Natural health care for pigs

In short

• A pig's normal temperature is roughly 38.5–39.5 °C (101–103 °F). Above 40.5 °C (105 °F) with weakness and no appetite: the vet.
• African swine fever: fever, red or blue ears and belly, sudden deaths. Reporting is compulsory; don't move, kill or sell.
• In a restricted zone special measures apply: movements, slaughter and outdoor keeping only with approval.
• Every new pig goes into quarantine for 30 days, and every dead pig is reported, not buried.
• Parasites are kept down by rotating runs and faecal egg counts, and wormer is given only on the result and the vet's advice.
• Medicines only from the vet, and meat only after the withdrawal period.

What's inside

Chapters

1. Prevention before cure
2. A healthy pig and a sick one
3. When to call the vet at once
4. African swine fever
5. Other notifiable diseases
6. Vaccinations and checks
7. Parasites
8. Common problems in a small pig unit
9. Natural support and the medicine cupboard
10. Medicines, withdrawal periods and dead pigs
11. Diseases pigs pass to people
12. Common mistakes
13. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Health log
• Full biosecurity checklist
• Prevention calendar
• Quarantine for a new pig
• Health cost calculator
• Contacts and procedure for a suspected outbreak