Swine Vaccines
Swine Vaccines for Herd Health
A solid vaccination program protects pigs from the farrowing crate to the finisher barn. Miss a round and it can show up later as poor gains or a rough-looking litter. Valley Vet Supply was founded by veterinarians in 1985, and our team still works alongside producers and their herd vets every day. This collection carries swine vaccines for circovirus, mycoplasma, reproductive disease, erysipelas, and atrophic rhinitis, with label schedules for sows, gilts, and piglets spelled out below.
Common Swine Vaccines
Circovirus and mycoplasma often show up together. Circumvent PCV-M G2 Swine Vaccine from Merck works against porcine circovirus type 2 and helps reduce lung lesions from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. It's approved for piglets as young as 3 days and has a demonstrated PCV2 duration of immunity of at least 20 weeks, or about 5 months.
For the breeding herd, FarrowSure Gold Swine Vaccine from Zoetis covers parvovirus, five strains of leptospirosis, and erysipelas, with an 18-week duration of immunity against erysipelas. Rhini Shield TX4 Swine Vaccine from Elanco aids in preventing atrophic rhinitis, erysipelas, and Pasteurella pneumonia.
Vaccinating and Handling Swine Vaccines
Vaccinating by Production Stage
FarrowSure Gold goes in as 2 doses, 3 to 5 weeks apart, with the second 2 to 4 weeks before breeding. Gilts should get that second dose as close as possible to 14 days before breeding, and boars are revaccinated twice a year. Rhini Shield TX4 goes to sows and gilts as a 5 ml dose at 5 and 2 weeks before farrowing, while piglets get 1 ml at 7 to 10 days and 2 ml two weeks later.
Storage and Injection Technique
Keep vaccines refrigerated and out of sunlight, and follow label directions for opened bottles. Valley Vet ships vaccines Monday through Thursday by overnight delivery, packed with ice packs. Give intramuscular shots in the neck behind the ear to protect the ham and loin. Grab Needles & Syringes and see our Swine Dewormers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines do sows need before farrowing?
That depends on your herd's history. Rhini Shield TX4, for example, is labeled for sows and gilts at 5 weeks and again 2 weeks before farrowing, and FarrowSure Gold gets a booster ahead of each breeding. Your herd veterinarian can build the full sow vaccine program.
Can I vaccinate piglets myself?
Many producers do. Circumvent PCV-M G2 can be given as 1 ml at 3 days of age and repeated in 3 weeks, or as a single 2 ml dose at 3 weeks or older. Some purchases may need a veterinary license or prescription depending on where you live.
How should swine vaccines be stored on the farm?
Keep them in the refrigerator, never the freezer, and out of direct sunlight. Check each label for storage temperatures and how to handle partly used bottles. A refrigerator thermometer helps you confirm vaccines stay between 35 and 46°F.
