many farmers in kenya are abandoning pig rearing due to high cost of feeds and diseases,however some of these diseases are easily preventable by vaccination.
Farmers should start getting concerned when their sows exceed due date by more than five days.most sows give birth on the due date but allow plus or minus two days.
Farmers should vaccinate their pigs routinely against diseases like porcine Parrvovirus which can affect the whole breed. Some other vaccines that are available in local agro shops include;Gut Oedema and foot and mouth disease.
Porcine parvovirus infects piglets in the uterus without killing the mother
Some of the common signs of porcine parrvovirus in pregnant sows is the extension of due date by more than two days,the sows also start decreasing during pregnancy,the main reason why these sows were shrinking was because of the mummified foetuses.(dead foetuses).when they remain in the uterus for long they make the sows infertile.
Porcine parvovirus affects the piglets in the uterus without necessary killing the mother,during birth the sows breed a mixture of mummies,still births and freshly dead piglets.The surviving piglets do not survive for more than seven days.
Many farmers ignore these signs of porcine parvovirus and it ends up wiping out a whole breed.Vaccination protects the sows and the boars before breeding. Farmers should seek early diagnosis of the virus which can be treated based on the clinical signs since laboratory investigation is very expensive.
The government should support pig farmers by conducting awareness campaigns about various vaccines,pig rearing has the potential to employ many youths in the country. It is an avenue that if fully exploited could boost the economy of the country and also end the youth unemployment woes. Providing farmers with technical knowledge about pig rearing will reduce the frustrations that come with it. Organising regular free vaccination campaigns for farmers will further boost pig rearing in the country.
WangChau 