Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
There are four basic products used for worming: doramectin, fenbendazole, ivermectin, and
levamisole. Although all of these products are good, one product used alone each time can
cause the worms to build up a tolerance, and it will not effectively reduce the worms your
pigs are carrying. In a rotational worming program, a different kind of wormer is used each
month until the internal parasites are brought down to a lower number. Once worms are not a
serious issue anymore, you can change to worming your pigs once every six months.
In most cases, you will not be able to tell that your pigs have worms unless they carry a heavy
infestation of parasites, but pay attention to your pigs' physical condition. If your pigs are
coughing, losing muscle tone or body weight, showing bad skin, have diarrhea, or show blood
in their feces, they might have worms. With a heavy infestation, they may shed worms in their
manure. At other times, your only sign may be that they are not gaining weight properly. Any
time your pigs seem to be doing poorly without an obvious reason, consider whether they
might have worms. It is a good idea to have your veterinarian test your herd for worms on a
routine basis to see what their status is and if you need to adjust your worming protocols.
Worm medicine can be given to your pigs in various ways, including injections, topically, or
in the feed and water. Topical application is usually the least effective of these methods be-
cause pigs have a tougher skin, and they do not absorb things through it easily. Taking medic-
ation orally usually works well as long as the medication is not being wasted in lost feed. You
will need to determine the proper dosage to give each pig based on its age and weight.
Good pen and pasture management will also allow you to reduce the parasite load. Rotate
pens and pastures when possible and allow them to sit empty for several months. This will kill
off many of the parasites because they will not find a host. Sunlight will do a great deal to
sterilize the soil and make it clean again. When pigs are using pens, clean them out regularly
so parasites from the manure do not linger and move into the ground.
External parasites
Pigs are also subject to several external parasites, which include lice and mites (which cause
mange), ticks, mosquitoes, and flies. Various insecticides are used to rid pigs of these pests,
some of them made specifically for swine. You will need to read labels carefully to under-
stand the precautions and apply them only as directed. Some insecticides have pre-slaughter
intervals, which means you will not be able to use them within a certain time before
slaughtering your pigs. Otherwise the chemicals in the insecticides might remain in the meat
when slaughtered. Make sure you have read the label and understand this information.
