Title: Keeping Show Pigs Healthy - What are some good practices?
Headings: Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
Starting with Healthy Pigs
Isolating Pigs from the Farm
Following good health management Practices
Using Good Watering and Feeding Practices
Taking Care During and After Surgery
Recognizing Risks on the Farm
Vaccinating to Prevent Serious Diseases
Deworming Healthy Pigs
Diagnosing and Treating Sick Pigs Promptly
Using prescribed Drugs properly
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Home > Library > 4-H & Youth Development > Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
By: Bruce Lawhorn
Show pigs can bring many disease organisms into a farm and spread them to other swine. However, there are things you can do to prevent yours from contracting and spreading diseases. These are some precautions: Taking care that the show pigs are healthy when they arrive on the farm
Using isolation practices to prevent disease
Using good health management practices
Providing plenty of fresh, clean water
Changing rations slowly
Providing rations containing medication to prevent specific diseases that kill or cripple pigs
Taking special care during and after surgeries
Understanding disease risks within a well-managed farm
Vaccinating to prevent serious diseases
Deworming the pigs routinely
Having sick pigs promptly diagnosed and treated
Using prescribed drugs properly
Starting with Healthy Pigs
To prevent disease outbreaks in show pigs, start by preparing before you produce or buy them. Pigs should be very healthy if they are farrowed at one location, are never exposed to other swine and are fed at that location until the exhibition. When buying show pigs, it is best to buy them directly from one farm of origin that has a history of excellent herd health. You may house the pigs together if you bought them all from one farm of origin unless they are fighting too much (a common cause of lameness) or need to be fed different rations.