Pigs to Pork
SANITATION
Swine Sanitation
Richard Hollandbeck. Animal Sciences Department
AS-324 Feb., 1965
Swine production is the most important single source of the total agricultural income of Indiana. The more than 300 million dollar average annual gross income over the last few years is big business by any standard. It is a vital part of the Hoosier economy.
But this is the clean side of the board. What about the other side; the side showing the number of hogs that die and never reach the market and the dollar losses caused by unthrifty, unhealthy pigs ? Although recent reports from the Office of Federal-State Statistician (USDA), Purdue University show that nearly 10 percent of our hogs (excluding the real early baby pig losses but including losses of inshipments) die each year, the dollar losses caused by poor management, poor nutrition and poor disease and parasite control far exceed the death losses.
Many hog raisers have literally been "runout" of the business by parasites and filth-borne infections they have allowed to accumulate on their farms. If we could Pile up all the dead, sick, wormy, and unthrifty pigs resulting from poor sanitation practices on just one farm, it would be astounding. These losses attract very little attention. In fact, they have grown upon the industry so gradually, that in many cases, their cause is not recognized and they are looked upon as an accepted part of production
Practices.
^Problem? Yes
There are at least 12 kinds of infectious diseases, 3 kinds of external parasites and
5 kinds of internal parasites that can attack hogs and wipe out your margin of profit.
The problems of control of these organisms have multiplied as hog numbers have increased. More hogs are being raised in confined quarters which can become highly contaminated with disease organisms and parasites.
Answer? Prevention Not Cure
The irony of the situation is that you can do something about it.
Most diseases, ailments and abnormal conditions of swine are preventable to a large degree. Prevention through good management and sanitation is highly effective and economical for all Indiana hog raisers . It is truly the key to success--or disaster.
Sanitation Defined
Sanitation is defined as the application of all of the measures pertaining to health. This includes a consideration of all that can be done for the prevention of diseases and injurious parasites and the promotion of health.
Loosely defined in every day usage, sanitation is the prevention of disease and injurious parasite transmission. When an animal is infected, the organism can leave the body by numerous routes. The infecting organism can make its contact by any one of a half-dozen different routes. As it comes in contact with another susceptible hog, the spreading of the condition is complete.