Vaccination of piglets from birth: schedule of necessary vaccinations

Pig vaccination plan

It is worth noting that in the first months of a piglet’s life, the foundation for the health and productivity of an adult is laid. That is why, in addition to iron, other preventive agents are also introduced into the body. Such vaccination is carried out in accordance with a special plan, which includes the following drugs:

• Vitamin and mineral complexes. Tetravit or trivit is administered into the body as an injection with a dosage of 1 drop per individual. Tricalcium phosphate is added to food in an amount depending on the weight and age of the baby. Aminovital is added to water.
• Vaccination against salmonellosis and pasteurellosis. The procedure is carried out at the end of the first month of the piglet’s life. For this purpose, specialized vaccines are used, which are administered 2 ml twice with an interval of 5-7 days.
• Swine fever vaccine. Implemented at the age of 1.5 months. Before administration, the product is diluted with saline solution.
• Vaccine against swine erysipelas. A special preparation in liquid form is used at 2-2.5 months from the birth of the baby. The product is administered in a volume of 0.3 ml. After 2 weeks, a second injection is carried out at a dosage of 0.5 ml. If the dry vaccine VR-2 is used, then repeated administration is carried out 30 days after the first injection.

From the middle of the piglet's second month of life, it is necessary to administer antiparasitic drugs. These include the following:

1. Ivermek. It is used once, based on the proportion of 1 mg of the drug for every 33 kg of animal weight. The injection is administered intramuscularly.
2. Levamisole. The anthelmintic is also administered intramuscularly. The injection is carried out once at a dosage of 1 mg per 10 kg of animal weight.
3. Tetramizole. The drug is available in the form of granules. The animal is fed after preliminary mixing with food. The dosage is 0.75 g per 10 kg of weight.

Preventive measures against worms and pseudorabies

Vaccination of pigs against worms is mandatory. Parasites can cause a number of dangerous diseases in animals. They disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and interfere with normal weight gain in piglets.

Animals are vaccinated 8 days after birth. Today, many antihelminthic drugs are sold. Before purchasing the product, be sure to consult your veterinarian.

Foreign medicines “Dectomax” and “Panacur” are especially popular among farmers. The administration of drugs is carried out in strict compliance with the instructions. For highly effective deworming, it is better to use one product. After 2.5 months, this procedure should be repeated.

Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) often ends in the death of piglets, so 16-30 days after birth they need to be given a cultural vaccine.

Before three weeks of age, the drug is administered subcutaneously, and after 21 days - intramuscularly. The next vaccination is done 3-4 weeks later, and the third – 140 days after birth.

Vaccination schedule

As we said above, you can only obtain a vaccination schedule for your herd by consulting a veterinarian. Only a competent specialist can draw up an adequate vaccination schedule, taking into account all the characteristics of your herd. However, before you go to him, you can still study the vaccination schedule presented in the table.

Table 1. Vaccination and administration of other injections to piglets from birth at home

How and when to vaccinate will be determined not only by the age, weight and health of the pig, but also by many other factors.

Provided that you did not raise the piglets yourself, but bought them from another farmer, and you were not given certificates of vaccination of the individuals, this means that the piglets were not vaccinated. Therefore, you will need to do this:

• relocate the purchased individuals to quarantine, which will last for a month;
• provided that no diseases are detected, treat the piglets for helminths;
• then administer the vaccines.

Piglets need anthelmintic treatment

As we have already said, it is not necessary for a veterinarian to give injections to animals, therefore, you should learn to carry out this procedure yourself. We'll see how to do it correctly in the next section.

Rules for the use of vaccines

After birth, the piglets’ bodies must become stronger so that they can be given an injection. Before vaccination, animals must undergo deworming. Vaccination of newborns begins no earlier than 3 days after birth. Weak and sick animals are not immunized.

Before using animal vaccinations, pig farm owners must adhere to the following rules:

• vaccinate completely healthy pigs (if piglets are sick, they should be treated with serum and antibiotics);
• Vaccines for pigs should only be stored in cool places;
• strictly follow the dose indicated in the instructions for the vaccine;
• select the right place on the animal’s body for vaccination.

Regarding the last point, for example, if the recommendations indicate that the vaccine should be administered under the skin, then such an injection cannot be given intramuscularly.

What vaccinations are required?

From about the tenth day of life, piglets are considered strong enough for more serious and important vaccinations. What vaccinations are mandatory for piglets are indicated below. However, first of all, it is worth noting that if the breeder does not have papers stating that he has carried out all these vaccinations on the animals, he will not be able to legally sell meat and lard.

Among all the vaccinations given to piglets, this is one of the most important!

• Vaccination against rickets is given at the age of 10 days. Potassium and calcium are injected into piglets, but this is only partial prevention. In addition, each pig is fed with chalk and fish oil. They can be added to the feed or simply dripped into the mouth of young animals. It is also possible, but not necessary, to give Tetravit vitamins to pigs to improve immunity.
• Piglets are vaccinated against salmonellosis, streptococcosis and pasteurellosis from the 20th day of life. For vaccinations, the drugs SPS and PPd are used. SPS is administered 2 ml intramuscularly twice with a break of a week. Then the procedure is repeated on day 27, only 4 ml of the drug is taken, not 2 ml. PPD is administered 3-4 mm per piglet twice – on the 20th day and on the 27th day.
• They are vaccinated against plague when the pigs are 40-45 days old. The drug, which is usually brought by the veterinarian himself, is diluted in 0.9% saline and administered intramuscularly. Revaccination occurs at 85-100 days of life.
• On the 45th day, pigs can be vaccinated against leptospirosis. It is done in 2 steps. The first vaccination is carried out on the 45th day, the second exactly 1 week later. The drug for the disease is called VGNKI, but there are many variations of it, it’s just that this one is used most often and has a reasonable price.
• Vaccination against erysipelas is carried out on the 60-70th day. This disease is not only dangerous for pigs, but also painful. Among all the vaccinations given to piglets, this is one of the most important! The vaccine is always produced in dry form. It is diluted in saline and injected behind the ear of piglets. The first vaccination is carried out on the 60th day, the pigs are injected with 0.5 ml, another month later (on the 90th day) a second injection of 1 ml should be given. The third vaccination is carried out at 7 months (210-214 days). Each pig is injected with 1 ml of the drug behind the ear.

Vaccination of piglets against plague

Classical swine fever is a dangerous, highly contagious disease that affects pigs of all breeds and ages. The first vaccination can be given to small piglets at the age of 20–23 days. Before use, the product must be diluted in saline solution 0.9%. The injection is given intramuscularly. Repeated vaccination against plague is carried out after two months.

To immunize pigs against plague, the dry avirulent lipinized vaccine ASV is used. Dry cultured virus-vaccine VGNKI and virus-vaccine LK-VNIIVViM are also used. After vaccination, the formation of immunity occurs on days 5–7. Immune protection lasts throughout the year. Pigs are revaccinated against plague annually.

Vaccine against classical swine fever

Vaccination rules

Pigs must be vaccinated against erysipelas, colibacillosis, salmonellosis, plague, pasteurellosis, streptococcosis. Additionally, to strengthen the immune potential, animals are given injections of mineral and vitamin preparations. Also, newborn piglets need to be injected with iron (iron complexes).

It is very important to observe and adhere to the schedule of preventive vaccinations and revaccinations established by a veterinarian. Veterinarians will make it easier for farmers to carry out the vaccination plan at home, determine what vaccinations animals need, and how to give an injection to a small piglet yourself

Preventive immunization is a mandatory procedure for piglets, which will allow you to raise a strong, healthy pig population

Timely vaccination will prevent small piglets from becoming infected with various deadly infections. The vaccination plan is standard for pigs, regardless of their breed. Farmers should consult a veterinarian to apply a vaccination schedule for newborn piglets at home. A specialist will determine what vaccinations pigs need

Preventive immunization is a mandatory procedure for piglets, which will allow you to raise a strong, healthy pig population. Timely vaccination will prevent small piglets from becoming infected with various deadly infections. The vaccination plan is standard for pigs, regardless of their breed. Farmers should consult a veterinarian to apply a vaccination schedule for newborn piglets at home. The specialist will determine what vaccinations the pigs need.

When vaccinating small pigs, you need to take into account the breed and weight of the piglet. For example, the Vietnamese breed requires a lower dose of vaccine than regular white pigs. Vaccinations are given to Vietnamese piglets from birth only to prevent anemia and replenish the necessary vitamins in their bodies. Only clinically healthy piglets are vaccinated. The first vaccination is given at three days of age to prevent the development of anemia. Use a 2 ml solution of Ferranimal, Ferroglucan iron. The injection is given intramuscularly behind the ear. Piglets are vaccinated for three days. They give one injection per day. Vaccination is best done in the morning.

Anemia caused by a lack of iron in the body is treated by adding a solution of 15 g of iron sulfate and 1.5 g of copper sulfate to the daily diet of small animals. The solution is diluted in warm water. Iron is given to piglets one teaspoon in the first 18–20 days.

To prevent the development of rickets in babies, preventive vaccination with calcium and potassium preparations is carried out on the tenth day of life. Additionally, pigs can be given Tetravit, Trivit, other complex vitamin preparations, and oil solutions of vitamins. One drop per day per pig is enough.

For lactating sows, tricalcium phosphate and water-soluble vitamins are added to the feed. In drinking water - Chiktonik, Aminovital and Multivit.

In the first month of life, piglets, starting from 20 days of age, are comprehensively immunized against salmonellosis, streptococcosis, and pasteurellosis. These are the most dangerous infections for young animals, which can cause the death of the entire livestock. For vaccination, injection solutions of PPd and SPS are used. The first drug is administered at the rate of 3–4 ml per head. A week later - a second injection of 4 ml. The second drug is administered intramuscularly at a dose of 2 ml.

How to inject a pig

It is extremely important to feel confident and not be afraid to inject a pig yourself at home. Be sure to correctly identify the area where the injection will be given. Veterinarians determine a number of standard ways of administering medications. In a veterinary clinic, injections are given subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously.

Doctors use intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intrasternal and intra-aortic methods. The mucous membrane of the eye serves as a site for applying the medicinal solution.

For an inexperienced farmer, it is optimal to use subcutaneous and intramuscular methods for applying the drug. It is better to choose the inner part of the thigh for grafting, because the fiber is developed and the skin is quite thin. Body part suitable for subcutaneous injection. The area behind the ear is used for injections in newborn piglets. In order to subcutaneously inject the necessary drug into small cubs, a small fold of skin of the animal is pinched with the left hand, pulled back a little, and the resulting triangular area is inoculated with a needle.

The needle passes painlessly under the skin, so subcutaneous administration is used for babies. It is important to perform manipulations in the correct order so as not to cause pain to the pet.

In the upper region of the animal's hind legs, the muscles are developed and are therefore ideal for intramuscular injection. The farmer should position the needle strictly perpendicular to the skin surface and, with a sharp movement of the hand, inject the vaccine into the muscle.

Subcutaneous injection of vaccines is used for small piglets

A significant role in the vaccination of animals is determined by both the dexterity and skill of administering injections, and the preliminary preparation of the individual. In order to give an injection to a small animal, an assistant is needed. Pets are playful, so one person holds the animal tightly, the other calmly injects it. Injecting an adult pig is relatively simple. The animal habitually lets its familiar owner approach. You can scratch behind the ear or belly, then the pig calmly lies on its side and freezes. At this point, the injection is quickly administered both subcutaneously and intramuscularly. Larger boars must be secured with a snout loop.

Vaccinations after farrowing

Immediately after birth, no injections can be given; the body of little pigs is still too weak. Vaccination is allowed only on days 3-4. There is a mandatory list of vaccinations that must be given to all newborn pigs.

For anemia

The disease is caused by a lack of iron in the body, so iron-containing drugs are used for prevention:

• Ferranimal;
• Feroglyukin.

When 3 days have passed since birth, each pig is given 2 ml of suspension behind the ear. Injections are given 3 days in a row, preferably in the morning. Repeated administration is prescribed on days 10-14 and a week before the piglet is weaned. The dosage for Vietnamese piglets is lower than for ordinary white piglets and is 1.5 ml of solution per head.

First vaccination of a 3 week old piglet.

Additionally, the diet of young pigs is enriched with a solution of iron sulfate (15 g) and copper sulfate (1.5 g). They are bred in warm water and given to the piglet 1 tsp. per day for 3 weeks.

Each individual is given a suspension individually. If you add the drug to the drinker, there is a high probability that one pig will receive too much iron, while the other will not touch the water at all.

Against rickets

The disease develops slowly. The young animals are stunted in growth, begin to chew on the walls, the feeder, then bowed legs and lameness appear. For prevention, piglets are given calcium and potassium supplements on the 10th day of life. Additionally, they are given vitamin complexes and fish oil. Weanlings are fed hydrolyzed whey 2 ml per day. The food is enriched with crushed chalk, shells, and limestone.

Rickets is dangerous for both piglets and adult pigs.

An additional preventive measure against rickets is irradiation of pigs with a quartz lamp. The procedure is carried out 7-10 times every other day.

Complex vaccines

These vaccines are designed to protect livestock against several diseases at once. They are used in large farms with large livestock and in unfavorable epidemiological conditions.

The following drugs are recommended:

• PPP vaccine. It is administered intramuscularly behind the ear in a dose of 2 cc. see. Repeat the injection after 8-10 days. Immunity to these diseases is formed 12 days after the second vaccination and lasts up to 5 months.
• VERRES-SPS(). It is administered in a dose of 2 cc. cm twice with a 10-day interval.
• If the situation on the farm is unfavorable for salmonellosis, enterococcal infection and pasteurellosis, a complex PPD vaccine is used. It is administered to piglets 20-30 days after birth and to pregnant sows 15-30 days before farrowing. Pigs need to be given PPD intramuscularly on the back of the thigh.

Injections are given to young animals 2 times with an interval of 7 days. The dosage for the first vaccination is 3 cc. cm, for the second - 5 cubic meters. cm.

Scheme of administration of PPD for pregnant sows:

• 40 days before farrowing – 5 cubes of solution;
• 30 days before farrowing – 10 cubes;
• 20 days – 10 cubes.

When purchasing drugs, carefully inspect the bottle and make sure the drug is authentic.
Some individuals experience a local and general reaction after administration of a complex vaccine. Local – in the form of a swelling on the skin. The general reaction is expressed by an increase in temperature, general depression, and refusal to eat. These symptoms are short-lived and disappear within 1-2 days.

Vaccination against plague

Classical plague is a dangerous disease caused by a virus. Transmission occurs from one pig to another. Manifested by fever, damage to blood vessels and intestines. The plague causes great damage to the farmstead, since sick animals are not treated. They either die on their own or are slaughtered for meat.

Destruction of carcasses of swine fever infected.

The infection is transmitted through contaminated food, water, and manure. To prevent an epidemic among livestock, it is necessary to vaccinate against plague. The following vaccines are used:

• DIA;
• VNIIVViM;
• KS;
• SUIMUN KCHS.

Before purchasing, it is better to ask your veterinarian which vaccine will be more effective for your region. The vaccination is done on the 45th day and 120th day from birth. Immunity in pigs begins to develop within a week after vaccination.

This is the entire list of mandatory vaccinations for newborn piglets. However, vaccination does not end there. It is better to discuss the further vaccination schedule with your veterinarian.

To save yourself from anemia

Vaccination with a solution that contains iron is one of the first things to be done after the piglet is born. In pig farms, the injection is performed on the 4th day after birth. Farmers administer the vaccine to animals themselves, taking into account the recommendations of experienced doctors. This procedure is performed to prevent iron deficiency anemia.

Most often, 2 ml of Ferranimal is used per newborn. The vaccine must be injected behind the ear every day. Animals are vaccinated over 3 days at the same time of day.

To treat iron deficiency anemia, together with vaccination, small animals should be given 1.5 g of copper sulfate and 15 g of ferrous sulfate solution in their daily diet. The substances used should be diluted in 1 liter of water and given to animals 5 ml every day, and adult pigs should be given a solution from a trough.

Vaccination against erysipelas

At 60-70 days (or two months and a week), piglets are vaccinated against erysipelas. This is a skin disease that causes great discomfort and suffering to animals. The vaccine is available in dry form, which must be diluted in saline according to the instructions and injected into the piglets in liquid form behind the ear. The first dose of 0.5 ml is given at 2 months, then a month later a second injection of the vaccine is given with a dosage of 1 ml. The last revaccination is done after 5 months in an amount of 1 ml.

As a result, the piglet must receive three vaccinations against erysipelas - at two months, at three and at seven months. If at the time of the first vaccination against erysipelas the pig was more than 4 months old, then it is injected with 1 ml of vaccine, and a second injection is given after 5 months with an amount of 1 ml.

The video below demonstrates what complications can arise in pigs after an injection against a disease such as erysipelas. Practical advice from a veterinarian and farmer will tell you how not to be afraid of such consequences and eliminate them at home.

Vaccination against erysipelas

This disease occurs quite often in piglets. The contagious disease causes severe pain to animals and can affect their skin. A latent infection can become open at any time. The virus of this disease is often spread by flies. To prevent an outbreak of the disease, a dry vaccine from the erysipelas strain BP-2 is used.

The first vaccination is performed 60 days after birth and 1 ml of vaccine is administered via intramuscular injection. The immune preparation is used again after 30 days. The same preventive measures should be taken when animals reach eight months of age.

During an outbreak of the disease, piglets must first be isolated and then undergo forced vaccination, without taking into account the timing of previous vaccination.

After using the drug, animals may experience a sharp rise in temperature, as well as lethargy and decreased appetite. In this case, no treatment is required, and all symptoms will go away on their own.

Enzyme growth stimulants, phosphatides for pigs

Phosphatides are substances containing phosphorus. They are obtained by refining vegetable oils. Phosphatides include a polyhydric alcohol, fatty acids, phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous base.

Phosphatides must be diluted with hot boiled water and mixed in the proportion of 1 g of the drug per 1 kg of weight of a pig under four months of age and 0.8 g of phosphatides per 1 kg of weight of a pig over four months old. These substances are used to accelerate the growth of the animal and are given to young pigs.

Enzyme stimulants are substances of organic origin. They are made from healthy animal organs - liver, kidneys, testicles, pancreas, spleen. Stimulants are administered subcutaneously to animals in the following dosages:

• piglets – 1–2 ml;
• adult pigs – 5 ml;
• gilts – 3 ml.

Enzyme stimulants are injected into pigs throughout their lives every ten days. Injections are stopped ten days before slaughter.

Prevention of colibacillosis

Colibacillosis is an acute disease from which pigs often die. For preventive measures, polyvalent serum is used. This substance is administered to animals in an amount of 9-10 ml 5 days after birth, and 10-15 ml is administered to piglets older than five days of age.

As an antiparasitic agent, after 2 and 3 months from birth, young animals need to be injected with Ivermek, a drug that has low toxicity and excellent therapeutic efficacy at a small dosage. Piglets are given an injection in the cervical region, independently calculating the required dosage (1 ml of product per 33 kg). Read more in the article “Using Ivermek for pigs.”

After 50, 57 and 60 days, experts recommend injecting young pigs with PDE - a tissue preparation made from human placenta and which can significantly increase the safety of piglets. This substance is used for preventive measures against diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Vaccination of sows

Without timely scheduled vaccinations, the management of each pig farm will not be sufficiently effective. 10 days before insemination, the female should be injected with the drug “Ivermec”. This remedy is used against lice, worms, and subcutaneous gadflies. This drug is also used for preventive measures against certain skin diseases.

Sows are vaccinated against erysipelas every 6 months and given a distemper vaccine once a year. For females, you can add vitamin preparations “Imultivit”, “Aminovital”, “Chiktonik” to the daily diet. If you are interested in information about beneficial microelements for animals, be sure to read the article “About vitamins for pigs and piglets.”

Pregnant sows must be vaccinated against salmonellosis 45 days before the expected birth and, after 10 days, re-immunized. 30 days before farrowing, a pregnant female needs to be injected with a vaccine against pig erysipelas. For high-quality colostral immunity in piglets, sows are given an inactivated vaccine twice 21 and 17 days before the end of gestation.

After farrowing, the animal is not given any vaccinations.

To create conditions under which piglets are less susceptible to viral diseases, farmers need to ensure optimal cleanliness and temperature conditions in the room, as well as proper ventilation.

Please give this a like and maybe it will help prevent some piglet from getting sick.

Injection for rickets

On the 10th day of age, piglets are given a vaccine for preventive measures against rickets. This drug contains calcium and sodium components. In addition to vaccinations, children can add fish oil, shellfish, limestone and chalk to their daily diet. They are mixed into the animals' food or introduced into the mouth using a spoon or syringe without a needle.

In addition to preventive measures against rickets, special mercury-quartz lamps are used. These devices are designed to destroy a variety of viral infections on the piglet or in its environment.

This quartz treatment is used upon reaching ten days of age. For a full course you need to carry out 7 procedures; to get a good effect you need to do it every other day. As a comprehensive measure, vitamin preparations can also be added to the animals’ diet.

Vaccination of one-month-old piglets

Most vaccinations are given to piglets before they are one month old. However, there are also those that need to be put after. These include medications against:

• leptospirosis;
• foot and mouth disease;
• encephalitis;
• aueski;
• faces.

Prevention of leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets

It is very dangerous for pigs, which is why it is so important to carry out timely prevention, which involves the administration of the drug VGNKI

Piglets are vaccinated at 1.5 months of age. The drug is re-administered exactly after 7 days

It is very important to maintain a certain interval between injections. If you do not revaccinate, the effect of the first injection may disappear.

Prevention of erysipelas

Between 60 and 70 days they give an injection for erysipelas. This skin disease causes a lot of inconvenience to animals. Dry erysipelas vaccine is available in powder form. Accordingly, it needs to be diluted. Water cannot be used for dilution; only saline solution is permissible. Dilute the medicine according to the instructions, after which an injection is given behind the ear.

You need to repeat the injection against erysipelas 2 more times. 1 ml of vaccine is administered 1 month after the first vaccination. After another 5 months, the injection is given again (1 ml).

Prevention against encephalitis

Encephalitis is a dangerous disease that in most cases leads to the death of piglets. Only small pigs aged from 1 month to 3 years get sick. If we talk about the list of mandatory injections, then an injection for encephalitis or, as it is also called, Teschen’s disease is not one of them. Each farmer must decide for himself how important this procedure is. But experts recommend playing it safe and vaccinating young animals. Pigs are vaccinated at 2 months of age. There is no need to re-inject.

Prevention of Aujeszky's disease

Aujeszky is a disease unique to pigs. It affects the central nervous system of animals. The list of mandatory vaccinations does not include an injection against Aujesca. But in order to protect young and adult artiodactyls, it is advisable to vaccinate them with a special drug at 2 weeks of age. The injection is given again after 20 days. For vaccination, a dry culture virus vaccine is used.

It is important to know that the disease is extremely difficult to treat. Probability of death exceeds 90%

Prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease

Another injection that is not on the standard schedule is an injection against Foot and Mouth Disease. This injection is not included in the list of mandatory ones, due to the fact that the disease is quite rare. However, if pigs get sick, it is quite difficult to cure them. In addition, the disease is severe.

Young animals need to be pricked at 90 days of age. The dose of the medicine is calculated based on the weight of the animal.

We have not listed all the diseases, focusing only on the most dangerous ones. But recently, farmers are increasingly faced with circovirus infection, so it would not be a bad idea to vaccinate against it.

Vaccination of newborns

In the first days, no injections can be given due to the fact that the body of newborn pigs is very weak. Vaccinations for newborn piglets begin at least 3 days after birth. The first vaccinations of piglets can be done at home yourself. But it is better for the process to be supervised by a veterinarian. If something goes wrong, he will be able to help.

Prevention of anemia

The first vaccination of piglets occurs around the 4th day after birth. If the body is not yet strong, then it is better to postpone it for 3-4 days. According to the vaccination table, piglets are first vaccinated against anemia. The vaccination is done behind the ear. Use Ferranimal iron solution. An alternative may be Ferroglukin. The drug is administered intramuscularly. They give the vaccine against anemia for 3 days in a row. It is advisable to administer the drug in the morning. If pigs are diagnosed with iron deficiency, then a solution of iron sulfate and copper sulfate are added to their diet. The drugs are diluted in boiled water.

Each pig is soldered with the drug separately. If you pour medicine into a drinking bowl, some piglets will drink more than normal, while others may not touch the solution at all.

Prevention of rickets

After 10 days, they are vaccinated against rickets. Any preparation containing potassium and calcium is suitable as a vaccine. You need to get vaccinated even if there are no signs of bone weakness. To prevent the appearance and development of rickets, in addition to vaccination, crushed chalk, shells, fish oil or limestone are added to animal feed.

You can also carry out the quartzing procedure. But it will be effective only if the pig goes through a 14-day course (1 day - procedure, 1 day - rest). Quartzing is allowed to be done when newborns reach the age of 10 days.

Prevention of salmonellosis

One of the most important vaccinations is the salmonellosis vaccine. This disease is not fatal, but it is severe and can cause complications. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. There may be healthy pigs on the farm that are carriers of salmonella. That is why it is so important to vaccinate against this disease.

Vaccination occurs in 2 stages. The first vaccination is given at the age of 20 days. Repeat the procedure a week later. During vaccination, drugs are used that prevent the development of not only salmonellosis, but also pasteurellosis with streptococcosis. All 3 diseases belong to the group of infectious diseases. The medicine suigard is effective against salmonellosis.

Prevention of pasteurellosis

Vaccination of piglets against pasteurellosis at home can be done separately using PPD and SPS preparations. When using the drug, follow the instructions. When using the PPD drug, vaccination is carried out twice with an interval of 6 days. One pig is injected with 4 g of vaccine. As for the SPS drug, vaccination occurs three times. The interval between the first two vaccinations is 8 days. The third vaccination is given to the piglet only after 30 days.

In addition to the above medications, newborn piglets should be given vitamins. Oil solutions are popular; it is enough to give 1 ml for each piglet.

Prevention of plague

Plague is perhaps the most dangerous disease for pigs. It is extremely difficult to treat and spreads very quickly. When infected with plague, almost all artiodactyls living in the barn become infected in a short time, which is why it is so important to prevent the epidemic. The swine fever vaccine is effective and available.

When should piglets be vaccinated against plague? In theory, it is possible to vaccinate against this disease as early as the 20th day. But experts recommend vaccinating pigs at the age of 40 days. Some sources write that pigs need to be injected for plague at 1.5 months. If before this time a plague epidemic does not begin in the pigsty, then the option is acceptable. However, it is better not to take risks, since the immunity of young pigs is not yet formed.

Regardless of when the first injection was given, revaccination is carried out. The swine fever vaccine is reintroduced after 45 days. The medicine is sold in powder form. The classical swine fever vaccine should be diluted before use. Plain water cannot be used for this, so in addition to the medicine, they also purchase saline solution.

The anti-plague drug VNIIViM has proven itself on the market. SUIMUN CSF LK-M and KS vaccines are also popular. Before purchasing a vaccine, you should definitely consult a veterinarian, who will probably know which strain is most effective in the region.

In addition to the classical plague, the African plague poses a danger. This disease occurs rarely in our country. Unfortunately, there is no cure for it today. To protect animals from African swine fever, it is necessary to provide high-quality care for them and observe sanitary and hygienic standards in pigsties.

Prevention of worms

Piglets must be vaccinated against worms. These parasites do not cause dangerous diseases, but they can provoke disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, and this can lead to slow weight gain. In addition, some helminths are quite dangerous and can cause serious diseases.

Vaccination of pigs against worms occurs already on the 8th day of their life. There are many antihelminthics on the market. It is advisable to consult a veterinarian before purchasing. Panacur and Dectomax are popular. These are foreign drugs, which affects the pricing policy. But they are still the best on the market. Administer medications according to instructions.

Deworming involves the use of a single medication. After 11 weeks, the deworming procedure is repeated.

This is where the vaccinations for small piglets are completed. The remaining medications are administered to individuals who have reached the age of 1 month.

Vaccination against swine fever

Classical plague is first on the list of dangerous diseases of pigs. This infection is caused by a virus that affects 95–100% of unvaccinated livestock. The mortality rate is 60–100% of the number of cases! Other animals do not suffer from this infection; it is dangerous only for domestic pigs and wild boars. When plague occurs on a farm, all sick people are killed and the corpses are burned. Therefore, outbreaks of infection cause great damage to pig farms.

Vaccination of piglets against swine fever is mandatory. One of the following vaccines is used for vaccination:

• "KS";
• "ABC";
• VGNKI virus vaccine;
• virus vaccine LK-VNIIVViM.

The vaccine is given intramuscularly according to the following scheme:

• the first on days 45–47;
• the second at 120.

But sometimes it is advisable to vaccinate piglets at a later age - at 65 and 145 days from birth.

Revaccination against swine fever is carried out every year.

Prevention of foot and mouth disease, encephalitis, leptospirosis

At two months, piglets are vaccinated against encephalitis (Teschen disease). Given that this injection is not included in the general vaccination scheme, farmers must decide whether their pigs need an injection. If necessary, children are vaccinated against encephalitis once. The injection is given intramuscularly.

Individuals from one month to three years are susceptible to the infectious disease. If an animal contracts encephalitis, the disease invariably ends in death.

The same applies to vaccination of pigs against foot and mouth disease. The injection is not included in the standard immunization regimen. The injection is given to a piglet at the age of 2–2.5 months. Immunolactan is used in a volume of 0.4 mg up to 90 days of age. Senior pigs require 0.1 mg per kilogram of live weight. Approximate vaccination schedule for piglets, table:

Why vaccinate piglets?

Diseases in pigs are highly unpredictable. Some pass unnoticed, others lead to the death of the animal, and still others can cause a real epidemic. There are also ailments that affect the quality of meat and lard, and subsequently they cannot be eaten. Diseases of young piglets are terrible because they can lead to death.

Experienced breeders take animals to the veterinarian and give them a full range of vaccines

Any pigs that have died from disease should not be allowed to be butchered! This is, of course, prohibited in all countries. And who would risk eating the meat of a sick animal? All this leads to large losses for the breeder and can negatively affect the business. But, in addition, a sick animal can harm a person. There are a number of diseases, led by worms, which are very often transmitted from pigs. That is why experienced breeders, without thinking about what vaccinations they give their piglets, take the animals to the veterinarian and get a full range of vaccines against all the most common and well-known ailments.

Vaccination against erysipelas of pigs

Erysipelas is a common bacterial disease that infects domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. A special feature of the infection is its stationary nature. The incidence does not exceed 20–30%, which is associated with natural resistance or latent transmission of the disease earlier. Lactating piglets are protected by antibodies transmitted through mother's milk.

pig mug

However, swine erysipelas causes great economic damage to farms. Some of the sick animals die, and treating the disease requires money. Another point is that the pathogen may remain in the pigs’ body for a long time without showing itself in any way. But as housing and feeding conditions worsen, immunity weakens and an outbreak of erysipelas occurs in the herd without the introduction of infection from outside. Therefore, the only correct solution is the universal vaccination of pigs both in large pig farms and in private farmsteads.

Piglets are vaccinated against swine erysipelas with one of the domestically produced vaccines.

1. “Deposited vaccine against swine erysipelas” (liquid). The first injection is given at the age of 2 months, and repeated two weeks later. Revaccination is done another month later.
2. “Vaccine against swine erysipelas from strain BP-2.”

The vaccination schedule with the latest drug is as follows:

• on day 60;
• on days 85–90;
• at 240.

Or at 74, 104 and 260 days.

Adult animals require booster vaccination every 5 months. Piglets are excluded from antibiotics for 7 days before and after the procedure. Vaccination against swine erysipelas can be combined with the administration of most vaccines.