Pfizer Animal Health to raise awareness of pig dysentery

Pfizer Animal Health is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the risk posed to owners of pigs by dysentery during the UK winter.

The campaign is led by the publication of a new guide, entitled Enteric Disease Management, which is designed to provide farmers with advice on preventing and treating the problem, reports Farming UK.

Nigel Lodge, technical manager for Pfizer Animal Health, noted that dysentery levels are on the rise for a number of reasons, including the early onset of winter, the frequent movement of weaners and a fall in the level of feed medication.

It was also noted that the disease can be one of the most costly illnesses to treat, with producers often set back by around ten pounds per animal.

Mr Lodge said: "We know that dysentery will survive outside the pig for up to seven weeks in cold, moist conditions and other pathogens for considerably longer."

Last month, Pfizer Animal Health announced a new collaboration with Easter Bush Research Consortium on a wide-ranging veterinary medicine collaboration.