The pig vaccination schedule is a crucial aspect of pig farming that ensures the health and well-being of piglets, gilts, sows, and boars.
Pigs are animals that are vulnerable to certain diseases. They can easily contract diseases from other pigs, livestock like cows, and even from humans, such as human influenza.
Due to their susceptibility to various viruses, bacteria, and fungi, it is necessary to protect them, and one way to do this is by following the pig vaccination schedule accurately.
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What vaccinations do pigs need?
The most common vaccines that pigs need are the porcine circovirus vaccine, swine influenza vaccine, porcine parvovirus vaccine, clostridial vaccine, erysipelas vaccine, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) vaccine.
These pig vaccines protect against various diseases affecting different organs.
The specific pig vaccines needed can vary depending on factors such as the region where the herd is located, the herd’s health status, management practices on the farm, and the source of the pigs introduced into the herd.
The pigs must be vaccinated starting at 1 week of age and continue throughout all stages of their development, including piglets, gilts, boars, and sows during pre-breeding and pre-farrowing periods.
* It’s important for pig farmers to consult with veterinarians or local agricultural authorities to determine the appropriate vaccination plan based on the specific needs and disease risks in their region. Vaccination programs should be tailored to the individual farm’s circumstances to ensure effective disease prevention and control.
Pig Vaccination Schedule
Piglets Vaccination Schedule
| Age | Vaccine Name(s) | Second dose/ Annual Dose | Withdrawal time | Injection Type or Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week | Atrophic rhinitis vaccine (Bordetella)/ Pasteurella vaccine for pigs | No second dose | 21 days | Intranasal |
| 1 week | Pseudorabies vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Intranasal |
| 3 weeks old | Microplasma vaccine/ Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine | Revaccinate 2-3 weeks later | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 weeks old | PCV2 Vaccine / Circovirus Type 2 vaccine | Revaccinate at 6 weeks | — | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 weeks old | Ileitis Vaccine / Lawsonia Pig Vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Oral, placed in drinking water. |
| 3 to 4 weeks old (or 7-10 days before preweaning) |
Swine rotavirus vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Oral or into the muscle (intramuscular) *If using oral administration, do not allow the piglet to return to the sow for at least 30 minutes. |
| 3 to 4 weeks old | Porcine epidemic diarrhea vaccine/ PED vaccine/ PEDV | Revaccinate 3 weeks later | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 to 4 weeks old | PRRSV vaccine (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) or PRRS vaccine (porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome) |
No second dose | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) **Possible intranasal administration for piglets aged 2-3 days old. |
| 3 to 4 weeks old | Colibacillosis vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Oral, placed in drinking water. |
| 3 to 5 weeks old | Erysipelas Vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 to 5 weeks old | Salmonella Vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Oral, placed in drinking water (at 3 weeks old) or into muscle (intramuscular) (at 4 to 5 weeks old) or Intranasal, which can be given to piglets over 1 day of age |
| 3 to 5 weeks old | Swine Flu vaccine/ H1N1 vaccine/ Influenza A virus Type H1N1 *usually for H1N1, but also subtypes H1N2, H3N2 |
Revaccinate 3-5 weeks after first dose. **Revaccinate semiannually. |
21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 to 5 weeks old | H3N2 vaccine/ Influenza A Virus Type H3N2 *typically together with the H1N1 and H1N2 |
Revaccinate 3-5 weeks after the first dose. | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 to 5 weeks old | APP vaccine (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae)/ Pleuropneumonia vaccine | Revaccinate 3-4 weeks after the first dose. * A third done may be needed in case of an outbreak. |
21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 3 to 5 weeks old * only if the sow has not been vaccinated |
Streptococcus suis vaccine | No second dose | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| 4 weeks old | PPE vaccine (Porcine proliferative enteropathy) | No second dose | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) or oral, placed in drinking water |
| 5 weeks old | Haemophilus parasuis vaccine/ Glasser’s Disease vaccine/ Polyserositis vaccine | Revaccinate 2-3 weeks after the first dose. | 21 days | Into the muscle (intramuscular) |
When it comes to piglets, their vaccination schedule begins early in life.
They are not and should not be vaccinated immediately after birth as their delicate bodies have already gone through the stress of the birthing process. Nonetheless, it is safe to start vaccinating piglets within the first 4 to 7 days of life.
The piglet vaccination schedule begins at 7 days or 1 week old with the Atrophic Rhinitis vaccine (Bordetella). This pig vaccine is administered intranasally, which is a common method of vaccine administration in piglets. Intranasal vaccine administration involves tilting the piglet’s head upward and introducing the vaccine into its deep nasal passages using a syringe.
The first vaccine should be followed shortly by the second one, called the Pseudorabies vaccine for pigs. This vaccine is also administered at 1 week old and is given intranasally.
The next vaccines in the piglet vaccination chart are administered at 3 weeks old. The first one is the Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine or Microplasma vaccine, which is followed by a new booster shot given 2-3 weeks later. This vaccine is administered directly into the muscle (intramuscularly).
The second one is the PCV2 vaccine for pigs, also known as the Circovirus pig vaccine. This vaccine is followed by revaccination at 6 weeks old, and both doses are given via intramuscular administration.
The third vaccine in the piglet vaccination schedule, given at 3 weeks old, is the Ileitis vaccine for pigs, also known as the Lawsonia pig vaccine. Unlike the previous vaccines, this one does not require a second dose. It is administered orally by being placed in the drinking water.
The Rotavirus vaccine, PED vaccine for pigs, PRRSV pig vaccine, and Colibacillosis vaccine are administered between 3 to 4 weeks of age in piglets. The PED vaccine requires a second dose 3 weeks later.
At the age of 3 and 5 weeks old, piglets should receive vaccines against swine flu, salmonella, and influenza. The corresponding pig vaccines include the Salmonella vaccine for pigs, which can be administered orally or intramuscularly, the H1N1 pig vaccine with a booster after 3-5 weeks, the Pleuropneumonia vaccine, and the Streptococcus suis pig vaccine, but only if the piglet comes from a sow that has not been vaccinated.
The list of vaccines for piglets continues with the PPE pig vaccine at 4 weeks old, followed by the Glasser’s Disease vaccine at 5 weeks old. The Glasser’s Disease vaccine should be given a booster dose 2-3 weeks after the initial vaccination.
Gilts Vaccination Schedule
| Vaccine Name(s) | Timing | Withdrawal time | Injection Type or Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swine Flu vaccine/ H1N1 vaccine/ Influenza A virus Type H1N1 (*usually for H1N1, but also subtypes H1N2, H3N2) |
Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | |
| PCV2 Vaccine / Circovirus Type 2 vaccine | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | |
| Microplasma vaccine/ Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | |
| Pseudorabies vaccine | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| APP vaccine (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae)/ Pleuropneumonia vaccine | Revaccinate annually or semiannually | 21 to 60 days | |
| Salmonella Vaccine (“3 weeks old or older *if not vaccinated as piglets”) |
21 days | ||
| Ileitis Vaccine / Lawsonia Pig Vaccine (“3 weeks old or older *if not vaccinated as piglets”) |
21 days | ||
| Parvovirus Vaccine/ PPV vaccine | 5 and 3 weeks before breeding | 21 days | |
| Leptospirosis vaccine | 5 and 3 weeks before breeding | 21 days | |
| Erysipelas Vaccine (“5 and 3 weeks before breeding **after the initial vaccination, a booster shot should be given 3-4 weeks later to enhance the immune response.”) |
21 days | ||
| Transmissible gastroenteritis vaccin/ TGE vaccin (“two doses 3-5 weeks before farrowing (orally) a booster one week before farrowing (intramuscular)”) |
21 days | oral and into the muscle (intramuscular) | |
| E.Coli vaccine / Escherichia coli vaccine | 3 and 6 weeks before farrowing | ||
| Clostridial vaccine includes against multiple diseases – Tetanus vaccine, CDT vaccine |
3 and 6 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| Atrophic rhinitis vaccine (Bordetella)/ Pasteurella vaccine for pigs | 3 and 6 weeks before farrowing | ||
| Colibacillosis vaccine | 5 and 2 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| Streptococcus suis vaccine | 5 and 2 weeks before farrowing | 21 days |
A gilt, which is a young female pig that has not yet given birth to any piglets, has its own vaccination schedule that should be fulfilled in order for her to be ready to carry her first litter and give birth to a large litter of healthy piglets.
The age at which a pig becomes a gilt differs from pig breed to pig breed. For example, Piétrain pigs may mature at 8 months, Duroc pigs at 7 months, and Mangalica pigs at 17.3 months.
The vaccination list for gilts should include the Swine Flu vaccine, also known as the H1N1 pig vaccine, which usually covers subtypes H1N2 and H3N2 as well. This vaccine should be repeated every 6 months for non-pregnant gilts.
Other vaccines that should be administered to gilts every 6 months include the Circovirus pig vaccine or PCV2 vaccine, Pseudorabies vaccine, APP pig vaccine, and the Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine to minimize the risk of respiratory tract issues.
Before breeding, gilts require another series of pig vaccines such as the Parvovirus vaccine for pigs, Leptospirosis pig vaccine, and the Erysipelas vaccine for pigs. These vaccines should be given to gilts 5 and 3 weeks before breeding.
The list of pig vaccines for gilts starts again before farrowing, including the TGE vaccine for pigs that requires two doses, the E.coli pig vaccine, the Clostridial vaccine, which usually includes multiple pathogens for Tetanus and CDT vaccines, the Pasteurella vaccine for pigs, and Colibacillosis and Streptococcus suis vaccines.
This is the entire vaccination chart for gilts that should be followed by pig breeders or farmers.
Sows Vaccination Schedule
| Vaccine Name(s) | Second dose/ Annual Dose | Withdrawal time | Injection Type or Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swine Flu vaccine/ H1N1 vaccine/ Influenza A virus Type H1N1 | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | |
| PCV2 Vaccine / Circovirus Type 2 vaccine | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | |
| Microplasma vaccine/ Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | |
| Pseudorabies vaccine | Every 6 months to nonpregnant pigs | 21 days | into the muscle (intramuscular) |
| Salmonella Vaccine | Every 6 months | 21 days | |
| Ileitis Vaccine / Lawsonia Pig Vaccine | Every 6 months | 21 days | |
| APP vaccine (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae)/ Pleuropneumonia vaccine | Revaccinate annually or semiannually | 21 to 60 days | |
| Parvovirus Vaccine/ PPV vaccine | 4 weeks before breeding ** should receive a booster after each weaning. |
21 days | |
| Leptospirosis vaccine | 4 weeks before breeding | 21 days | |
| Erysipelas Vaccine | 4 weeks before breeding ** Should receive a booster vaccination on the day of weaning, which is when the piglets are separated from the sow. |
21 days | |
| E.Coli vaccine / Escherichia coli vaccine | 3 and 6 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| Clostridial vaccine includes against multiple diseases – Tetanus vaccine, CDT vaccine |
3 and 6 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| Atrophic rhinitis vaccine (Bordetella)/ Pasteurella vaccine for pigs | 3 and 6 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| Colibacillosis vaccine | 5 and 2 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| Atrophic rhinitis vaccine (Bordetella)/ Pasteurella vaccine for pigs | 2-5 weeks before farrowing | ||
| Streptococcus suis vaccine | 5 and 2 weeks before farrowing | 21 days | |
| PRRSV vaccine (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) or PRRS vaccine (porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome) |
3-4 weeks before breeding or during pregnancy | 21 days | |
| Porcine epidemic diarrhea vaccine/ PED vaccine | 5 and 3 weeks before farrowing **in subsequent pregnancies give a single dose 2 weeks before farrowing |
21 days | |
| Transmissible gastroenteritis vaccin/ TGE vaccin | Two doses 3-5 weeks before farrowing (orally) A booster one week before farrowing (intramuscular) |
21 days | Oral and intramuscular |
The vaccination chart for sows is quite similar to that of gilts, with the same vaccines but with slightly different time periods. The vaccine schedule for sows also includes pre-breeding and pre-farrowing periods.
The list of vaccines for sows starts with those that need to be repeated every 6 months, such as the H1N1 vaccine, PCV2 vaccine for pigs, Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine, Pseudorabies, Salmonella, Ileitis pig vaccine, and finally the APP vaccine.
For each breeding, the sow must be prepared with another series of the most common pig vaccines, including the Parvovirus vaccine, Leptospirosis vaccine, and Erysipelas vaccine. For PPRS disease, the sow must be vaccinated 3-4 weeks before breeding or during the pregnancy with the PPRS pig vaccine. These vaccines ensure that the sow remains healthy during pregnancy and that the new piglets are born healthy.
Other vaccines that the sow needs to receive are administered before farrowing, and these include the E.coli vaccine, Clostridial vaccine, PRRS vaccine, Porcine epidemic diarrhea vaccine, and the TGE vaccine.
Boars Vaccination Schedule
| Vaccine Name(s) | Timing | Withdrawal time | Injection Type or Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swine Flu vaccine/ H1N1 vaccine/ Influenza A virus Type H1N1 | every 6 months | 21 days | |
| PCV2 Vaccine / Circovirus Type 2 vaccine | every 6 months | 21 days | |
| Microplasma vaccine/ Mycoplasmal pneumonia vaccine | every 6 months | 21 days | |
| Parvovirus Vaccine/ PPV vaccine | every 6 months | 21 days | |
| Leptospirosis vaccine | every 6 months | 21 days | |
| Erysipelas Vaccine | every 6 months **after the initial vaccination, a booster shot should be given 3-4 weeks later to enhance the immune response. |
21 days | |
| APP vaccine (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae)/ Pleuropneumonia vaccine | Revaccinate annually or semiannually | 21 to 60 days | |
| Pseudorabies vaccine | every 6 months | 21 days | into the muscle (intramuscular) |
The pig vaccination schedule on a farm includes vaccines for the most common pig diseases. Among them are the Swine Flu pig vaccine, PCV2 vaccine, Mycoplasmal vaccine, Parvovirus vaccine, Leptospirosis pig vaccine, Erysipelas vaccine, APP vaccine, and Pseudorabies vaccine.
All of these pig vaccines need to be repeated every 6 months to effectively manage the diseases and minimize the risk of outbreaks within the herd. This regular pig vaccination schedule plays an important role in maintaining the overall health and well-being of the pigs.
Importance of Pig Vaccination in Pig Farming
The importance of pig vaccination in pig farming is evident. Firstly, pigs need vaccines to keep them healthy, grow accordingly, and have improved reproductive performance. The vaccines prepare their immune system to fight off and resist diseases. Every pig breeder or farmer wants healthy pigs that are free from diseases.
Another reason to respect the pig vaccination chart is that it reduces the number of pigs in your herd that could become sick with specific diseases. With their immune systems improved, fewer pigs contract diseases, minimizing the risk of an epidemic occurring on your farm.
Respecting the vaccination schedule in pig farming brings two other significant benefits:
1. It has a lesser economic impact on farmers or pig breeders. The cost of pig vaccines is lower compared to the expenses of different medicine and antibiotics.
2. Reduced use of antibiotics and medicine ensures that these treatments remain effective when truly needed. Less exposure to medicine and antibiotics prevents pigs from developing resistance to them.
Overall, following the list of pig vaccines and implementing them in your herd results in lower mortality rates, improved growth rates, and reduced costs associated with treating diseases.
FAQ
Do meat pigs need vaccines?
Yes, meat pigs need vaccines to protect them against various viruses, bacteria, or diseases. The specific list of vaccines for meat pigs can vary depending on the region, the health status of all pigs, and other ones. It is recommended to consult with a veterinarian who specializes in pig health to determine the appropriate vaccination protocols for meat pigs in a particular farming operation.
Is there a vaccine for greasy pigs?
There is currently no commercially available vaccine for greasy pig, also known as exudative epidermitis. In special cases or severe outbreaks of greasy pig disease, a custom-made autogenous vaccine can be produced using the organism responsible for the disease. The sows should receive two injections, four and two weeks prior to farrowing, to enhance the transfer of immunity through colostrum. These treatments aim to control the bacterial infection and promote the healing of skin lesions.
Since there is no vaccine available, it is important to prevent this disease through good hygiene practices, which include maintaining clean housing environments, proper sanitation, and providing good nutrition.
Are organic pigs vaccinated?
Organic pigs may be vaccinated in certain cases or situations to prevent diseases, although not as routinely as non-organic pigs. The specific vaccines that can be used on organic pigs depend on the regulations of the area.
In severe cases, organic pig farmers or breeders must consult with their organic certification agency and veterinarians experienced in organic farming before applying any vaccines. It is important that all vaccines used on organic pigs comply with organic standards.
How many shots do pigs need?
A newborn pig typically needs approximately 17 shots from one week of life until five weeks of age. A gilt or sow requires 16 shots, while a boar needs 8 shots, which need to be repeated every six months, totaling approximately 16 shots per year.
