51 Pork News & Views Pork News & Views Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Better Pork | June 2024 demonstrating the wide range of health issues Ontario swine farmers address. Suis diseases included Stretococcus suis, Actinobacillus suis, and Glaesserella parasuis. On farrow to wean farms, lameness was the most commonly cited health concern for producers. Although it cannot be determined definitively from the survey, the assumption here is that most lameness problems were in the sow herd. Piglet losses due to crushing were essentially equal to PRRS virus as a major health challenge from a producer perspective. This may be a finding of interest to practicing veterinarians. For results for the breakdown of farrow to wean (n=34), farrow to finish (n=79), and growing pigs, i.e. wean to finish or grow finish farms (n=46), and responses to the other questions in the survey, see the full report at www.oahn.ca under Projects, “Ontario Swine Producer Clinical Impression Survey”. Conclusions This 10-question survey provided useful insights into swine health issues on Ontario swine farms from the perspectives of swine farmers. Although comparisons between producer and veterinarians’ responses should be approached cautiously, producers’ concerns often went beyond the traditional infectious disease problems that practicing veterinarians are most often asked to address. Lameness was a major concern of many respondents. Piglet crushing and reproductive problems were also commonly mentioned as problem areas. Veterinarians may wish to consider these results when visiting farms. Practicing veterinarians have expertise beyond that of infectious disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention and can be a valuable resource for producers in addressing major swine health issues beyond those commonly considered as within the scope of traditional veterinary medicine. Heating and Ventilation Checklist In transition seasons such as the one we’re in now it can be very challenging to keep the air quality and temperature in a barn where you want it. Sometimes the ventilation system is taxed because, for example, controlling humidity is at odds with the system’s setting to maintain the desired temperature for the stock. The first step in enabling a heating and ventilation system to do its job is to make sure all the components are clean and in good working order, and controlling electronics are set up properly for the conditions outside and inside. The folks at the Prairie Swine Centre have produced a ‘Heating and Ventilation Checklist’ designed to help barn managers and staff review the equipment and other aspects of the system to make sure everything is in good shape. This would be a good time to walk through that checklist because summer is coming, and it is a good time to fine-tune your heating and ventilation systems. The checklist also contains columns to note what actions are needed, such as adjustments, cleaning, or repair and so on, and to record when those actions are completed. It’s a good record of what needs doing and a reminder to make sure it’s taken care of. You can find the checklist on the Prairie Swine Centre website (prairieswine.com). The heating and ventilation systems are an often-overlooked part of a barn, quietly doing their job in the background and only drawing attention when some part of the system fails – sometimes with serious consequences. This checklist can help avoid those problems by guiding you through some pro-active preventative maintenance. Visit the OMAFRA booth at Ontario Pork Congress (June 19-20 in Stratford) to discuss ventilation and other issues with OMAFRA specialists and engineers. Figure 1: All Farms. First and Second Most Pressing Health Problems
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