Adopting Health Programs and Improving Weaning Facilities in Management of Piglet Diarrhea on Guam

View the project final report

Commodities

• Animals: swine

Practices

• Animal Production: housing, vaccines, watering systems

This grant to assess the problems and solutions assocated with diarrhea on Guam hog farms was interrupted by two typhoons, one in July 2002 and the other in December 2003, and by the departure of the project coordinator, Ricardo Cruz Jr., for military service in Iraq in 2004.

However, a technique of elevating flooring under weaned pigs adopted by project cooperators Ben Cruz, resulted in a higher growth rate of pigs owing to cleaner conditions and a reduced incidence of diarrhea.

Introduction

Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of piglet death and poor performance. Hog producers can become frustrated and discouraged when an entire litter is lost because of uncontrolled diarrhea. On Guam, no studies have been conducted on the isolation of bacteria that may cause diarrhea on Guam hog farms, and on trials have been conducted on comercial vaccines to prevent diarrhea.

Post-weaning diarrhea, another problem that occurs on Guam, may be prevented through with facilities like elevated flooring.

1. To conduct studies on the isolation of bacterial agents that cause diarreha in piglets on Guam.

2. To evaluate the use of elevated wire flooring for post-weaned piglets in the prevention of post-weaning diarrhea.