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A minor change in the environment of pigs can improve the health of pigs and the quality of pork. This was the theme that brought seventy-six pig raisers from Saracoto, in the Eastern Cone of Lima, to attend the Capacity Building Workshop for Healthy Pigs on May 12 (a collaboration by the National Agrarian University and the CIP). The workshop sought to complement the practical knowledge of pig raisers in the management and the prevention of infectious diseases and parasites, with a special focus on diseases found common in the area, like cholera and pneumonia. The workshop focused on the existence of diseases among pigs, which is related to inappropriate health management systems. This inadequate system creates a stressful environment for the pigs, which influences their health and susceptibility to diseases. The reality is that the pig raisers are faced with no electricity or piped water making a suitable health management system difficult. Acknowledging the fact that obtaining electricity and water will not occur overnight, the pig raisers seek the improvement in the management system under present conditions. At the workshop the participants focused on practical solutions, like improving waste management and infrastructure. Small details, like the installation or improvement of roofs to provide better coverage and shade to the pigs, could reduce stress and improve the health of the pigs.

Participants and facilitators from the workshop touched upon many scenarios that cause health issues for pigs and in turn to humans. One source of disease derives from the contamination of pig feed, either from other animals, or from humans who prepare the pig feed. Some of these diseases are harmful and stressful to the pigs, whereas others mainly affect consumers of pig meat. Zoonoses, or diseases that pass from animals to humans, are important in pig raising. Plenty of examples exist of pathogenic organisms, like tapeworm and, affecting the well being of pigs or those who consume pigs.

All the participants and facilitators are aware that the health situation would dramatically improve with the arrival of electricity and piped water and with a little change in human behavior, but they were also able to find innovative techniques to improve the environment and health of the pigs with the minimal resources available to them. At the end of the workshop the pig raisers were interest in seeking more collaboration and capacity building with CIP and the National Agrarian University to improve pig production systems.

View photos from the workshop.