Post-weaning sudden death in nursery pigs: A case study

摘要

A well-managed 250 sow farrow to finish herd experienced sudden death in nursery pigs 16 to 20 days post-weaning beginning in April 2012. All rations, including the individual micronutrients, were mixed on farm. Nursery mortality normally ranged between 0.5% and 2.5% but affected groups had outbreak mortalities ranging between 15% and 30%. No clinical signs were observed in the fitst several groups of affected pigs prior to death. Following an outbreak, 2% to 5% of pigs that did not die suddenly demonstrated weakness, lethargy and mild ataxia. Post-mortem examinations on these as well as the pigs which died were performed by the herd veterinarian on April 16th 2012 and did not reveal lesions consistent with an infectious cause of death. Death due tomanure pit gas was suspected and an agricultural engineer measured gas levels in the nursery rooms on April 30th 2012.