HEALTH PROGRAM FOR SOWS AND PIGLETS

            “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” This proverb is an important guiding principle of animal raisers. In swine production, this truth is undetectable. Maintaining a clean environment for your sows and piglets is more economical than resorting to high doses of drugs to your sick animals. Proper sanitation is the key to disease prevention. Hand in hand with sanitation should be a sound health program that would minimize piglet death and ensure healthier weaners in your piggery.

FOR SOWS

            In breeding your sows, use breeder boars from reputable origin. This practice prevents reproductive diseases from being introduce into your farm. Breed your sows one to two days after exhibiting signs of heat. If the sow does not return to heat 21 days after breeding, wait for another 21 days to confirm pregnancy.

            Give vitamin injection to your pregnant sow, and slightly increase her ration to provide extra nutrients for her growing fetuses. Treat the sow against external parasites when present, preferably on the third month of pregnancy. Deworm her on the fourth month. Always keep the maternity pen dry and clean. Remember that any disease affecting the sow will be detrimental to the condition of the fetuses.

            One week before the expected date of delivery, reduce the sow’s ration. Supply roughages and other bulky ration. Give extra care and attention to the animal when giving birth. Do not feed the sow within 24 hours after giving birth, provide drinking water instead.

            Administer hog cholera vaccine to both sow and piglets as early as 35 days after birth. Consult your veterinarian about the vaccine you must give to your sow.

FOR PIGLETS

            The newly born piglets should be inspected for any abnormality and injury. Clean minor wounds inflicted on them and apply tincture of iodine. Tie the umbilical cord with thread soaked in iodine, cut the cord and apply iodine solution on the stump. Likewise, cut the needle teeth.

            Keep the piglets in a clean and warm brooder box with 100-watt incandescent bulb. Record the weight and sex of the piglets, and the number of dead young.

            On the third day, give iron injection to the piglets to avoid anemia. Inject vitamins to weak piglets and wean them at about 42days of age. It is advisable to separate the weak and smaller piglets from the biggest ones to allow better access to feeds.

            These are the basic practices that my parents are used to practice in our piggery. One reason for letting me to get the course of Agriculture because they want me to become a successful agriculturist someday and be able to practice all what I had learn to enhance our own source of income and not only for our own benefits but for the sake of other farmers that will ask for my guidance for better crop production.