The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-21
Swine PARASITES
RUN UP BIG BILLS
Value OF Market Hogs Re-
duced By Fifth Cent
Per Head

Internal parasites are reducing
the carcass value of market hogs
in the Southeastern section of the
United States by more than so
cents per head, according to re-
ports from the Bureau of Ami
NAL Industry of the U. S. De-
partment Of Agriculture. !
This loss is caused by con-
demnation of parasitized livers,
kidneys, castings and affected parts
OF tie loins and other cuts in
slaughtering establishments ope-
rating under federal inspection.
From 1856 to 1915. the average
number of North Carolina hogs
slaughtered yearly a 1,1SS, 900.
When we figure this loss at the
same rate it amounts to 1884,
000.00 per year for the state of
North Carolina, which is the loss
from condemned parts only.
The professor IS not absorbing
this loss, the local slaughtering
plants that use an average of
1873, 900 hogs per year cannot absorb
this loss, but to the farmers who
slaughter an average Of 1923, 900
hogs per year it is a direct loss.
And the 222, 600 hogs that are
shipped to plants out of the state
are priced accordingly. The pack
er has the loss from condemna-
ton on previous shipments and
in most cases his price is adjust
ed accordingly.
In the past, some of our South
ern meat packing concerns have
paid as much as $1.00 more per
hundredweight for live hogs raised
under sanitary conditions.
On the average, 94'per cent of
the kidneys and 70 per cent Of the
livers failed to pass Federal in
spection. Thirty per cent of the
castings and 10 per cent of the
tongues also failed to pass in
spection. At first these losses
appear startling. but they r
hardly comparable to what must
have been lost to decreased ef-
ficiency in feed utilization, as the
liver and kidneys have. important
functions to perform. 1t is true,
however, that this damage from
internal parasites is commonly
overlooked or underestimate,
because the injuries are hidden
until the animals are slaughtered.
Damage Caused
Internal parasites harm the hog
in a number of ways. They absorb
sod nutrients, feed on tissues OF
the hog, suck blood from the hog,
cause mechanical obstruction,
bring about destruction of normal
tissue, form growths, cause irrita-
ton by s~ecreting toxins Or poisons,
and aid in transmitting infectious
diseases. In the transmission of
infectious diseases, intestional pa
rasites are a large factor as they
lower resistance and break the in
t~estional lining so infections can
gain entrance.
Controlling and removing para
sites is a much bigger problem
than medication of an animal or
group of animals. Effective meth
DDS of destroying break the life
cycle at its weakest point. This
is usually the stage in which the
parasite occupies the soil.
In managing the most suscep-
tible animal. the young pig, we
avoid his coming in contact with
with infested soil. He is most sus-
ceptible for the first three weeks
of his life and it is at this time
that we want him on clean ground
or areas that have not been used
for swine for at least three or pre-
ferably five years.
In parasite control, medication
should supplement sanitation when
needed. Medication without sani-
tation too often fails as the at
fected animal is able to pick up
a new supply of parasites.