Streptococci; A Deadly Killer For Pigs

<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000095526.png"/>Lately I started a pig farm, well not lately- it's been well over three years, and would love to share some words about my experience for anyone looking to venture into it. Pig farming is a very promising business in because of the high demand for pork meat. If you handle it correctly and with proper care, it can prove to be a good source of income, though a beginner may only need about ₦800,000 to ₦1.5 million to start on a small scale(about 3-5 piglets), it's cheaper especially if the space for farming is already available. The actual cost though starts with their housing, feeding and health care. A deadly disease rampant nowadays in pig farming is "Streptococcus suis", a bacterial infection caused by a bacterium that lives in the upper respiratory tract of the pigs. If care is not taken, it can spread to other pigs and cause severe illness, almost leading to death. Infected pigs would develop a fever, have loss of appetite, be weak, have difficulty walking, and experience joint inflammation and in some cases convulsions. In severe cases, the infection can cause meningitis, septicaemia and sudden death. The only way to safely diagnose by a vet and is usually through laboratory testing, since the symptoms it would show may resemble other bacterial infections. "Streptococcus suis" is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. People who work closely to the pigs can become infected when handling infected pigs or raw pork, the bacteria can enter their skin through cuts or openings and if that happens, the infection can cause meningitis, blood poisoning and permanent hearing loss in humans. This is part of the reason why good farm hygiene is necessary, and the proper handling of sick animals by the right people is better, but if you are on your own, I'd advise the use of gloves when dealing with pigs, it's carcasses or raw flesh. Farmers should always cover open wounds, if possible sterilize the wounds and then bandage it before entering the pig pen or dealing with the pigs. Always wash your hands after animal contact and isolate sick pigs immediately you notice an abnormal behavior, if possible get a vet for better examination. Even after all this, we still though can't be fully sure the meat is safe for eating. So before consumption it must be thoroughly cooked for at least ten minutes (boiling), and if possible it's raw meat should be kept separate from other cooked food to prevent cross-contamination. In pig farming experiencing "Streptococcus suis" is a must as some point and to ensure no loss of life for the animals it is important to take extra care and be extremely hygienic.

Other insights from Perry

Contributor Points

Points-to-Coupons

Referral Earning