Causes of preweaning mortality in small scale and medium scale intensive piggeries in central kenya including nairobi

Abstract

Causes of preweaning mortality were examined in small-scale and medium-scale piggeries, using comprehensive questionnaires and clinical histories combined with pathological data. Birth to weaning mortality was 15.78%. The main causes of death among piglets born alive were diarrhoea (23%), overlaying (10%), anaemia (5%) and starvation (19%) (mainly due to either weak and sick mothers or piglets, or poor feeding). Most deaths that occurred within 48 hr of birth on one farm were linked to avitaminosis A. The most frequent causes of death during September 1982 to September 1987 were gastroenteritis (31.77%), anaemia (32.81%), starvation (malnutrition 20.31%) and pneumonia (4.69%).