28 guides on pig health for Philippine pig farmers.
Treating a sick pig costs 5-10x more than preventing the disease. Biosecurity does not require expensive equipment, it requires discipline. Here is a prevention-first approach for Philippine conditions.
Sep 23, 2026
Not all skin problems are mange. Crusty ears usually are, but diamond-shaped red patches are erysipelas, greasy flaking is staph infection, and red skin on white pigs may just be sunburn.
Aug 24, 2026
Most bad piglets show themselves in the first two minutes if you know what to check. Twelve tests you can do at the seller's pen, in order, before you commit to a single peso.
Aug 14, 2026
The ASF vaccine exists, it works reasonably well in fatteners, and you almost certainly cannot get it. Here is where the AVAC rollout actually stands as of 1 August 2026, the eligibility rule that shuts out most clean barangays, and the exact paperwork your municipal agriculture office will ask for if you do qualify.
Aug 9, 2026
June to November in the Philippines means flooding, mud, respiratory disease spikes, moldy feed, and parasite surges in piggeries. Most of these problems are preventable with preparation done in April-May. Here is your complete rainy season survival guide with a pre-season checklist.
Jul 15, 2026
At minimum, every pig needs hog cholera vaccination at 6-8 weeks with a booster at 10-12 weeks. Many municipalities provide this free. Here is the complete schedule.
May 20, 2026
Glove up, isolate the sow, and figure out if it is just one or the whole herd. The cause changes everything; in PH, leptospirosis tops the list.
May 19, 2026
Fever above 39.5°C plus piglets crying nonstop after a fresh farrow is MMA until proven otherwise. You have 48 hours before the litter starts to die.
May 15, 2026
Larvae double overnight. Pull them out, dust with Negasunt, inject ivermectin, and stop the next batch of flies. Most adult-pig wounds clear in a week.
May 14, 2026
A swollen vulva can mean breed her, expect piglets in a week, or check the corn for mould. The trick is the timing and what comes with it.
May 13, 2026
About 18% of litters and 3.4% of gilts savage. Get the piglets out, sedate the sow, and decide. Most gilts will not repeat next time.
May 12, 2026
When tissue comes out, you have hours not days. Sugar shrinks the swelling, but some cases are slaughter cases. Here is how to tell them apart.
May 11, 2026
Most pig limping comes down to six causes. Here is how to tell trauma from infection, when penicillin is the right drug, and when it does nothing.
May 10, 2026
African Swine Fever reshaped Philippine pig farming permanently. Here's how to build biosecurity systems that protect your herd without breaking the bank.
May 9, 2026
When disease hits your piggery, the first 24 hours determine whether you lose a few pigs or the whole herd. Here is the step-by-step response guide every Filipino farmer needs.
May 2, 2026
Most backyard pigs need just three supplements: a vitamin-mineral premix, salt, and limestone. Everything else is optional. Here is what actually matters.
Apr 30, 2026
Piglets are born with only enough iron for 3-4 days. Without supplementation, they develop anemia by day 7-10, pale, weak, and growing 20-30% slower. One injection at day 3 prevents this.
Apr 22, 2026
A pig that refuses feed is losing weight and money every day. The cause is usually one of 6 things, and the first thing to check is always the water supply.
Apr 18, 2026
When a sow has been straining for 45 minutes with no piglet, something is wrong. This guide covers what to do, step by step, before and during a farrowing emergency.
Apr 12, 2026
Inject in the neck behind the ear, never in the ham. Use 18-20 gauge for piglets, 16 gauge for finishers. This guide covers IM and SC technique, needle selection, common medications, and costs.
Apr 4, 2026
Castrate at 7-14 days for least stress and fastest healing. Wait too long and you get more bleeding, slower recovery, and risk of boar taint in the meat.
Mar 28, 2026
The ideal age to buy piglets for fattening is 8-10 weeks — fully weaned, eating solid feed, and past the most vulnerable period. Here is what to look for and what to avoid.
Mar 22, 2026
Internal parasites are a top cause of slow pig growth in backyard farms. Deworming every 3-4 months with ivermectin or fenbendazole costs little and recovers most of the lost weight gain.
Mar 22, 2026
If your pig is growing slower than expected, the cause is usually one of 5 things: parasites, poor feed quality, heat stress, disease, or overcrowding. Here is how to diagnose each one.
Mar 22, 2026
One sick pig can wipe your whole batch. This guide covers the diseases killing most Philippine pigs, with a symptom reference table, step-by-step isolation protocol, vaccination schedule, first aid supplies, parasite management, common medication errors, and what your vet needs to know when you call.
Mar 21, 2026
A pig that stops eating is telling you something is wrong. Here are the signs every backyard farmer should watch for, and what each symptom usually means.
Mar 20, 2026
Nearly half of all piglet deaths happen within 24 hours of birth. Most are preventable with simple management changes that cost under ₱500.
Mar 19, 2026
In Philippine heat, pigs need 30-50% more water than temperate climate guidelines suggest. A lactating sow needs 25-35 liters per day. Most backyard farms underestimate this.
Mar 18, 2026
