Evaluating the performance of a pig is a key element in good health management. Enteric Technical Manager for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedia, Inc. (BIVI), Jessica Seate, said the best thing a producer can do is become an investigator. Finding a diagnosis with your vet before you make changes to your protocol should be the first thing producers do. I sat down with Jessica at a recent BIVI event to learn more about antibiotic use in the swine industry and the role it plays in the prevention vs. treatment game.
“For BIVI and for the industry, we always want to do what is best for the pig. As an industry we are going the way of less antibiotic in production. Boehringer Ingelheim’s point of view is prevention works. Having a vaccination up front is a great way to help with a health management program and in turn use less antibiotics and control diseases ahead of time.”
Jessica said vaccinations should be one tool in a producers tool box. Other factors like management, biosecurity, sanitation and rodent control should also come into play. Vaccination programs will vary geographically, but most producers will be vaccinating for myco circo, ileitis, PRRS, salmonella, e-coli, etc. Jessica said you could talk to every vet and every schedule could be a little different.
Using ileitis as an example, Jessica said, “Vets will use the ileitis vaccination either by the label at three weeks of age and others are pushing it to five or six weeks of age. The exposure is usually in late nursery. Also you have to worry about the maternal antibody interference.”
Ease of application is always at the minds of producers. “Especially with enteric diseases, oral vaccinations are the way to go. You can easily put it in the water and we have a lot of methods and programs in place to make that even easier. It take times down. It takes labor down. And it is easier on the pig and easier on people.”
Listen to my complete interview Jessica here:Interview with Dr. Jessica Seate, Boehringer Ingelheim
View photos from the event here: 2015 BIVI Leman Media Event