FARMER FOCUS: Pig worms proving a problem

The number of piglets born alive is rising, but getting weaning numbers to rise at the same pace is proving difficult.

Mortalities seem to be highest shortly after birth, so I’m going to try extra bedding with shredded paper and change our induction time, as some litters may be left too long before being de-teethed.

I have been informed by the abattoir that milk-spot (roundworm) liver damage has been higher than normal on one of my finisher farms. With feed costs the way they are, I don’t want to be feeding parasites anymore. My vet has informed me of some products available, all with different prices and ability to tackle the problem.

With liquid or powder worming products, some kill mature worms only and other products kill all stages. With a lifecycle of only five weeks and a female worm able to produce 100,000 eggs, its not hard to see how any farm can quickly get a worm burden.

The cost of worming is going to be hard to swallow and the efficiencies hard to measure. However, the new carcass analysis system (CAI) when launched by Cafre DARD should give me better data than I have currently, particularly on milk spot. I will keep you informed as to my success or lack of it in tackling this industry-wide problem.

Andrew McCrea farms a 740-sow birth-to-bacon business and 150 beef cattle on 37ha. The pig business is a sow and weaner farm with four contract finishers. He produces 18,000 pigs a year to the British Quality-assured Red Tractor standard. Andrew is a DARD Focus Farmer and was Farmers Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year 2010.

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