INFORMATION SHEET NO. 2.

4-1
Vaccination Programs

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. know the benefits of the vaccines.
2. consider what you should be vaccinating for.
Allotted time: 15 minutes

Maintaining the Health of Pigs

The welfare of pigs can be ensured by maintaining a good standard of
health and by providing an environment which allows for the expression of
natural behaviors. The responsibility the care and welfare of pigs kept on farms
lies with the herd owner or with the person is charge of the pigs.

A flexible Health and Welfare Program', dedicated to the unit, is the best
method of achieving the required standards. Some of the steps are outlined
below:
 All pigs must be able to lie down, rest and stand up without difficulty.
 All pigs must have a clean area to rest. All pigs must be able to see other
pigs.
 Boars must be able to turn around. They must be able to see, smell and
hear other pigs. .
  Their pen must provide them with at least 6m unobstructed floor area,
including a clean resting area. If the pen is used for natural service it
must be larger.
 Sows and gilts must be treated for internal and external parasites and be
clean before moving to the farrowing area. Sufficient space must be
provided behind the sow or gilt to allow natural or assisted farrowing.
 Piglets must be provided with a source of heat. The lying area must be
solid and comfortable and allow all the piglets to rest at the same time.
Piglets must be protected from over-lying by the sow.
 Suckling access to the sow must be unhindered. Tail and tooth clipping
may only be performed where either of two situations arise i.e.
 Where damage to sows' teats or
 Tail biting of other pigs cannot otherwise be prevented.
Where practiced, such procedures must be done before 7 days of age.
 Piglets may not be weaned before 28 days of age, unless the health or
welfare of the sow or piglets would otherwise be affected. An exception to
this rule allows for earlier weaning which must be no younger than 21
days of age.
 In this situation, separate specialized accommodation must be provided
for the weaned pigs. This accommodation must be fully cleaned and
disinfected prior to the introduction of each new group.
 Weaners must be grouped as soon as possible after weaning to form
stable groups. Subsequent mixing must be minimized to avoid risk of
aggression.
As mentioned earlier, sows should be
thoroughly cleaned and washed before
transfer on a previously cleaned farrowing
pen. After washing the sow, spray her
with a mild solution of an antiseptic or
disinfectant. Also use an effective
anthelmintic to free the pregnant sow or
gilt of her intestinal worm load.
Deworming is the best done before
farrowing with a board spectrum anthelmintic before the animals are
transferred in the farrowing pen.
In anticipation to the stress of farrowing an antibiotic supplement may be
given with the drinking water or with feed 3-10 days before the expected
farrowing date and 5-10 days thereafter. Table 1 summarizes the actions.
Table 1. Suggested Health and Vaccination Program for Pregnant Sows

Activity When
Deworming 7-14 days before the expected date of
farrowing.

14 and 7 days before breeding

Mange Treatment

*(if one is using an ivermectin as

dewormer, there is no need to do
mange treatment using ivermectin,
domramectin, or another drug;
ivermectin/doramectin is both for
internal and external parasites.)

*always wash and scrub the animal

before the application of tropical
(pour-on, spray, dip) anti-mange
drugs.

Just before the expected date of

farrowing and before transfer to the
farrowing pen.

Washing, scrubbing and spraying 3-10 days before farrowing

with disinfectant

3 weeks before farrowing

In-feed medication
2 week before farrowing
Pseudorabies

E. coli Baterin

First, consider what you should be vaccinating for. The best time to
vaccinate small pigs is around weaning time, as they are individually handled
regularly. However, some breeders and owners prefer to spread out the stress
that comes from weaning and vaccinations, and choose to vaccinate a few days
after the pig has been weaned. For pigs weaned at older ages, it may be
necessary to vaccinate prior to weaning. This depends upon the disease
pressure in the herd. Combination vaccinations are a good choice for show
pigs, as it eliminates the need for multiple injections, reducing stress and the
possibility of swelling or injection site lesions on the pig.

Sows also require a routine vaccination program. Protection against

lepto, parvovirus and erysipelas should be given either pre-farrowing or at
weaning, depending on the best timing for that particular herd. Once or twice a
year, vaccinating for influenza can boost herd protection. If influenza has
been a problem in piglets historically, consider vaccinating sows pre-farrowing.

As with any vaccination protocols, pigs must be healthy at the time of

vaccination. If small pigs, sows or gilts are running a fever or show any other
clinical signs of illness, wait a few days before administering a vaccine. In
addition, be aware of any factors that may minimize a vaccine’s efficacy. For
instance, water-based bacterial vaccines are live, a virulent products, so pigs
should not be given antibiotics three days before or after those vaccines are
administered, as the antibiotic may kill the bacteria needed to stimulate
antibodies. Remember that vaccines are used to prevent diseases and
antibiotics are used to treat them.