Vet Chat Louise Blenkhorn, BSc(Hons), BVM&S, MRCVS, is an independent pig veterinary consultant and a pig farmers daughter. Louise's private life is just as busy. A mother of two to Emma and Ava. Louise and her husband Neil, run a successful herd of Limousin beef cattle.
Louise Blenkhorn Vaccinations Erysipelas and Parvovirus are two of the most easily controllable diseases which affected reproductive performance on pig units. On my commercial units 100% will be vaccinated and I suggest that your vaccination programmes should include these as a minimum. Please consult your vet for advice. Erysipelas can present with red raised diamond skin lesions, septicaemia, arthritis and/or endocarditis. It can also lead to carcass condemnations at the abattoir. It is most often seen in older growing or finisher pigs but maiden gilts and naïve sows can be affected. Pregnant sows may abort and lactating sows may lose milk production. Erysipelas is caused by a bacteria Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and is very responsive to penicillin based treatment. It is very good at surviving in the environment and often heat treatment of buildings is required to minimise challenge in the case of repeat outbreaks. The bacteria are spread via the oral route from faeces and saliva so is more frequently seen on straw based/outdoor systems in summer time when pigs often wallow.
Egan Brockhoff
Parvovirus is unique in its presentation of progressively small to large mummified piglets (the virus sequentially moves along the uterus killing embryos one by one). It can also cause stillbirths, low viable and weak piglets, embryonic death and infertility.
Pig333
Photo: Pig333
Erysipelas vaccines should be given every 6 months; Parvovirus annually. Because of this combination vaccines are a very useful tool e.g. Eryseng Parvo and Porcilis EryParvo.
There is a vaccine available which also covers for Leptospirosis (Porcilis Ery+Parvo+Lepto) however you should consult your vet before considering using this. Gilts require 2x vaccinations, 4 weeks apart. Ensure that any vaccines are given at least 2 weeks before expected breeding to avoid any negative impact on conception rate. Thereafter, I normally repeat vaccinate sows during the first week of lactation (on a commercial scale this is twice a year). Boars are included in the vaccination programme every 6 months for Erysipelas. Vaccinations are very effective and safeguarding your herd will give you great peace of mind.
