HERD HEALTH
PIH-93
pork industry handbook
PURDUE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Slaughter Checks-An Aid to Better Herd Health
Authors
Kenneth Meyer, Purdue University
LeRoy Biehl, University of Illinois
David Reeves, University of Georgia
Reviewers
Donald R. Barnes, Owensboro, Kentucky
Richard Nash, Sharpsville, Indiana
Willard Upchurch, Crossville, Tennessee
Diane and Gary Wallin, Milnor, North Dakota
Pork producers should have a herd health program to evaluate, on a routine basis, the health and management practices in the production unit. Evaluation is based on preset production goals and available options in health and/or management that might influence the attainment of those goals. The producer, the herd veterinarian and other professional advisors periodically update herd goals and set parameters which will aid in obtaining projected goals.

A good herd-health evaluation program includes on-farm inspections, laboratory diagnosis, necropsy of dead animals, examination of cull breeding stock and market animals at slaughter, evaluation of production records, financial record analysis and personal counseling. Written reports regarding findings and corrective measures to be implemented should be submitted by the veterinarian at frequent intervals to the management team.
Slaughter animals are an important, but often overlooked, source of health information. During a slaughter check, large numbers of animals can be examined in a relatively short period of time for evidence of disease and parasitism. Many of these health problems often cannot be efficiently detected in the live animal.

Purposes
The purpose of a slaughter check is to look for abnormal tissues so that specific problems can be identified and to monitor the effects of drug use, vaccination programs and management changes. With this information, the producer can work toward eliminating or controlling disease problems. A slaughter check reveals information about disease prevalence, severity of lesions and possible causes of disease that may not be apparent during a farm visit or an occasional necropsy. It is important to remember that the incidence and severity of disease, especially subclinical disease, must be evaluated with performance. Alterations in the herd health and management program must be considered carefully and expectations for improved performance must be realistic.
Pneumonia, atrophic rhinitis and parasite migration are the three primary disease problems investigated during a slaughter check. Other diseases such as mange, erysipelas, arthritis, mycobacteriosis and streptococcosis may be detected. Evaluation of the reproductive tract of slaughter sows may reveal evidence of possible causes of reproductive failure. Some veterinarians collect blood samples for serology and tissue or swabs for culture at the slaughter facility.

Pneumonia
Pneumonia in slaughter swine is common (Figure 1). These animals are rarely clinically ill, so it is seldom that carcasses are condemned because of the lesions. Monitoring the lungs of a group of slaughter hogs gives excellent information on the extent of the lung damage and possible causes. Mycoplasma, pasteurella, bordetella, actinobacillus (hemophilus), salmonella, lungworms, pseudorabies, influenza anc'. migrating roundworm
Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, state of Indiana, Purdue University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. H.A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30. 1914. The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution.