Animal Health Planning for Pigs Maximize your herds potential

The primary aim of an animal health plan (AHP) is to promote health by managing identified health problems so that they can be controlled by prevention.

Pig farmers can improve the health, welfare and productivity of their pigs through health planning. An AHP is a continuous improvement approach that encourages the development of health building and disease control measures appropriate to the particular farm.

What are the benefits of an Animal Health Plan?

The benefits of implementing an AHP are widespread, and can include:

• Improved farm profits; • Improved herd performance – unhealthy or diseased stock will never perform to their potential; • Better stock health and welfare; • Improved sustainability; • Less dependency on veterinary medicines.

What is an Animal Health Plan?

A health plan is a formalised document that outlines the key areas of health risk to your herd and documents the preventative measures (such as biosecurity arrangements, vaccination programmes, and medication programmes). Drawn up in conjunction with your vet, the AHP will enable you to determine the health status of your herd and identify which diseases are present. You will then be able to take action to protect against or deal with the effects of the diseases that threaten the health and well-being of your herd.

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June 2019

Funding towards a Bespoke Herd Health Plan!

Menter Moch Cymru aims to help Welsh pig farmers lift herd profitability and performance by improving herd health.

Eligible pig farmers can access 80% funding towards an initial herd health plan, followed by further support in subsequent years for its review.

Visit www.mentermochcymru.co.uk to find out more.

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FAC

TSH

EET Health planning involves the following steps:

1. Assessing the performance of the herd

Most farm health plans start by listing some key details about the farm and personnel as well as contact details for the vet and main suppliers.

In order to effectively reduce both disease and medicine use, it is necessary to understand what the current levels are, and therefore a disease recording and monitoringsystem needs to be in place. Recording medicine use and existing vaccination programmes along with timings of routine management events gives the vet an overview of how the herd is managed.

In addition, details about the herd, such as numbers, breed, age profile and basic performance figures on litter size, number of piglets weaned, growth rate and feed consumption enables the level of productivity of the herd to be determined.

2. Identifying any risks that could threaten the performance or health of the herd

The existing health status of the herd can be determined through health screening which involves the vet taking blood and faecal samples for routine laboratory testing. Typically, a herd would be tested for a range of common pig diseases, such as:

• Scouring in young pigs • PRRS virus (Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome/blue ear) • Enzootic Pneumonia (Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae) • Swine Dysentery (Brachyspira hyodysenteriae) • Porcine circovirus type 2, PCV2 (PMWS) • Sarcoptic Mange and Worms, Etc.

The veterinary health plan will be written based on the information collected on farm and from the laboratory test results of faecal and blood samples.

The plan should consider each identified disease and establish how the risk factors can be reduced or eliminated, starting with those diseases identified as the main problems on the farm from the monitoring/screening process.

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EET 3. Preventing and managing the risks

Preventing new infections entering the pig herd by effective biosecurity is essential in maintaining the health of your herd. An effective biosecurity action plan is a critical part of health planning.

Controlling the spread of infections within the farm is through good management, by maintaining high standards of hygiene and preventive treatment programmes within an effective health plan.

For more information on practical biosecurity measures, take a look at the Menter Moch Cymru Biosecurity Factsheet available on the website. Whilst there, why not order your free Foot Dip Sign?

An effective rodent control plan will also reduce the risk of spread of disease within the herd and every effort should be made to exclude birds from buildings. This is particularly important if the farm is in an area where there are populations of wild boar.

Vaccination programmes form an important part of proactive health management.

A treatment plan for the herd should be developed with the vet making sure that medicines are used correctly and safely and that animals get any necessary medical treatment at the correct time and with the correct dose.

When medication is used, it should be recorded in the medicines book and added to the AHP. An alternative way of recording medicine and antibiotic use is through the online electronic Medicine Book for Pigs at www.emb-pigs.ahdb.org.uk which acts as the full legal medicine book for the pig holding.

4. Responding by making changes and setting targets

An Action Plan will form part of the AHP. This will set out measurable targets to work towards with the aim of improving the health and productivity of the herd. Targets could include increasing the number of piglets born/reared, reducing the time to get sows back in pig post weaning or any other areas of production agreed between farmer and the vet. Any changes or targets agreed must be achievable and within the scope of the farm.

Order your FREE bilingual sign today.

Archebwch eich arwydddwyieithog am DDIM.

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Be SMART!Ensure your plan is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based.

Setting SMART targets is one of the best ways of agreeing and achieving health planning objectives.

FAC

TSH

EET 5. Monitoring the changes

Maintaining performance and health records is an essential element of the AHP process. In addition to the items listed already, records should be kept of all deaths or abnormalities within the herd including death as a result of disease such as scour, lameness, stillbirths and casualty pigs. Keeping records of genetic defects such as blind teats and ruptures will facilitate their eradication from the herd.

Record keeping enables informed decisions to be made on whether further or different measures are adopted into future health plans.

6. Re-evaluation

The health plan is a working document requiring continual re-evaluation. Updating a health plan will allow you to see if a farm is ultimately delivering the health, welfare and performance levels required.

The AHP can be updated regularly by including information from some or all of the following sources:

• Vet reports from samples and post mortem• Health investigation documents, such as laboratory reports • Slaughterhouse condemnation reports• Medicines Record Book

Your AHP should also be reviewed at least once a year by your vet and updated accordingly. Eligible holdings in Wales can access funding towards this through Menter Moch Cymru. Visit the website or contact the team today to find out more!

© Menter Moch Cymru 2019. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission in writing of Menter Moch Cymru, other than by reproduction in an unmodified form for the sole purpose of use as an information resource when Menter Moch Cymru is clearly acknowledged as the source, or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. While Menter Moch Cymru seeks to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of printing, no warranty is given in respect thereof and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Menter Moch Cymru accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused (including that caused by negligence) or suffered directly or indirectly in relation to information and opinions contained in or omitted from this document.

A health plan promotes a ‘positive health’ approach. It centres on being proactive, the identification of risk factors and disease avoidance.

Following a health plan is one of the most effective ways of maintaining health and monitoring the performance of your herd, thus can have a significant impact on the profitability of the farm.