Health problems in the farrowing pen have a negative impact on the performance of the weaned piglets and fattening pigs. Piglets that fall behind in growth during the suckling period will not catch up after weaning. The timely detection and treatment of health problems during the lactation period is therefore crucial. Some specific risk factors that threaten the health of piglets in the farrowing pen, such as colostrum intake, iron supply and intestinal health, deserve special attention.
A good start is half the battle
Healthy piglets with a good weaning weight will also perform better after weaning. Studies confirm that the piglets with the highest weaning weights grow the fastest after weaning and that the weight differences between light and heavy piglets only increase after weaning. Weaning weight is therefore an important determinant of growth performance over the entire life span of a fattening pig.
Some important threats to the health and performance of piglets in the farrowing pen are insufficient colostrum intake or poor quality colostrum intake, inadequate iron supply resulting in anaemia, intestinal problems due to infections including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Clostridium perfringens type A a type C, the rotavirus a Cystoisospora am (the parasite that causes coccidiosis).
colostrum intake
Piglets that drink sufficient high-quality colostrum are less likely to get sick and have a higher weaning weight. The colostrum intake can be assessed in different ways. Simple methods are a visual check of the piglets’ belly filling or measuring the weight gain during the first 24 hours. Another way is to determine the amount of antibodies in the blood 24 hours after birth. Both the total level of antibodies (immunoglobulin G) and the level of antibodies against a specific pathogen can give a good indication of colostrum intake.
Iron supply
Piglets are already confronted with iron deficiencies shortly after birth. To make up for these deficiencies, they receive an iron injection during the first days of life. The effectiveness of this iron treatment is rarely monitored. Nevertheless, experience shows that iron levels in piglets around weaning age can be suboptimal or that piglets can even have clinical anemia, despite the standard iron injection.
Iron deficiency anemia can be detected by measuring the hemoglobin level in the blood of piglets around weaning age. This test can be performed quickly and easily on-site using a portable HemoCueâ measuring device. One drop of blood, which is obtained by puncturing a blood vessel in the ear, is sufficient for the measurement.
Birth diarrhea
Diarrhea in the first days of life is caused by an interplay of factors, including the presence of bacterial and/or viral pathogens and various management and environmental factors.
Identification of the pathogens involved is usually done through laboratory research on manure samples. However, it is also possible to use a rapid antigen test. This test detects the presence of Clostridium perfringensrotavirus and the attachment factors F4, F5 and F41 of E. coli in manure samples from piglets with diarrhoea. The advantage of this test is that it can be performed on site at the company and that the results can be read after only 10 minutes.
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is a common cause of diarrhea in piglets during the second and third week of life and causes delayed or uneven growth. The parasite that causes coccidiosis damages the intestinal mucosa and disrupts the digestive and absorption processes in the small intestine.
In the past, the diagnosis of coccidiosis mainly depended on the detection of oocysts (the eggs of the coccidiosis parasite) in manure by means of microscopic examination. This study is complicated by the high fat content of the manure of suckling piglets and can therefore produce false negative results. Ceva recently made a PCR test available in collaboration with the lab of Animal Health Care Flanders (Belgium) for the detection and quantification of the coccidiosis parasite in manure. In addition to rectal faecal samples, environmental samples can also be used for the PCR examination. These environmental samples can be collected by rubbing the floor of the farrowing pen with a scouring pad to collect manure from several piglets.
Baby Big Health Check health monitor
Ceva developed the Baby Big Health Check program to map out the above-mentioned risk factors for the health of piglets in the farrowing pen. This is a health check for piglets in the farrowing pen, aimed at farms with disappointing performance. Based on a checklist, a veterinarian carries out a health check and farrowing house management. In addition, attention is paid to colostrum intake and iron supply and intestinal health are monitored by using the methods mentioned.
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