Health
On this page:
General pig herd health
Changes to Pig Health Monitoring in Queensland
Transfer of service to industry, with contact details.
Design and management considerations for piggery hygiene
In intensive piggeries, sound hygiene can minimise disease problems and maximise production. A good standard of hygiene depends largely upon the design of the piggery, management, routine cleaning and disinfection, and good housekeeping.
Keep diseases out: pigs not people are the greatest risk
Describes the key elements of a piggery biosecurity program to prevent introducing disease
Minimal disease pigs
There are substantial economic advantages in keeping minimal disease
(MD) pigs. Explains the meaning of MD and other related terms such as specific pathogen free; and HYPAR.
Pig carcase condemnation terms
Common terms used in the condemnation of pig carcases or carcase parts are explained in this DPI&F Note.
Pig diseases guide
A reference list of pig diseases commonly encountered by the author. It is not intended as an aid for the diagnosis of pig diseases but to provide some basic information on diseases about which pork producers should be aware.
Pig health monitoring
Pig Health Monitoring Scheme(PHMS) involves examinating slaughter pig carcases and various organs for disease signs that affect production efficiency.
Pig herd health: save dollars using new and old technologies
Overview of health enhancing technologies to reduce the cost of disease in piggeries.
Preserve your sows' feet
Lameness causes 12+% of the culling on some piggeries but is an area that receives little attention. Inspect and trim sow's feet to the normal shape for her comfort and longevity.
Preventing introduction of disease into piggeries
Outlines the measures to prevent the introduction of harmful diseases into a piggery. Many pork producers have suffered severe financial loss because of diseases introduced from other piggeries.
Proper pig vaccination techniques
This technical fact sheet discusses what the causes of local reactions and swelling are and what can be done to minimise them.
Protect your animals
All animal owners should know how to maintain the health of their animals and protect them against diseases.
Prudent antibiotic use with the use of veterinary services
Guidelines for pork producers for effective disease diagnosis and submision of samples to a veterinary laboratory.
Reduce disease spread when trading pig breeding stock
When pigs are moved from one piggery to another there is a risk of introduction of disease. Follow the steps outlined in this Note to reduce the risk of introducing disease.
Routines for pig disease prevention
Describes routines (including vaccination technique) for controlling a number of pig diseases common in Australia.
Specific diseases/conditions
Common salt in dry sow diets
Increasing the salt level in the diet can help with the control of discharging sow syndrome and urinary tract infections.
Enzootic pneumonia in pigs: how to implement an effective control program
Effective control relies on an integrated management program initiated by the consulting veterinarian. Essentially it revolves around environmental management, reduction of stress, implementation of a vaccination program and strategic use of antibiotics.
Erysipelas in pigs
This note discusses this disease, its symptoms, diagnosis, control and treatment.
Exotic animal diseases - African swine fever
This page contains information on the occurence, distribution, symptoms and affects of African swine fever.
Exotic animal diseases - Classical swine fever
Classical swine fever is a disease of domestic and feral pigs. This page outlines the causes, distribution, symptoms and causes of the disease. It also summarises strategies in use to control outbreaks of the disease.
Exotic animal diseases - Foot and mouth disease
Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of all cloven-hoofed animals. This page outlines causes, distribution, symptoms, methods of spread and persistance of the virus. Additionally it explains strategies to control an outbreak.
Exotic animal diseases - Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease leading to an almost invariably fatal swelling of the brain that can infect all warm blooded animals, including humans. This page outlines species affected, distribution, symptoms, spread, persistence and contol of the virus.
Exotic animal diseases - Screw-worm fly
Screw-worm fly (SWF) is an insect parastite of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. This page outlines species affected by the virus, its distribution, symptoms, spread and persistence. Strategies for control of an Australian outbreak are included.
Exotic animal diseases - Swine vesicular disease
Swine vesicular disease is an acute, highly contagious viral disease of pigs clinically indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases of pigs. This page outlines the attributes of the disease and control stratgies in the case of an Australian outbreak.
Exotic animal diseases - Vesicular exanthema
Vesicular exanthema (VE) is an acute viral disease of pigs. This page outlines the attributes of the disease and summarises the control mechanisms in place in the event of an Australian outbreak.
Exotic animal diseases - Vesicular stomatitis
Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is an infectious viral disease of a number of species. This page outlines the attributes of the disease and summarizes control strategies in the case of an Australian outbreak.
Gastric ulcers in pigs
Discusses the cause, diagnosis and treatment of gastric ulcers in pigs.
Glasser's disease in pigs
This DPI&F note discusses signs, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and control of this disease in pigs.
HEV - Vomiting and wasting disease in pigs
Discusses the symptoms, extent of the disease, prevention and history of HEV (Haemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus).
Intestinal torsion in pigs
Also known as red gut, bloody gut, twisted bowel, chronic bloat and intestinal haemorrhagic syndrome. This Note discusses the disease, clinical signs, how the disease occurs, diagnosis, treatment and control.
Leptospirosis in pigs
Discusses this disease, its spread, diagnosis, human health risk, control and treatment.
Mastitis, metritis, agalactica (MMA) in pigs
MMA is a complex disease observed in recently farrowed sows. One or all of these conditions may exist at the one time.
Melioidosis in pigs
This is a bacterial disease which affects several animal species, including man. Water is considered to be the most likely source of infection in pigs.
Miscellaneous poisonings of pigs
This DPI&F note describes warfarin, salt, organic arsenical, organophosphate and heavy metal poisoning.
Mycotoxin poisoning of pigs
Mycotoxins are poisons produced by moulds growing in feedstuffs. Discusses signs of these poisonings and considerations in using mouldy feed.
Nipah virus
This page outlines Queensland's surveillance program of nipah virus.
Piglet anaemia
Discusses this condition and methods of iron supplementation.
Piglet scours
Describes the effects, types of scours, predisposing factors and preventive measures.
Pleuropneumonia in pigs
Pleuropneumonia is a major disease in the Australian pig industry. This note discusses signs, predisposing causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and control.
Pleuropneumonia programs - targeting our unique strains
DPI and European collaborators discovered that Australia has unique strains; Australian farms need to tailor programs to meet their strains
Porcine parvovirus
This can be a common cause of reproductive failure in breeding pigs in Australia. Discusses signs of the disease, diagnosis and control.
Respiratory disease in pigs
Respiratory diseases in pigs are a complex and economically significant cause of production loss. This note describes what makes respiratory diseases complex, why they lead to loss of production and what can be done about them.
Sarcoptic mange in pigs
This is a common condition and causes a substantial reduction in growth rate and feed conversion and predisposes to other skin disorders. Note includes treatment and control.
Swine brucellosis
Signs and control of brucellosis in pigs, which is now a rare disease in Queensland.
Swine erysipelas - to vaccinate or not to vaccinate
Swine erysipelas affects pigs of all ages and results in a range of clinical signs. This Note describes the effects and vaccination.
Worm species in pigs and their control
This Note describes the major worm parasites of pigs, their life cycles and effect on the animal, and their control.
