Lancaster Extension Agent By Glenn Shirk Lancaster Co. Extension Agent (Editor's Note This is the first of a series of about ten articles on swine health and management LANCASTER Pseudorabies has made the headlines this past year. However, it is only one of several diseases which pork producers need to be concerned about. Good disease control is one way a producer can improve ef ficiency of production tobeua MOVE UP TO 120 TONS OF CORN SILAGE AN HOUR Forage Blower @ GREENWOOD, DE I, Delridge Supply, Inc. 9 302-349-4327 JONESTOWN, PA ALEXANDRIA, PA. Heisey Farm Equip. Clapper Farm Equip. 717-865-4526 814-669-4465 WAYNESBORO, PA SOMERSET, PA. B Equipment, Inc. 717-762-3193 i '** • Tl, Fiberdome Storage Bin Fiberdome Forage Funnel MADE ID LAST WITH FIBERGLASS - from FIBERDOME Fiberglass is piactically dent Economical to Use • Simple to proof Stands up to tong periods Install • Easy to Operate • of hard„use •Contents stay Eliminates Dirty Chutes • fresh because fiberglass absorbs Directs Flow of Feed • Saves little or no heat • Because there Wear on Silo Chutes • Adapts to is very little condensation on the Any Make Silo mside moisture cannot alter the contents of material being stored • Fiberglass is rust resistant Acids and salts can t hurt it g ~~ nberdome. I P. O. Box 11 Lake Mills, Wl 53551 PHILLIPS FEED „ DU SERVICE INC. THOMAS DUNLAP MONT-BUCKSFARM Germansville, PA Rt. 220, Jersey Shore, PA BUREAU CO-OP ASSN. '215-767-3819 717-398-1391 Souderton. PA Bath, PA 215-723-4355 215-837-6061 ®£ss !tt L wtSt 0 terre h,ll s,LO co",NC ESI 2 T SOLL£NB£RGER SILO EQUIPMENT 717-933-4616 Chambersburg. PA Milanville, PA 717-264-9588 better position to survive these economic hard times. The number of farms quaran tined for PRV infection reached a height of about 43 in June. This has been reduced to 24, and this is encouraging. Whether the number of quarantined herds continues to decline will depend largely on the determination of everyone af filiated with the swine industry. As winter approaches, we face a very challenging tune. Efforts to Grove Equip. Sales 814-445-6306 ■ o For more information contact your nearest dealer 54” fan and specially designed flow system material moving evenly into the silo. Operates rpm, with optional heavy-duty PTO shaft for tractors. Big 12-inch auger has single-lever control with brake Angled hopper makes it r wagons to reach unloading position. sk Us For Our Low Competitive Price AREA REPRESENTATIVE DAVID D. DEITRICH PHONE: Rte. 5, Box 758 (703) 667-3787 Winchester, VA. 22601 (703) 667-0363 Fiberdome Feed Cart The only all fiberglass feed cart Buff extenor white fell-coat interior • 14 bushel capacity (4 93 hectoliter) • Immune to silage acids does not rust • Easy to load unload and sanitize • Tricycle gear with one swiveling caster • Length es l /?" Width 31V4 ’ Hopper depth 23 1 /*' Tire Diameter 8 • control diseases need to be renewed and intensified. As pigs become stressed by all those other diseases, problems and conditions associated with winter con finement, those that are carriers of PRV may suddenly become shedders, and thus affect other animals in the herd. So, now is the tune for everyone to be very observant and cautious, and a tune to sharpen their husbandry and management skills. It is a tune to be working closely with your veterinarian regarding any herd health con cerns. What is the health status of Pennsylvania pigs? This question is answered by Dr. Lawrence J. Hutchinson, Penn State Extension veterinarian: There are about 900,000 pigs on Pennsylvania farms and they’re a very healthy, group of animals. While some pork producers feel that they have more health SHIPPENSBURG, PA. Witmer impl. 717-532-6139 RISING SUN, MD. Ben Haines 301-658-5359 Fiberdome Calfhutch Insulation value provides warmth m Winter while remaining cool in summer • Hutches may be nested for compact storage • Hutches are easily moved by use of firmly imbedded) bolts • Studies show respirator problems disease and calf mortality are reduced when hutches are properly used FARM BUREAU Mifflmburg, PA 717-966-1047 NORTHERN STAR SILO Watsontown, PA 717-649-5151 problems than they should, our Pennsylvania pigs generally have a lower mcidence of several im portant diseases than some of the major swme-producmg states. Here are some «vhip and the Ciuicm t'emisyivama situation for each of them. Brucellosis - Pennsylvania has been declared a swme brucellosis free state. No cases have been diagnosed in the past 13 months. Seventy Pennsylvania herds have brucellosis-validated status. Pseudorabies About 24 herds are currently under quarantine, all m the northern Lancaster County area. This disease is widespread m the midwestem Umted States. It is also pfesent in New Jersey and in some states to our south. Testing of Pennsylvania hogs shows that other areas of the state are pseudorabies-free. We’ll need continued vigilance to prevent the introduction of pseudorabies with importation of feeder or breeder stock from other states. Swine Tuberculosis - This con dition is not a threat to humanor animal health, but can result m condemnation or passed-for cookmg status of hogs at slaughter. Some packers have felt that Pennsylvania hogs have a higher incidence of swme TB than out-of state hogs slaughtered m Penn sylvania. LANCASTER Farm tractors and trucks start easier these cold mornings if you use a few “tricks,” says Donald R. Daum, Extension agricultural engineer. A battery at 0 degrees F. has only 40 percent of the power it has at 80 degrees F., yet it must do four times as much work. Diesel engines bring added problems over gasoline models because of faster cranking speeds and higher compression, he explains. The first step in making a farm vehicle “start-worthy” m winter, is a well-tuned engine. This means that the engine has good com- * Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 5,1981—A33 Hints to help start cold engines causes these fires and can build up in days The SOOT BUSTER™: • SAVES CHIMNEY CLEANING BILLS • PREVENTS DANGEROUS CHIMNEY FIRES • AVOIDS DAMAGED ROOFS • EASY TO USE • SIZES TO FIT MOST APPLICATIONS Locally Distributed By: GENTLE WARMTH ENTERPRISES INLET CLEANOUT , . OOP* 947 Market Street, Kingston, PA 18704 •duct manufactured by Call TOLL FREE stnes, Inc, P O Box 2 800-233-8345 ising, Pa 18853 m Pa call 717-287-8963 17) 746-3353 t quality proi lorben Indus Wyalui (71 Haemophilus Pneumonia is a problem of increasing concern to midwest hog producers. Starting in 1960, cases of Haemophilus pneumonia have been seen in Pennsylvania. The incidence is still low, but may be increasing. Economically important diseases - There are many economically-unportant diseases that are present in almost every area m which hogs are raised. A few of the most important ones are rhinitis, mycoplasma pneumonia, dysentery and roundworm scarring in feeder pigs; cob scours and TGE in baby pigs; lepto, parvovirus and MMA in sows. These conditions are present on many Pennsylvania hog farms. Good management is minimizing their effects on many farms. A slaughter-check program is helping to identify the extent of these problems on some Penn sylvania finishing operations. Autopsies, blood testing, and other diagnostic tests help supplement routine veterinary examinations to monitor these diseases. Buyers of breeduig swine, feeder pigs, and market hogs want to buy healthy animals. Pennsylvania pork producers have an enviable record of producing healthy pigs. With top-notch management and continued vigilance, we can do even better. pression, properly gapped spark plugs, properly spaced breaker points, good condenser and coil, a strong battery, and a high grade winter oil. Some other cold-weather tips are: One way to ease starting is to heat the engine with a dipstick or freezeplug insert heater. You may also use heat lamps, heat-bolt heaters, or a cooling system cir culation heater to keep the engine warm. Except for low-wattage dipstick heaters, most devices must have -some type of control system.
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