Our KuneKune Preventative Care & Vaccination Program
It's important to recognize that diverse perspectives and advice exist regarding vaccination programs for pigs. There is no universal solution that fits every farm or every situation. Various regions across the country have distinct requirements, and different situations and farms with varying goals further complicate considerations. For instance, a small hobby farm with minimal visitors and limited interactions with other animals will have vastly different requirements compared to a show pig consistently on the move, engaging with other pigs and people, or a farm solely focused on getting their pigs to butcher weight.
In sharing our preventative care and vaccination program, our aim is to spark curiosity and provide transparency to our customers regarding our approach. Vaccination programs should be created in partnership with a veterinarian and customized based on specific regional needs, individual farm goals, and biosecurity plans integrated into the overall health and safety program. This collaborative and region-specific approach ensures a more effective and targeted vaccination strategy for the well-being of your pigs.
Must Have Supplies
Piglets: 22 or 20 gauge needles, 3/4” length
Adults: 16 or 18 gauge needles, 1 - 1 1/2” length
Slap-Shot Flexible Vaccinator: This is an absolute must have for administering shots in pigs.
Syringes: Recommended for piglets and one-off needs.
Repeater Syringe: Recommended for 5+ pigs. We recommend the Allflex Repeater Syringe. We have vaccinated up to 15 pigs in under 5 minutes with one of these.
Nitrile or Rubber Gloves
Preventative Care
We firmly believe in administering a single 200mg iron shot to piglets at 3-5 days old. Given the rapid growth of piglets, their iron needs surpass what their mother's milk can provide. Despite the presence of soluble iron in the ground, we find that the cost of the average iron shot (10-20 cents) is a minimal investment compared to the potential risks associated with underdeveloped or anemic piglets. Notably, we observe increased energy levels in piglets the day following the iron shot. We specifically use "Iron-Dextran 100 for Piglets" for this purpose.
In addition to the iron shot, we recommend maintaining a stock of Penicillin, Liquimycin LA-200, Dectomax, and children's Tylenol. This preparedness allows us to respond promptly to various situations, particularly when our veterinarian may not be able to make an immediate visit to our farm.
Deworming
Deworming is a crucial step in ensuring the health and growth of pigs, as worms not only pose a threat to the pigs but can also be transmitted to humans. While practices like rotational grazing or feeding pumpkin seeds can help minimize the risk of pigs getting worms, they are not foolproof preventative measures. It's also important to recognize that parasitic worms can develop tolerance to deworming medicines over time.
To address this, we recommend a rotation strategy, switching between at least two different dewormers at 6-month intervals. Our approach begins with using the injectable dewormer Dectomax for piglets. Dectomax, part of the "mectin" family, stands out from Ivermectin as it lacks alcohol, preventing any burning sensation upon injection.
The subsequent treatment, six months later, involves a switch to Safe-Guard. Safe-Guard is available in various forms, such as paste, drench, or pellets. The preferred method is mixing pellets with their regular food. You must never use pour-on applications unless they are specifically formulated for pigs. Most pour-on applications are designed for thicker-haired cattle and other large livestock, and can cause permanent skin damage and irreversible scars in pigs due to an increased sensitivity to sun exposure.
Occasionally, during our Dectomax rotation, we incorporate Ivermectin into the deworming regimen. This comprehensive approach helps maintain the efficacy of deworming and ensures a robust defense against parasitic infections in our pigs.
Vaccinations
Disclaimer: Please make sure you read labels and create your plan with a veterinarian. This is what works for us in our specific situation.
Pneumonia
Rhini Shield TX 4 - as an aid in the prevention of Atrophic rhinitis caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica or the toxin of Pasteurella multocida types A and D, Erysipelas caused by E. rhusiopathiae and Pneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida type A.
Parvo, Lepto, & Erysipelas
FarrowSure Gold - used for the vaccination of healthy breeding swine as an aid in preventing reproductive failure caused by porcine Parvovirus, Erysipelas and the 5 most common strains of Lepto.
Porcine Circovirus
Circumvent PCV G2 - vaccination for use in healthy swine as an aid in the prevention of viremia, as an aid in the reduction of virus shedding and as an aid in the reduction of lymphoid infection caused by Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2)
Schedule Table
| Age | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| 3-5 days | Iron |
| 3 weeks | Circumvent |
| 6 weeks | Rhini Shield TX4 |
| 6 weeks | Dectomax |
| 8 weeks | Rhini Shield TX4 |
| 6 months | Safeguard |
| 6 months | FarrowSure |
| 1 year | Dectomax |
| 1 year | Rhini Shield TX4 |
| 1 year | Circumvent |
Boosters
Yearly: Rhini Shield TX4, Circumvent PCV G2, FarrowSure Gold
Additionally, it's important to highlight that certain vaccinations may require additional doses for pregnant sows at specific points during their gestation. Please check their labels. This precautionary measure is taken to ensure that their offspring receives adequate protection upon birth. It's a crucial aspect of our comprehensive approach to safeguarding the health and well-being of both the mother and her progeny in our care.
Please use the comments below to share what works for you or if you believe we are missing something in our preventative care and vaccination program.