The original book published in 1997, written by vet Dr Mike Muirhead and edited by Dr Tom Alexander has been revised and updated by Dr John Carr.

The book is a comprehensive reference guide to managing pig health. The emphasis on health has been reinforced, on the premise that managing health is the primary way to effectively prevent and tackle disease.

The book maintains its original 17 chapters covering the various elements of on-farm pig health management starting with an introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the pig.

The second chapter “Understanding Health and Disease” looks at infectious and non-infections agents and how they impact the health of the pig, both individually and at a farm level. The chapter also covers how infectious agents are spread, discusses biosecurity, the cost of disease and depopulation/repopulation techniques.

In chapter 3 “Managing Health and Disease”, the book reviews the management components of health control covering immunity and the medicinal control of disease. There is a comprehensive section on recognising health problems on the farm, managing the environment, staff training, use of records and planning for efficient production.

In this latest edition the references to branded medicinal products have been removed, because many products have changed or disappeared with the consolidation that has taken place in the animal pharmaceutical sector over the last decade.

This change also recognises the fact that the book has global appeal, that product licencing varies from country to country and that in many cases generic products are now available.

Since the original publication a number of new pathogens have emerged such as Porcine Circovirus 2 (PMWS and PDNS) and Nipah virus. These, and others, are now covered and the updates include the latest information on key diseases, such as PRRS, as they affect pig herds around the world.

Managing Pig Health retains its comprehensive coverage of pig health by detailing management practices, diseases, observations and procedures at each stage of the production cycle from reproduction, through gestation to farrowing and on through the weaner, grower and finishing periods.

Information on welfare has also been revised and updated to reflect the latest European legislation particularly the requirements for sow housing. The section looks at how these regulations and guidelines have been implemented in the UK and it also looks at the guidelines for welfare instituted in the US and Canada and the standards that have been put in place in Australia.

Managing Pig Health, targeted at all levels, aims to provide an understanding of the issues at stake to ensure best practices, best health and welfare and maximise the productivity of pig farms.

Managing Pig Health will be available from 5m Retail in June.