Important Issues in Our Nursery Operations

 

Representing:            Hanor of North Carolina

Presenting:                 Gayle Jones

Supporting:                 Darren Whitaker, Bobby Adkins

 

Introduction

 

·        Successful nursery management is essential to properly start weaned pigs and develop finishing animals with the potential to gain.

 

Sorting

 

·        Initial sort

-         The first sort is the most important thing you will do.

-         You should sort by size, biggest to smallest, until all pigs are sorted.

-         Start your biggest pigs at the ends of the room and place your smallest pigs in the middle so they get optimal heat.

 

Feeding

 

·        Limit feeding

-         Limit feeding is feeding pigs small amounts three to four times a day.

-         The amount fed is limited to what you believe they will eat in two to three hours.

-         Limit feeding should be done for the first five days.

-         Limit feeding prevents overeating and helps control scours.

 

·        Mat feeding

-         Use creep mats for the first five days.

-         Pigs are use to eating as a group before they are weaned. Therefore, the use of mats allows pigs to group and eat together.

-         Place mats directly in front of the feeder so they will begin to recognize the feeder as their source of food.

-         Feed only what pigs will eat in 15 to 20 minutes from the mats.

-         Remove mats after 5 days, leaving mats on small pigs as necessary.

 

·        Feeder adjustments

-         Monitor feeders closely throughout the nursery phase

-         Feeders must be readjusted often to assure proper feed flow.

-         Pay special attention when changing over from pellet to meal feed.

-         Adjust feeders so 2/3 of the feed pan is visible and clear of feed.

-         The amount of feed in a properly adjusted feed pan is minimal.

 

·        Water Adjustment

-         Adjust water nipples once a week as pigs grow taller.

-         Water nipples should be adjusted to the height of the back of the smallest pig in the pen.

-         Make sure every pig can easily access the waterers.

 

·        Gruel Feeding

-         Gruel feed pens with the smallest pigs for the first several days.

-         Gruel Feeding: Place feed mats directly under the water nipple and put a small amount of feed on the mat, wetting the feed with the water nipple.

-         The mat will catch run off and stay wet so smaller pigs have easy access to feed enriched water and get used to drinking from the nipple.

-         Gruel feed with small feed pans when necessary. Mix a small amount (several teaspoons) of Acid-Pak 4-way to increase palatability and appetite.

 

Treatment

 

·        Greasy Pig

-         Treat greasy pigs with penicillin individually in worst cases.

-         Dip pigs in mineral oil with about 4 tablespoons of bleach once a day.

-         Use Potassium Penicillin G in the medicator if more than 25% to 30% of the pigs in the room are infected.

-         Always treat these pigs last thing in the day to prevent spread to other rooms.

 

·        Scours

-    Treat scouring pigs with Tylan 50.

-         Try to keep scouring pigs together and limit feed them.

-         Consult your veterinarian about implement oral E-Coli vaccination when scours is a recurring problem.

 

·        Respiratory

-         Monitor your rooms carefully and listen closely for coughing.

-         Consult your vet about vaccinations for Myco-Plasma, Swine Flu, and PRRS.

 

·        Sick Pens

-         Place “fallbacks” in a pen near the middle of the room that can be monitored closely.

-         Color-coded treated pigs to avoid over treatment or errors that result in the wrong pig getting the wrong medicine.

-         Use a different paint stick for each medicine and treat pigs three days in a row.

-         Count the three days by painting an “F” on the pig.

-         After three days of treatment, move pigs to the recovery pen and monitor daily.

 

Ventilation

 

-         Place a ventilation chart where all employees can easily access it. The chart defines the CFM requirements for your facility.

-         Ventilation should be changed twice a week, optimally on wean days, to acquire optimal airflow.

-         Consult your fan distributor for details on fan charts.

 

Bio-Security

 

·        Bird Proofing

-         Your facility should be enclosed with bird proof wire.

-         Birds carry harmful diseases, including TGE, that can be detrimental to pigs.

-         Keep wire maintained and repair holes in a timely manner.

 

·        Sanitation

-         Wash chutes and hallways after moving pigs.

-         Use bleach or disinfectant to rid hallways of germs.

-         Use dip pans (foot baths) between rooms. Dip feet when moving from one room to the next to prevent introducing disease to younger pigs.

 

·        Rat Bait:

-         Monitor rat bait boxes often. Put out fresh rat bait out every two weeks.

-         Place rat bait boxes in hallways and outside barns every 30 to 50 feet.

-         Try PVC pipes with holes in the top, drop rat bait in and place in hallways at night when mice are the most active.

 

·        Transportation:

-         Make sure trucks that arrive to your site to pick up pigs are clean coming in.

-         Reserve the right to refuse dirty trucks.

-         Trucks should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly between movements.

-         Trucks need down time just like people. Review your trucking schedule to be sure you are not overlooking downtime and spreading diseases between farms.

 

Conclusion

 

·        The first five days are the most important to successfully transition the pigs.

·        Make sure pigs can easily access water and feed.

·        Monitor pigs every day and pull fallbacks quickly while they can still respond to help. Keep your sick pens in an easily accessible area and watch these pigs closely, treating and gruel feeding to help them catch up.

·        Always keep your facility as clean as possible. Wash hallways and chutes weekly or after moving animals.

·        Use footbaths between rooms to prevent the spread of disease.

·        Keep fresh rat bait out and keep bird wire properly maintained. Make sure all feed spills are cleaned up in a timely manner to keep birds and mice away from the units.