Prevalence of tail lesions in Swiss finishing pigs.

INTRODUCTION: Tail biting and lesions are common problems in modern pig production. In 2008 tail docking to prevent tail biting was banned in Switzerland. Since then pigs have been raised with intact tails. This study aimed to assess the current prevalence of tail lesions at Swiss abattoirs and comparing abattoir data with farm-specific data regarding potential risk factors for tail lesions. Data collection was performed in repetitive cycles of two weeks at four abattoirs during all consecutive seasons of one year. Gender, tail length and the tail tip condition were evaluated among other parameters. During 32 weeks in total, 195 704 pigs from 6112 batches from 2510 herds were evaluated. Overall, 63,2 % of the animals included in the analysis were slaughtered with a complete tail (lowest tail length score [TLS]), whereas 36,8 % showed a partial or total loss of the tail. The condition of the tail tip (tail tip condition score [TTCS]) was judged as being intact in 63,0 %, as a healed lesion in 23,7 %, an acute lesion in 1,3 % and a chronic lesion in 12,0 % of all cases. Male animals had significantly higher values for TLS and TTCS than female animals (P ≤ 0,05). TLS values were significantly higher in winter than in spring and summer (P < 0,001). TTCS values were significantly higher in fall than in spring and summer. TLS and TTCS values differed significantly (P < 0,001) between the four abattoirs. Only few significant correlations were found between values of TLS and TTCS and farm-specific data. Recording tail lesions at abattoirs is an accurate method to investigate the prevalence of tail lesions in fattening pigs. However, to monitor animal welfare on herd level, this method is very labor intensive. Moreover, data on tail lesions collected at the abattoir cannot replace veterinary on-farm examination for risk factor identification.

INTRODUCTION: Les morsures et les lésions de la queue sont des problèmes courants dans la production porcine moderne. En 2008, la Suisse a interdit la caudectomie pour prévenir les morsures de la queue. Depuis lors, les porcs sont engraissés avec des queues intactes. Cette étude visait à évaluer la prévalence actuelle des lésions de la queue dans les abattoirs suisses et à comparer les données de l'abattoir avec les données spécifiques à l'exploitation concernant les facteurs de risque potentiels pour des lésions de la queue. La collecte des données a été effectuée par cycles répétitifs de deux semaines dans quatre abattoirs pendant toutes les saisons d'une année. Le sexe, la longueur de la queue et l'état de l'extrémité de la queue ont été évalués parmi d'autres paramètres. Pendant 32 semaines au total, 195 704 porcs provenant de 6 112 lots de 2 510 troupeaux ont été évalués. Dans l'ensemble, 63,2 % des animaux inclus dans l'analyse ont été abattus avec une queue complète (Tail Length Score [TLS] la plus basse), tandis que 36,8 %présentaient une perte partielle ou totale de la queue. L'état de l'extrémité de la queue (Tail Tip Condition Score [TTCS]) a été jugé intact dans 63,0 %des cas, avec une lésion cicatrisée dans 23,7 %des cas, avec une lésion aiguë dans 1,3 %des cas et avec une lésion chronique dans 12,0 %des cas. Les animaux mâles présentaient des valeurs de TLS et de TTCS significativement plus élevées que les animaux femelles (P ≤ 0,05). Les valeurs de TLS étaient significativement plus élevées en hiver qu'au printemps et en été (P < 0,001). Les valeurs de TTCS étaient significativement plus élevées en automne qu'au printemps et en été. Les valeurs TLS et TTCS différaient significativement (P < 0,001) entre les quatre abattoirs. Seules quelques corrélations significatives ont été trouvées entre les valeurs de TLS et TTCS et les données spécifiques à l'exploitation. L'enregistrement des lésions de la queue dans les abattoirs est une méthode précise pour étudier la prévalence de ces lésions chez les porcs d'engraissement. Cependant, pour contrôler le bien-être animal au niveau du troupeau, cette méthode demande beaucoup de travail. En outre, les données sur les lésions de la queue collectées à l'abattoir ne peuvent pas remplacer les examens vétérinaires sur l'exploitation pour l'identification des facteurs de risque.

Application of an economic calculator to determine the cost of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome at farm-level in 21 pig herds in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) continues to be a major economic issue for the swine industry worldwide, not only due to acute outbreaks but also endemic infections. PRRS disease severity and consequently financial losses can vary greatly between endemically infected farms and estimation of damage is challenging. This study aimed to assess the economic effect of PRRS in a systematic way at individual farm-level for endemically infected herds, using a PRRS cost simulation tool. In total 21 German sow herds with endemic PRRSV infection were investigated. Data on health and production performance, farm management and environment to be fed into the calculator was collected on each farm, and blood samples taken to confirm the PRRSV status. RESULTS: All study farms experienced a significant loss attributable to PRRS. The median farm budget across all farms was - 31 € per sow and year, compared to a median simulated farm budget of 248 € if these farms had been PRRSV negative. The median total loss attributable to PRRS was 74,181 € per farm per year, corresponding to a median total loss per sow and year of 255 €. The impact of PRRS on farm profits was - 19.1% on average and - 41% in the worst case. CONCLUSIONS: The calculated losses give a good hint of the economic damage due to PRRS for the pig industry. Even in endemically infected farms, farmers face a non-negligible damage and profit from a concerted PRRS control. The calculator has proven itself in the field to render a valid estimation of losses due to PRRS in endemically infected farms.

[Use of antibiotics in Swiss piglet production and fattening farms]. / Antibiotikaeinsatz in Schweizer Ferkel­erzeugungs- und Mastbetrieben.

INTRODUCTION: In 164 randomly selected Swiss piglet production farms and 101 fattening farms, the indication for antibiotic use in 2012/2013 was recorded and an animal treatment index (TBI) was calculated for each age group. Sows were treated on average 0.9 days per year mainly due to mastitis-metritis-agalactia (MMA). Suckling piglets were treated on average 0.5 days per production cycle, mainly due to diarrhea and polyarthritis. Weaned piglets were treated during 4.4 days, especially due to diarrhea, polyarthritis and wasting. In fattening pigs, treatments were mainly due to diarrhea and HPS-suspicion, and lasted on average 4.8 days. In sows, antibiotics were used prophylactically on 22.6% of the treatment days, in suckling piglets on 50.5%, in weaners on 86.1% and in fattening pigs on 79.0% of the treatment days. A prophylactic oral antibiotic group therapy did not have a significant positive effect on daily weight gain of fattening pigs, nor was it able to reduce the number of individual or group therapies. In farms with prophylactic oral group therapy, the mortality rate during the first two fattening weeks even tended to be higher (p=0.06) than in farms without oral group therapy. Highest priority critically important antibiotics were used in 22.6% of all treatment days in sows, in 37.5% in suckling piglets, in 17.2% in weaned piglets and in 27.3% in fattening pigs. In many farms, antibiotics were not prescribed and used according to the rules of "prudent use".

INTRODUCTION: Dans 164 exploitations suisses de production de porcelets sélectionnées au hasard et 101 exploitations d'engraissement, les données concernant l'utilisation d'antibiotiques en 2012/2013 ont été enregistrées et un indice de traitement des animaux (TBI) a été calculé pour chaque groupe d'âge. Les truies ont été traitées en moyenne 0,9 jour par an, principalement en raison d'une mammite-métrite-agalactie (MMA). Les porcelets allaités ont été traités en moyenne 0,5 jour par cycle de production, principalement en raison de diarrhée et de polyarthrite. Les porcelets sevrés ont été traités pendant 4,4 jours, en particulier en raison de diarrhée, polyarthrite et émaciation. Chez les porcs à l'engrais, les traitements étaient principalement dus à la diarrhée et à la suspicion d'Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) et duraient en moyenne 4,8 jours. Chez les truies, les antibiotiques ont été utilisés à titre prophylactique pendant 22,6% des jours de traitement, chez les porcelets nourris au lait pendant 50,5%, chez les porcelets sevrés pendant 86,1% et chez les porcs à l'engrais pendant 79,0% des jours de traitement. Une antibiothérapie prophylactique de groupe par voie orale n'a pas eu d'effet positif significatif sur la prise de poids quotidienne des porcs à l'engrais et n'a pas permis de réduire le nombre de thérapies individuelles ou de groupe. Dans les exploitations avec traitement prophylactique de groupe par voie orale, le taux de mortalité au cours des deux premières semaines d'engraissement avait même tendance à être plus élevé (p = 0,06) que dans les exploitations sans traitement de groupe par voie orale. Des antibiotiques d'importance critique de haute priorité («Highest priority critically important antibiotics¼) ont été utilisés dans 22,6% de tous les jours de traitement chez les truies, dans 37,5% chez les porcelets allaités, dans 17,2% chez les porcelets sevrés et dans 27,3% chez les porcs à l'engrais. Dans de nombreuses exploitations, les antibiotiques n'étaient pas prescrits ni utilisés conformément aux règles de «l'utilisation prudente¼.

Modelling the economic efficiency of using different strategies to control Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome at herd level.

PRRS is among the diseases with the highest economic impact in pig production worldwide. Different strategies have been developed and applied to combat PRRS at farm level. The broad variety of available intervention strategies makes it difficult to decide on the most cost-efficient strategy for a given farm situation, as it depends on many farm-individual factors like disease severity, prices or farm structure. Aim of this study was to create a simulation tool to estimate the cost-efficiency of different control strategies at individual farm level. Baseline is a model that estimates the costs of PRRS, based on changes in health and productivity, in a specific farm setting (e.g. farm type, herd size, type of batch farrowing). The model evaluates different intervention scenarios: depopulation/repopulation (D/R), close & roll-over (C&R), mass vaccination of sows (MS), mass vaccination of sows and vaccination of piglets (MS + piglets), improvements in internal biosecurity (BSM), and combinations of vaccinations with BSM. Data on improvement in health and productivity parameters for each intervention were obtained through literature review and from expert opinions. The economic efficiency of the different strategies was assessed over 5 years through investment appraisals: the resulting expected value (EV) indicated the most cost-effective strategy. Calculations were performed for 5 example scenarios with varying farm type (farrow-to-finish - breeding herd), disease severity (slightly - moderately - severely affected) and PRRSV detection (yes - no). The assumed herd size was 1000 sows with farm and price structure as commonly found in Germany. In a moderately affected (moderate deviations in health and productivity parameters from what could be expected in an average negative herd), unstable farrow-to-finish herd, the most cost-efficient strategies according to their median EV were C&R (€1'126'807) and MS + piglets (€ 1'114'649). In a slightly affected farrow-to-finish herd, no virus detected, the highest median EV was for MS + piglets (€ 721'745) and MS (€ 664'111). Results indicate that the expected benefits of interventions and the most efficient strategy depend on the individual farm situation, e.g. disease severity. The model provides new insights regarding the cost-efficiency of various PRRSV intervention strategies at farm level. It is a valuable tool for farmers and veterinarians to estimate expected economic consequences of an intervention for a specific farm setting and thus enables a better informed decision.

Incidence of Abnormalities of the Second and Third Cervical Vertebral Junction in Dogs with Atlantoaxial Instability: A Multicentre Study.

Objective To evaluate the occurrence and frequency of abnormalities at the second and third cervical vertebral junction (C2/3) in dogs with and without atlantoaxial instability (AAI). Study Design Retrospective multi-institutional case-controlled case series. Animals One hundred and seventeen dogs with AAI and 117 dogs without AAI. Methods Radiographs, together with computer tomographic images or magnetic resonance images or both, of the cranial cervical spine of dogs were reviewed for the presence or absence of intervertebral disc-related anomalies, osseous fusion of the vertebrae, spondylosis, or any other anomaly of the C2/3. Results The incidence of anomalies affecting the C2/3 in dogs with AAI was 38.46% (n = 45) and in the control group it was 11.97% (n = 14). The majority of the observed anomalies involved the intervertebral disc. In conjunction with AAI, intervertebral disc-related anomalies were noted in 33.34%, spondylosis in 2.56%, osseous fusion in 1.71% and a hypoplasia of the spinous process in 0.85% of the cases. Summarized under the term intervertebral disc-related anomalies, a morphological alteration of the intervertebral disc was noted in 10 cases with AAI, characterized by a spherical outer shape and a minimally reduced size and a dorsal positioning in the intervertebral space. Conclusion There is a significantly higher incidence of anomalies affecting the C2/3 in association with AAI. In conjunction with AAI, intervertebral disc-related anomalies are the most frequent pathological finding affecting the C2/3.

[Influence of probiotics on the establishment of a competitive flora, as well as on antibiotic use and performance parameters in pig breeding farms]. / Einfluss von Probiotika auf die Etablierung einer Konkurrenzflora sowie auf den Antibiotikaverbrauch und die Leistung in Schweinezuchtbetrieben.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Probiotics in Progress (PIP) on the establishment of a competitive flora as well as on antibiotic use and losses of suckling piglets in pig breeding farms. The tested products were PIP AHC® and PIP AHS® produced by "Chrisal AG" in Lommel, Belgium. PIP`s are cleaning products containing Bacillus spores. According to the manufacturer's specifications, they are able to establish a steady non-pathogenic stable flora. In a field trial in 19 pig breeding farms, the use of PIP-products did not lead to any reduction of antibiotic use or improvement of fertility parameters, especially in relation to losses of suckling piglets. In addition, we compared the bacterial flora using PIP products with the flora under conventional management conditions in a farrowing pen by means of swab samples. The use of PIP-products did not lead to any significant effect on the pen flora. Only very few swab samples contained a majority of probiotic Bacillus spp.

INTRODUCTION: Le but de la présente étude était d'étudier l'effet de Probiotica in Progress (PIP) sur l'établissement d'une flore concurrente ainsi que son effet sur la consommation d'antibiotiques et sur les pertes chez les porcelets dans les porcheries d'élevage. On a utilisé pour ce faire les produits PIP AHC® et PIP AHS® de la maison "Chrisal SA" à Lommel en Belgique. Les PIP sont des produits de nettoyage auxquels ont été adjoints des spores de Bacillus et qui, selon les informations du fabriquant, conduisent à l'établissement d'une flore d'écurie apathogène stable. Dans le cadre d'un essai de terrain dans 19 porcheries d'élevage, l'utilisation des produits PIP n'a amené aucune réduction de la consommation d'antibiotiques et aucune amélioration des performances, en particulier en ce qui concerne les pertes au niveau des porcelets. En outre on a comparé dans une porcherie, sur la base d'échantillons d'essuyage, la flore bactérienne présente sous l'effet de PIP à celle recueillie avec un management usuel. L'utilisation des produits PIP n'a pas amené d'effet significatif ou d'influence sur la flore bactérienne. Ce n'est que dans quelques échantillons qu'il a été possible de constater une présence augmentée de Bacillus spp. probiotiques.

Cost of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus at individual farm level - An economic disease model.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is reported to be among the diseases with the highest economic impact in modern pig production worldwide. Yet, the economic impact of the disease at farm level is not well understood as, especially in endemically infected pig herds, losses are often not obvious. It is therefore difficult for farmers and veterinarians to appraise whether control measures such as virus elimination or vaccination will be economically beneficial for their farm. Thus, aim of this study was to develop an epidemiological and economic model to determine the costs of PRRS for an individual pig farm. In a production model that simulates farm outputs, depending on farm type, farrowing rhythm or length of suckling period, an epidemiological model was integrated. In this, the impact of PRRS infection on health and productivity was estimated. Financial losses were calculated in a gross margin analysis and a partial budget analysis based on the changes in health and production parameters assumed for different PRRS disease severities. Data on the effects of endemic infection on reproductive performance, morbidity and mortality, daily weight gain, feed efficiency and treatment costs were obtained from literature and expert opinion. Nine different disease scenarios were calculated, in which a farrow-to-finish farm (1000 sows) was slightly, moderately or severely affected by PRRS, based on changes in health and production parameters, and either in breeding, in nursery and fattening or in all three stages together. Annual losses ranged from a median of € 75'724 (90% confidence interval (C.I.): € 78'885-€ 122'946), if the farm was slightly affected in nursery and fattening, to a median of € 650'090 (90% C.I. € 603'585-€ 698'379), if the farm was severely affected in all stages. Overall losses were slightly higher if breeding was affected than if nursery and fattening were affected. In a herd moderately affected in all stages, median losses in breeding were € 46'021 and € 422'387 in fattening, whereas costs were € 25'435 lower in nursery, compared with a PRRSV-negative farm. The model is a valuable decision-support tool for farmers and veterinarians if a farm is proven to be affected by PRRS (confirmed by laboratory diagnosis). The output can help to understand the need for interventions in case of significant impact on the profitability of their enterprise. The model can support veterinarians in their communication to farmers in cases where costly disease control measures are justified.

An Outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Switzerland Following Import of Boar Semen.

An outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) occurred in November 2012 in Switzerland (CH), traditionally PRRSV-free. It was detected after a German boar stud informed a semen importer about the detection of PRRSV during routine monitoring. Tracing of semen deliveries revealed 26 Swiss sow herds that had used semen from this stud after its last negative routine monitoring and 62 further contact herds. All herds were put under movement restrictions and examined serologically and virologically. As a first measure, 59 sows from five herds that had previously been inseminated with suspicious semen were slaughtered and tested immediately. Investigations in the stud resulted in 8 positive boars with recent semen deliveries to CH (Seven with antibodies and virus, one with antibodies only). In one boar out of six tested, virus was detected in semen. Of the 59 slaughtered sows, five from three herds were virus-positive. In one herd, the virus had spread, and all pigs were slaughtered or non-marketable animals euthanized. In the remaining herds, no further infections were detected. After confirmatory testings in all herds 3 weeks after the first examination gave negative results, restrictions were lifted in January 2013, and Switzerland regained its PRRSV-free status. The events demonstrate that import of semen from non-PRRS-free countries--even from negative studs--poses a risk, because monitoring protocols in boar studs are often insufficient to timely detect an infection, and infections of sows/herds occur even with low numbers of semen doses. The outbreak was eradicated successfully mainly due to the high disease awareness of the importer and because immediate actions were taken before clinical or laboratory diagnosis of a single case in the country was made. To minimize the risk of an introduction of PRRSV in the future, stricter import guidelines for boar semen have been implemented.

Risk assessment of the introduction of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus via boar semen into Switzerland as an example of a PRRSV-free country.

Switzerland is currently porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) free, but semen imports from PRRSV-infected European countries are increasing. As the virus can be transmitted via semen, for example, when a free boar stud becomes infected, and the risk of its import in terms of PRRSV introduction is unknown, the annual probability to accidentally import the virus into Switzerland was estimated in a risk assessment. A quantitative stochastic model was set up with data comprised by import figures of 2010, interviews with boar stud owners and expert opinion. It resulted in an annual median number of 0.18 imported ejaculates (= imported semen doses from one collection from one donor) from PRRSV-infected boars. Hence, one infected ejaculate would be imported every 6 years and infect a mean of 10 sows. These results suggest that under current circumstances, there is a substantial risk of PRRSV introduction into Switzerland via imported boar semen and that measures to enhance safety of imports should be taken. The time from infection of a previously negative boar stud to its detection had the highest impact on the number of imported 'positive' ejaculates. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on PRRSV monitoring protocols in boar studs. Results indicated that a substantial increase in safety could only be achieved with much tighter sampling protocols than currently performed. Generally, the model could easily be customized for other applications like other countries or regions or even sow farms that want to estimate their risk when purchasing semen from a particular boar stud.

Campylobacter spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, and Salmonella enterica and their simultaneous occurrence in German fattening pig herds and their environment.

Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, and Yersinia enterocolitica are common causes of foodborne infections in humans with pork as a potential source. Monitoring programs at farm level are, to date, only implemented for S. enterica, while epidemiological knowledge of the other two pathogens is still lacking. This study aimed to assess the pathogen load (in the pigs' environment) in fattening pig herds, their simultaneous occurrence, and the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Y. enterocolitica in herds in different Salmonella risk categories. In 50 fattening pig herds in northern Germany, four pooled fecal samples and 10 swab samples from the pigs' direct environment (pen walls, nipple drinkers), indirect environment (hallways, drive boards), and flies and rodent droppings were collected from each herd and submitted for cultural examination. Campylobacter spp. were detected in 38.1% of fecal, 32.7% of direct environment, 5.3% of indirect environment, and 4.6% of flies/pests samples collected, and Y. enterocolitica in 17.1, 8.1, 1.2, and 3.1% and S. enterica in 11.2, 7.7, 4.1, and 1.5%, respectively. For Campylobacter spp., Y. enterocolitica, and S. enterica, 80, 48, and 32% of herds were positive, respectively; 22 herds were positive for both Campylobacter spp. and Y. enterocolitica, 12 for Campylobacter spp. and S. enterica, and 7 for Y. enterocolitica and S. enterica. There was no significant association between the pathogens at herd level. Campylobacter spp. and Y. enterocolitica were found more often in samples from the low Salmonella risk category (odds ratio, 0.51; confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.73, and 0.3, 0.17 to 0.57), and this was also the case for Y. enterocolitica at herd level (odds ratio, 0.08; confidence interval, 0.02 to 0.3). This study provides evidence that the pigs' environment should be accounted for when implementing control measures on farms against Campylobacter spp. and Y. enterocolitica. An extrapolation from the current Salmonella monitoring to the other two pathogens does not seem feasible.