By Casey Zangaro
As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, it is time to start preparing for winter with your pigs. One of the most crucial steps is controlling parasites. They might not always be visible, but parasites can slow growth, make feed less effective by competing for nutrients and weaken your pigs’ immune systems, leaving them more vulnerable to other health problems. That is especially frustrating in winter, when feed costs rise and pigs have limited access to pasture.
Start with fecal testing
A great place to start is with a fecal test. Checking your pigs’ manure for parasite eggs lets you see exactly which animals need treatment, so you don’t give medicine unnecessarily. Taking this step not only protects your pigs but also helps you choose the best dewormer at the most correct time, preventing parasites from developing resistance.
For small farms, testing twice a year, spring and fall, is usually sufficient, though herds with a history of heavy parasite loads may need to test more frequently.
Collecting fecal samples is straightforward. This process begins with gathering fresh feces from a few pigs, placing them in a clean container and sending them to a veterinarian or an Extension lab. The results will inform a potential treatment plan to help you effectively manage parasites.
Source : msu.edu