Managing Fever and Inflammation in Swine Production
Fever and inflammation have a significant impact on swine production, affecting pig health, growth and overall performance. Effective management of these conditions is critical to the well-being and productivity of swine herds. The challenges of managing fever and inflammation in pigs include reduced feed intake, slower growth rates, impaired performance, increased stress levels, compromised immune function and increased susceptibility to secondary infections.
The economic impact includes increased treatment and veterinary costs, reduced feed efficiency and overall reduced performance. These factors contribute to prolonged health problems that negatively impact the profitability of the swine herd. In addition, inflammation negatively affects reproductive performance in sows, resulting in reduced fertility and litter size.
To overcome these challenges, the implementation of botanical strategies is holistic approach, which helps manage pigs during fever and inflammation and supports overall well-being and performance.
Botanical Strategies for Managing Fever and Inflammation in Pigs
Keeping pigs healthy involves more than just ensuring biosecurity and proper vaccination. The conditions in which pigs are housed play a critical role in reducing the stress that can lead to fever and inflammation. It’s important to provide a balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients to support the immune system and overall health of the pigs. The inclusion of additives with anti-inflammatory properties is hereby definitively a plus to be considered.
To address elevated body temperatures and inflammation in swine production, natural botanicals can be used to support pigs during specific stress situations. Some botanicals act at specific points in the inflammatory cascade, such as during infections, after vaccination, during high ambient temperatures leading to dehydration, and during key events in the production cycle such as weaning, feed changes, farrowing, rehousing, transport and post-dehydration. Combining different anti-inflammatory properties can have a synergistic effect, increasing the overall anti-inflammatory effect and supporting pigs during periods of high body temperature and inflammation.
Consideration of animal welfare is critical for consistent performance. XVET’s experience suggests that a blend of specific herbal extracts can be effective. Formulations that include various components that support overall immune system function, including analgesic and mild analgesic properties, contribute to the overall well-being of the animals.
In addition, as elevated (body) temperature increases the need for electrolytes, providing them can help regulate the osmotic pressure of the blood. This holistic approach addresses multiple aspects of pig health to ensure well-being and optimal performance.
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