Pig diseases can be devastating to your livestock business if not managed early. Malawian farmers often face losses due to preventable illnesses that spread quickly in unhygienic or poorly managed pigsties. In this post, we look at the most common pig diseases in Malawi — and how you can prevent them.
Symptoms: Sudden death, high fever, skin discoloration, loss of appetite.
Cause: Viral, highly contagious, spreads through contact with infected pigs or contaminated items.
Prevention:
Avoid buying pigs from unknown sources
Do not feed pigs kitchen leftovers
Disinfect housing and limit visitors
Isolate new pigs before introducing them to your herd
ASF has no cure or vaccine, so prevention is the only protection.
Symptoms: Poor growth, weight loss, diarrhea, weakness.
Cause: Roundworms, tapeworms, and other internal parasites.
Prevention:
Deworm pigs every 2–3 months
Keep pens clean and dry
Provide clean drinking water
Avoid overstocking
Use recommended dewormers and rotate active ingredients to avoid resistance.
Symptoms: Watery stool, weakness, dehydration, high mortality in piglets.
Cause: Poor sanitation, sudden feed changes, E. coli bacteria.
Prevention:
Clean pens regularly
Ensure piglets receive colostrum within first 12 hours
Provide clean water and balanced feed
Use probiotics and vitamins in feed
Consult a vet immediately when piglets have diarrhea.
Symptoms: Trembling, loss of coordination, convulsions.
Cause: Viral diseases or nutritional deficiencies (e.g., Vitamin B).
Prevention:
Feed pigs balanced diets rich in vitamins and minerals
Isolate and treat sick pigs
Avoid stress (overcrowding, poor handling)
Supplementing with multivitamins and mineral salts helps improve immunity.
Symptoms: Scratching, hair loss, rough skin.
Cause: External parasites like mites and lice.
Prevention:
Use appropriate insecticides
Disinfect pig housing regularly
Isolate new pigs before adding them to the group
Treat all pigs at once to avoid reinfection.
Keep a strict vaccination and deworming schedule
Always quarantine new pigs (14–21 days)
Use footbaths and control farm visitors
Practice all-in, all-out systems for pens
Record symptoms, treatments, and losses
Healthy pigs grow faster, sell better, and increase your profits. Prevention is cheaper than treatment — always invest in good hygiene and management practices.
Want a free disease prevention checklist? Contact Makola Farms today!
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