilant, especially during the first week after weaning. Sick pigs should be identified and treated promptly. If immediate treatment is not possible, they should be moved to a sick pen for further care. After treatment, a mark should be made on the pig’s back to record the medication and dosage, along with proper documentation. Common diseases in weaned pigs include diarrhea, respiratory issues, and joint swelling. If multiple pigs show similar symptoms and the condition worsens rapidly, antibiotics should be added to the drinking water based on clinical signs. Veterinary diagnosis through laboratory tests is crucial to identify the cause and implement quick control measures. In farms with poor health conditions, some common diseases—especially respiratory ones—may be managed by adding specific drugs to the feed 1–2 weeks before symptoms appear, helping to reduce clinical signs and improve recovery rates. Indian Squid Dried,Small Dried Squid Indian,Indian Small Squid Dried,Squid Dried 20G/Pcs 30G/Pcs 40G/Pcs Zhejiang Fudan Tourism FOODS Co., Ltd. , https://www.fudanfood.com