Objectives: To assess the management practices
of swine production and herd health
and disease prevalence in Southeast Nigeria.
Materials and methods: Fifty-four farms
were conveniently selected from three states
of Southeast Nigeria. Information on socioeconomic
characteristics of farmers (sex,
occupation, educational status, and farming
experience), management practices, and disease
prevalence were collected. Samples were
screened for ectoparasites (skin scrapings),
trypanosomes and Brucella antibodies (blood
samples), and helminth and cestode ova and
coccidia oocysts (fecal samples).
Results: Of 54 farm owners surveyed, 43%
were exclusively farmers, 32% were in the
buying and selling business, 17% were civil
servants, and 6% were students. More men
(89%) than women (11%) kept pigs, with
the majority having a herd size of < 100
pigs. Most pigs were crosses between native
and European breeds. Management was
predominantly intensive (96%), with most
of the barns built of cement blocks, with
concrete floors and galvanized roofing
sheets. Prevalences of 47%, 25%, 20%, and
0.95% were recorded for infection with
coccidia, helminths, ectoparasites, and
trypanosomes, respectively; 0.6% of pigs
tested were positive for Brucella antibodies.
Significant associations were noted between
disease prevalence and litter size and management
system, and between productivity
and farmer’s educational level.
Implications: In spite of the good productivity
recorded in this study (farms having
= 6 pigs marketed per litter), efforts should
be made to encourage better management
practices to significantly reduce disease
prevalence for better performance. Publichealth
risks associated with Brucella and
trypanosome infections recorded in this
study should not be neglected.