SHELTER FOR PIGS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 61, 30 March 1937, Page 3

SHELTER FOR PIGS

Comfortable Housing Pays Big Dividends COMBATING PNEUMONIA Contrary to a prevaleut impression, good housing costs much less than bad in the long run. Disease due to bad housing are catarrh of the head, pneumonia and rheumatism. Where these diseases occur they can usually be traced to one or more of the following causes : — Insufficient shelter and draughty housing; damp flooring ; bad-ly-drained yards and pastures; overheating through crowding in small sties and subsequent chill; infection from nrevious cases of pneumonia. Pneumonia, commonly called {pants" hy the farmer, owing to the exaggeratcd action of the ribs and abdominal inuscles, is a common complaint among pigs. In addition to this symptom the pig has a high temperature, is off his r'ood, seeks a quiet, dark spot to lie in, and is not easily roused. There may ; also be coughing and a dischargge from , the eyes and nose. Sometimes the disease will occur very suddenly, with few or none of the above symptoms, and the animal will die within a few days. Young pigs are most affected, but tbe disease may attack animals of any age. The danger of this disease is that it tends to become infectious and spreads through the herd, causingi many deaths. Pigs bought from infected piggeries will introduce the disease into healthy stock. Treatment is rarely of much benefit, although pigs often recover . The recovered pigs usually are unthrifty, do not grow or put on fat, and often suffer afterwards from nervous disorders. It is rarely profitable to try to fatten a pig tbat has suffered at all severely from pneumonia, and further, the pig that has apparently recovered may be tbe means of spreading the disease among healthy stock. All affected pigiS should bo imniediately removed from the healthy, so that the disease shail not be spread. Prevention consists in paying attention to the housing and sanitation of the pig's quarters. Rheumatism is a disease characterised by lameness in one or more legs, swollen, painful joints, and sometimes oy partial paralysis of the limbs. The provision of warm, dry housing and well-drained yards is the only preventive measure, while the addition of a little Epsom salts and saltpetre to the food will .often cause improvement in 3ick animals. Heat apoplexy is a disease of pigs which is due to insufficient shelter and shade in hot weather. It oceurs in very fat animals, and is most likely co he noticed if the pigs are exereised or travelled in ihe lieafc of the day, but it may ofhen be seen in pigs without exereise if they are expnsed to 1b hnt sun without shade. There may he few warning signs, ihe fat pig simply failing over and br-com-ing unconsciou3. The condition is serious- Water poured over the head and snout will often be benefieial. Whisky or brandv in doses of a dessert to a tablespoonful may be given. Any other stimulant whieli is available also will be benefieial Prevention lie;- in providing shade in ihe hot weather, and not travelling or trucking fat pigs OB ©xcessivejy hot day«.