Porcine parasitic diseases are prevalent chronic and debilitating conditions, carrying a very high risk of infection in pigs. The harm caused by these infections is often hidden and profound. While livestock farmers generally understand the importance of deworming pigs, a common headache persists: pigs continue to scratch even after deworming. Why is this happening? Could it be that pig farmers have fallen into certain deworming misconceptions? Arshine Lifescience, in collaboration with industry experts, will delve into these common deworming misconceptions to help you optimize swine health management. As a specialized veterinary raw material supplier, Arshine Lifescience is committed to providing high-quality veterinary APIs, empowering more scientific and efficient farming practices.

I. Deworming Misconception Alert: Believing Sows Don't Need Deworming, Only Fattening Pigs Do?

Sows are, in fact, the primary carriers and sources of parasites within pig farms. Piglets and fattening pigs often acquire parasitic infections from their mothers. Therefore, the correct deworming strategy mandates uniform deworming across the entire farm to effectively block cross-contamination and ensure thorough eradication. Neglecting sow deworming will significantly undermine your deworming efforts.

II. Deworming Misconception Alert: Believing Ivermectin Is a Universal Dewormer?

Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone antibiotic produced through the fermentation of Streptomyces avermitilis. It exhibits exceptional efficacy in killing both internal and external parasites (such as nematodes and arthropods) in pigs. However, it is crucial to note that Ivermectin is ineffective against tapeworms and flukes. Arshine Lifescience suggests that farmers consider combining Ivermectin with Albendazole (such as the Albendazole raw material supplied by Arshine Lifescience) to achieve comprehensive expulsion of both internal and and external parasites from pigs, thereby yielding superior deworming results.

III. Deworming Misconception Alert: Believing a Single High Dose of Dewormer Is Better Than Multiple Small Doses?

Currently, broad-spectrum, highly effective, and safe dewormers often achieve better results when administered in multiple small doses rather than a single high dose. Blindly using high doses can easily lead to issues such as abortion in sows or other adverse reactions. A scientifically sound dosing regimen is key to ensuring both the safety and efficacy of the medication.

IV. Deworming Misconception Alert: Believing Deworming Should Only Be Done When Pigs Pass Worms or Show Skin Lesions Due to Mites?

When these obvious symptoms appear, it typically signifies that the parasitic infection in pigs has already reached a severe stage, profoundly impacting the reproductive performance of sows and the growth rate of fattening pigs. Such farms often overlook the harm of mild to moderate parasitic infections. These infections usually show no apparent signs in their early stages, but over time, the cumulative economic losses can be substantial. Preventive deworming is the more economical and efficient strategy.

V. Deworming Misconception Alert: Not Cleaning and Disinfecting After Deworming?

Some pig farms fail to promptly and thoroughly clean and disinfect after deworming, leading to expelled worms and eggs being re-ingested by pigs, consequently causing reinfection. The correct practice is: immediately after deworming, feces should be promptly cleared, thorough disinfection performed, and feces either piled for fermentation or incinerated. Concurrently, the floors, walls, and troughs of the pigpens must also be rigorously disinfected to break the chain of reinfection.

VI. Deworming Misconception Alert: Believing Deworming Must Result in Seeing Worms?

Many parasites residing in the pig's intestines are microscopic, almost invisible to the naked eye even when expelled. The mechanism of action for some high-quality dewormers involves causing the dead parasites to decompose or be digested and absorbed by the intestines, or to be expelled in an incomplete, unrecognizable form. Therefore, not seeing worms does not signify ineffective deworming.

VII. Deworming Misconception Alert: Believing Oral Dewormers Are Ineffective for External Parasites?

This misconception is related to the uneven distribution of capillaries at the parasite's site of residence. In areas where certain external parasites (such as mites) reside, capillaries may be sparse, preventing drug concentrations from reaching levels sufficient to completely kill the parasites. The parasites may only be "paralyzed," temporarily leaving the body surface, only to "revive" after some time and cause re-infestation. For external parasites, combining oral medication with topical applications or injections offers a more comprehensive prevention and control solution. Arshine Lifescience offers a diverse range of veterinary deworming raw materials to support the development of varied deworming products.

Arshine Lifescience hopes that by unveiling these common deworming misconceptions, we can help livestock farmers adopt a more scientific and comprehensive approach to deworming. Selecting the right veterinary APIs in conjunction with precise deworming strategies is paramount to achieving efficient and healthy pig farm management.