Herd health plans can be built around a checklist as shown in Table 1.2. A few of the differences between commercial, smallholder and pet pigs are highlighted. There are bound to be anomalies and each herd plan needs to be worked out on an individual basis between the pig owner and the practitioner. Small pig herds will have to decide whether they are to be considered as pets, small groups of pigs kept for home consumption (historically, backyard pig keepers kept four pigs from weaning to slaughter, three would be sold to pay for the food and the fourth would be eaten), breeding herds (catering for specialized meat production), pigs kept for rare breed survival or pigs kept for forest conservation. Pigs taken to agricultural shows are a potential zoonotic risk to the general public (Fig. 1.22). Also this practice should not be encouraged from a disease control point of view. The dangers of returning with a contagious disease are high. Pens of four pigs ready for slaughter are judged at Smithfield at Christmas. Obviously if these animals go on directly for slaughter, the home herd disease status is not compromised.
Fig. 1.14. A sow needs to be well contained.
Health plans can be for the whole pig-keeping operation on a farm or they can be for specific areas, e.g. the farrowing accommodation, the weaner pool, etc. Or health plans can just be for a specific important disease, e.g. herd plans for Salmonella.
Waste Management
Manure in a commercial situation is relatively straightforward. If it is combined with straw it can be heaped and then spread on the land. Obviously this is easy if the arable land is being farmed in tandem with the pigs. If this is not the case, a linked deal of ‘straw-for-muck’ has to be arranged. If the pigs are outdoor pigs then their fields need to be rotated with arable fields in rotation. If pigs are on slats or have another slurry-type system, the slurry needs to be stored in a lagoon for later disposal. Whatever system is employed, manure needs to be removed on a really regular basis and stored well away from the pigs to prevent a problem with flies. With one or two pet pigs the manure can easily be mulched on to a muckheap and dug into a vegetable garden. Smallholders need to give thought to muck disposal.
Fig. 1.15. Pigs need to have adequate restraint for examination.
Welfare Monitoring
Quality-oriented meat production has grown during the last decade and its aim is to improve the harmonization of product characteristics and consumer demands (Lambooij, 2012). Consumer concerns about quality are not limited solely to intrinsic characteristics, for example meat quality, but often include extrinsic aspects, such as environment and animal welfare in relation to production. Post-mortem measurements in the slaughterhouse provide valuable information for welfare evaluation. The meat inspection process needs to be standardized. Lesions arising from tail biting could contribute to the surveillance of animal welfare on-farm (Harley et al., 2012).
Fig. 1.16. Weaners can be controlled by holding their ears.
Pet Pigs
Introduction
The pig is becoming very popular as an outdoor and in some instances an indoor pet (Fig. 1.23). Pet pigs should be considered as companion animals. However, owners and veterinarians in the UK must remember that pet pigs require care like all farmed pigs and are subject to the various ‘diseases of animals’ legislation. Naturally they are also covered by any relevant ‘welfare of animals’ legislation. There are two traditional pet breeds, which are suitable for pet house-pigs. The most popular breed is the Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig, sometimes called the Chinese House Pig. However, the Kunekune pig from New Zealand is growing in popularity. These breeds grow to approximately a quarter to half the size of a commercial pig. Given proper training they can make safe and friendly pets.
Fig. 1.17. A bamboo stockade.
Feeding and notifiable diseases
Feeding pet pigs is a major problem. First of all there is a potential very serious disease risk from feeding of household scraps. This should be strictly forbidden to avoid the risk of the spread of notifiable diseases, principally foot and mouth disease (FMD) and swine fever (SF). However, this rule is likely to be disobeyed by pet pig owners (Fig. 1.24). Therefore a pet pig might easily be the focus of an outbreak of FMD. It is necessary to clean the feet of pigs being examined to determine whether there are vesicular lesions present; it is important to use only clean water, as detergents and disinfectants will kill the FMD virus and make confirmation difficult. Vesicles are more common on the feet than on the tongue, lips or snout.
Fig. 1.18. Pet pig shelters can be simple.
FMD should always be suspected if vesicular lesions are present, particularly if there is a high mortality in baby pigs. In older pigs morbidity is high but mortality is low.
The most common finding is the sudden onset of severe lameness. There is a high fever up to 41°C. The affected animals will have arched backs and be reluctant to move. If goaded they will squeal pitifully. They will be depressed and anorexic. The incubation period has been recorded as short as 2 days.
It must be remembered that a pig excretes 3000 times more virus particles than a cow, so it is vital that diagnosis is swift. Practitioners in the UK in any doubt should telephone the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and stay on the holding until a Veterinary Officer (VO) arrives. If a practitioner is fairly sure that the problem is not FMD, but has just a slight doubt, then there is no harm in telephoning another more experienced colleague in the practice or indeed from a neighbouring practice just to be on the safe side. However if FMD is suspected, obviously both practitioners must stay on the holding until a Government VO has arrived.
Fig. 1.19. Accommodation costs are low for outdoor pigs.
Fig. 1.20. Sharp tin is not acceptable even on a farm on the slopes of Mount Kenya.
