Rotavirus, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Coccidia, Sapovirus, Salmonella, Clostridioides difficile. The list of endemic pathogens clamoring to strike your new set of pigs is daunting, and they aren’t going away.
Dealing with piglet diarrhea is frustrating. Elise Toohill, a veterinarian with Carthage Veterinary Service, reminds producers to define the problem first. Unfortunately, many of these pathogens look similar. That’s why it’s important to submit diagnostics to identify what pathogen you are dealing with, she said during the 34th Annual Swine Conference organized by Carthage Veterinary Service in Quincy, Ill.
“We can do a whole bunch of diagnostics, and I’ll probably find rotavirus in most barns,” Toohill explains. “But whether this specific rotavirus causes a litter to have disease is related to many things, including exposure to pathogens, a pig’s resistance to disease, environmental stressors and more.”
When preweaning diarrhea strikes, says there are three things producers can do to turn the situation around.
1. Reduce exposure to pathogens.
Sanitation is critical. Complete thorough farrowing room washing and disinfection. Use hot water and a minimum of one detergent and one disinfectant (with bleach if coccidia is a concern). Soaking rooms can be beneficial when possible.
“Get the room dry before reloading,” Toohill reiterates. “This requires an all-in, all-out approach to truly be effective in cleaning farrowing rooms. Drying achieves multiple objectives, including making sure piglets aren’t born into a wet environment. Dry time also ensures for appropriate contact time for the disinfectant to work.”
Of course, don’t forget hallways, holding rooms, nurseries and chutes. Consider using booth baths and washing boots when coming out of gestation and before going into farrowing. Every little detail matters when it comes to preventing the spread of pathogens.
“Remember to prevent the spread of pathogens between litters by avoiding stepping into crates and wearing gloves when handling piglets,” she says. “Focus on sanitation at the time of processing. Consider wearing a washable/disposable apron and processing and treating sick litters last.”
2. Improve immune protection.
One of the best ways to improve immune protection in piglets is through prefarrow vaccination or prefarrow natural planned exposure, she says.
But don’t forget the importance of colostrum intake. The first 12 hours are very important that the piglet receives colostrum from its mom. Before cross-fostering any pigs, make sure the piglet has a full belly, she advises.
One way to improve colostrum production in the sow is to make sure she gets up and is eating and drinking as soon as possible to keep her lactating well. Preventing environmental stressors and maintaining the appropriate room temperature are two ways to keep the sow producing well.
3. Provide quality piglet care.
Toohill encourages producers to be ready from an animal health perspective to administer antibiotics for bacterial pathogens, as well as competitive inhibition vaccines for E. coli and antiprotozoal for coccidia.
When diarrhea strikes, remember to define the problem first. Then use these three tools in the toolbox to slow it down.
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