Overall: The most significant concern regarding the health of the western Canadian swine herd was the PED outbreak in three southeast Manitoba herds. The reported incidence of other diseases was fairly stable with a reduction of problems attributed to better weather and the resulting better ventilation of barns.
PED
The three farms that broke with PED are close to a major highway and to each other. They are well on their way to clearing the virus. One sow barn has exported its first PED-free load of piglets in the last week of July and the finisher barn is now presumed to be negative. No progress has been made in identifying the source of the virus however.
- All farms had good biosecurity and no flaws were found.
- Manure from a previously infected farm nearby had not been spread last year.
- There was an increase in cull sow trucks and those returning from the US\ on the highway past the farms but a direct link to the outbreak can not be made.
- New transport regulations regarding trailers:
- As of May 2, 2016, the CFIA requires that all livestock trailers visiting US farms be washed at U.S. facilities before crossing the border into Canada. The previous exemption that allowed them to be sealed at the border and washed at a certified Canadian wash has been removed.
- Western pork boards are advising all swine producers in Western Canada to insist that any trailer returning from the U.S. be properly washed and disinfected in a certified Canadian facility, even though this means a second wash and disinfection. Producers may assume that trailers washed only at U.S. facilities are likely contaminated with the PED virus.
Influenza A
- 71% of veterinarians say that influenza is common or very prevalent in pig barns they serve. Several practitioners have indicated that once the disease is controlled or eliminated other health issues, for example Strep.suis, and productivity improve.
- With the exception of the pH1N1 influenza vaccine, some strains of influenza used in commercial vaccines may be different than those on your farm.
- If you suspect that influenza may be in your pigs, speak with your veterinarian about testing for the disease to understand the strains on your farm and how best to manage them, whether with a commercial or an autogenous vaccine.
Lawsonia ileitis
- As with influenza, 71% of veterinarians indicate that ileitis is common or very prevalent
- The disease can be controlled with vaccines as well as antibiotics. The use of vaccine is an opportunity to reduce antibiotic use on the farm. Speak with your veterinarian about ileitis control.
T2 and DON Mycotoxins
The alternating warm and cool conditions this summer is thought to be ideal for the growth of the fungus, Fusarium. This fungus grows on small grains (Head scab) and corn (Gibberella ear rot) and produces a number of mycotoxins that affect swine including DON and T2 toxin. Healthy (left) and infected (right) wheat can be seen in the photo.
- T2 toxin over 1 ppm is a potent immunosuppressive agent that weakens the immune system. Frequent defecation, vomiting, weight loss and feed refusal are symptoms that can be seen.
- DON (also called vomitoxin) affects feed intake and weight gain at 1 ppm. At 5 ppm feed refusal occurs and at 10 ppm vomiting and weight loss can occur. Pigs return to normal when contaminated feed is replaced with clean grains.
- As with ergot discussed last quarter, ask your feed manufacturer about levels of DON, T2 and other mycotoxins in their feeds and send samples of complete feed to a laboratory to test for them.
Source: ManitobaPork