Pig health, considerations and requirements in the UK

Pigs are inquisitive and intelligent animals and respond to good care and attention. An unhealthy pig is unlikely to be profitable. Below are some of the key factors that the pig farmer addresses on a routine basis.

Good health starts at birth. Strong viable piglets should weigh 1200 grammes at birth. As with all mammals it is essential that they receive colostrum from their mother within a few hours of birth. This helps provide immunity until their own immune systems are better developed.

In the countryside it was always traditional for householders to keep pigs in their back gardens but this practice was outlawed and pigs are now only kept in a farmed environment.

When piglets are born they have eight very sharp pointed teeth that can damage other piglets and the sow's udder. Sometimes it is necessary to clip the teeth of the young piglet to prevent other health and welfare problems from occurring. This should be done within 24 hours of birth.

The sows milk is very low in iron and piglets can therefore suffer from anaemia which predisposes them to other health problems. In the wild, pigs obtain iron from the soil but in farming systems piglets receive an injection of iron supplement within three days of birth.

Plenty of chopped fresh clean straw keeps pigs dry and prevents disease build up. Straw also provides material for pigs to play which leads to greater contentement and therefore higher productivity. A soft bed of straw also helps to prevent the pigs from sustaining injuries.

By law all sows in the UK must be loose housed. Stalls and tethers are illegal in the UK but are still permitted almost everywhere else in the world including the whole of the EEC. Complying with our welfare requirements has significantly increased the cost to the UK producer with the result that cheap imports from abroad (lower welfare standards) have displaced UK production.

Fresh water is always on demand from drinkers which should not get contaminated with muck. The law requires that there should be a minimum of one drinker per 15 pigs in a pen and in addition a farmer must have access to further supplies that will guarantee two days water for his pigs in the event of emergency.

Disinfectant powder: all sheds are steam cleaned and disinfected to try to ensure healthy disease free conditions. Control of disease is vital for pig health and the economics of production. Recent outbreaks of notifiable disease (swine fever and foot and mouth disease) have illustrated the importance of maintaining strict biosecurity measures. This however does not guarantee freedom from disease.

Disinfection points at the farm entrance can enhance biosecurity. This virucidal disinfectant is effective against the foot and mouth virus provided that lorries and persons follow strict disinfection procedures.

Flies in pig farming systems are a nuisance upsetting the pig and acting as a vector in the spread of disease. Control is important during the summer months and a properly licensed insecticide can be used. The picture illustrates a misting machine which can be used for this purpose.

This lockable fridge contains different types of antibiotics. Animals treated have to be clearly marked and the treatment recorded in a medicines record book. Antibiotics can only be purchased under the supervision of a vet and routine use is not permitted.

Further reading for Pigs - Production cycle

Pigs and Pigmeat	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Total marketing pigs (000s)	12381	10567	10282	9051	8679	8777	8731	9075	8994	8557
Pigs value of production (£ millions)	822	738	689	686	681	677	685	736	865	976
Pork - home fed as % new supply (%)	92	73	74	71	73	70	68	69
Bacon & Ham - home fed as % new supply (%)	45	43	43	43	42	44	45	42
Pig meat - home fed as % new supply (%)					49	48	48	49	52	50

Pigs and Pigmeat	1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000
Sows kept for pig breeding (Numbers)	279,782	281,237	262,516	283,458	366,302	291,441	536,009	727,612	685,721	646,887	502,697
Other pigs (Numbers)	1,741,640	1,739,082	1,551,861	1,820,841	2,789,117	1,804,846	3,603,377	5,439,294	5,792,473	5,661,437	4,939,771
Total pigs (Numbers)	2,021,422	2,020,319	1,814,377	2,104,299	3,155,419	2,096,287	4,139,386	6,166,926	6,476,211	6,308,324	5,442,468

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