Week of 26-Feb-2025
This sow has reddening of skin and considerable pain. What is the most likely cause of this lesion?
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Correct answer
This sow has been left outdoors without shade in the sun. The white parts of the body become reddened, oedematous and irritable and the animals appear to be in pain.
It tends to occur more commonly during the summer months as a result of exposure to strong sunlight in white pigs or pigs with white patches.
Apart from the obvious pain and discomfort that sunburn produces, it can lead to pregnancy loss (returns to service or abortion) due to ultra violet radiation.
Photo of the week
Week of 19-Feb-2025
Sudden death in 6 – 8 weeks old weaner pigs. Carcasses are pale. There is haemorrhagic abdominal fluid with clotted blood strands and hepatic rupture. Excess of fluid in the thorax. Heart and muscles are pale. What is the most likely cause?
Week of 12-Feb-2025
There is scour, ill thrift and high mortality during the first 4 weeks post-weaning. All post-mortemed pigs had the same gross lesions, as the one seen in the picture. What is the most likely cause of this lesion?
Week of 05-Feb-2025
There is an increase of regular and irregular returns in the breeding herd accompanied by abortions, stillborns and mummified piglets. All parities are affected. What is the cause of abortion in this picture?
Week of 29-Jan-2025
This pig has a mass protruding from behing. What is the most likely cause of this lesion?
Week of 22-Jan-2025
Pigs around 15 weeks old develop purple patches over the hindquarters extending to all over the body. Mortality is high. What is the cause of this lesion?
Week of 15-Jan-2025
Small intestine opened during a routine check in the slaughterhouse: what can we see?