28 The Business of Canadian Hog Farming Better Pork | December 2023 Control and prevention Since M. hyosynoviae and M. hyorhinis are present on most farms and often colonize piglets shortly after birth, eradicating the bacteria from a farm may not be an option. If you are seeing a lot of lameness, consult your veterinarian on the best way to control it. There are currently no commercial vaccines available for M. hyosynoviae or hyorhinis. Autogenous vaccines may be effective, however research on and availability of autogenous vaccines for Mycoplasma arthritis is limited. Prevention largely consists of optimizing management and hygiene practices. To help minimize outbreaks of Mycoplasma arthritis, ensure that pigs are not overstocked, have good ventilation with appropriate air temperature and no drafts, and have good quality flooring that is not too slippery or too rough. Avoid mixing groups of pigs when possible because this promotes fighting and injuries. You can help to reduce the mycoplasmas and other diseases by implementing strict biosecurity and by obtaining pigs from as few sources as possible. Stay tuned for the next issue of Better Pork, in which we will discuss Mycoplasma pneumonia. BP PigCHAMP Online brings you all the features of PigCHAMP without the need for software installation or updates. Your entire database is securely stored and remains accessible via remote connection, allowing you the flexibility to manage your operation from anywhere you can connect to the internet. HERD HEALTH HAYLEY BOWLING Dr. Hayley Bowling is a veterinarian with Prairie Livestock Veterinarians in Red Deer, Alta. Pigs with lameness in their hind limbs may adopt a “dog sitting” position to avoid bearing weight on their painful joints. Dr. Rienske Mortier photo
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