Why should we do post-mortem examinations in pigs? That’s the question Jeff Bergermann, Veterinary Services Manager at Zoetis Canada, posed at the start of his presentation to participants of the 2024 PSC Producer Meetings. It’s a good idea to do post-mortem examinations when you see changes in production, such as increased mortality or morbidity, or decreased productivity. Post-mortems help people learn. To get started with post-mortem examinations on-farm, the most important tool you will need is a sharp knife and a sharpener (but a scalpel blade could also work). Post-mortem examinations can be done by producers themselves, or by a veterinarian. Use a systematic approach for the post-mortem examinations. Further analyses can be done on collected samples like swabs, samples fixed in formalin, or fresh samples.
Seek and you shall find; The value of postmortem, in pigs? (full article)
