An active abattoir survey was conducted from January to May, 2015 at two pig slaughter points in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana to determine the prevalence of Porcine Cysticercosis(PCC). Ante mortem examination was conducted on 4121 randomly selected pigs and their sex and breed recorded. Their carcasses were then subjected to veterinary post mortem examinations and the number infected with PCC recorded. The overall prevalence of PCC was 2.31%. Female pigs (4.59%) were more affected than males (1.44%). The Ashanti Black pig (8%) was more affected than cross breeds (0.5%). An amount of 104,528.11 Ghana cedis was lost due to PCC. Intensive rearing of pigs and proper disposal of human excreta will reduce the incidence of PCC in the Kumasi metropolis.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among commercial pig farmers in the Ejisu Municipality to investigate reproductive performance, piglet mortality, and reproductive health problems on their farms. Questionnaires designed to obtain information on reproductive performance and reproductive health problems were administered to a total of 50 randomly selected pig farmers. Three farms were randomly selected to monitor farrowing and pre-weaning piglet mortality. The farrowing records of a minimum of 10 sows on each farm were taken, and the piglets followed up to the point of weaning by six weeks. Records of piglet mortalities and their causes were retrieved from farm records or post mortem reports. The mean litter size, stillbirth per litter, piglet birth weight (Kg), weaning to estrus interval, and gestation period were 9.5± 1.4, 1.6 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.1, .7±1.0 days, and 115.1± 2.6 days, respectively. The pre-weaning mortality (%) at day 42 was 18.7 and ranged from 7.3-28.3. Within the first two days post farrowing, mechanical crushing (8.9%) of piglets by sows and piglet starvation (7.2%), while diarrhea (2.5%) and piglet anemia (1.5%) accounted for mortalities within the first two weeks of life. Reproductive health problems by frequency of occurrence included mastitis (23%), agalactia (18%), stillbirths (18%), repeat breeders (14%) and dystocia (14%). The study concluded that the reproductive performance of sows was satisfactory, while pre-weaning piglet mortality was high. It is recommended to intensify extension education on the management of piglets after farrowing.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.