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Pig Journal Volume: 62
Publication date: June 2009

General Section

EVALUATION OF GROWER-FINISHER PIGS FED WITH CASSAVA PEEL MEAL INCORPORATED WITH PALM OIL
M.A. DAMISA and G.S. BAWA

Abstract
Forty-eight pigs with an average initial weight of 35.17 kg were fed with diets containing various levels of Cassava Peel Meal incorporated with palm oil. The trial lasted 42 weeks. Progression and gross margin analyses were employed in analysing the data. Inclusion of Cassava Peel Meal with palm oil increased (P < 0.05) feed intake, weight gain and dressing percentage but decreased (P < 0.05) crude protein intake. Inclusion of CPM up to 38.2% with 5.38% palm oil gave a better economic performance than other CPM inclusions.

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FIRST OUT TO BAN FEED ADDITIVES IN 1986. VETERINARY CHALLENGES WITHIN SWEDISH PIG PRODUCTION - PART I: USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES
P. WALLGREN

Abstract
The Swedish pig industry today comprises 160,000 sows and rears 3.25 million pigs to market weight. Being surrounded by water and employing a restricted import of animals, the health status is favourable.
A ban of so called growth promoters (i.e. low dose antibiotics in the feed by routine) was brought in, in 1986. Use of antibiotics in therapeutic doses to diseased animals has never been prohibited, but large scale medications are preceded by a proper diagnosis and a written disease prevention strategy including a last date for the in-feed medication. A doubling in incidence of post-weaning diarrhoeas and severe problems with Swine Dysentery followed the ban. Also, other diseases were at hand and the mean age at 25 kg body weight was increased by one week at a national level.
Obviously disease preventing measures were mandatory. Today the main part of the pig production takes place in age segregated systems from birth to slaughter and the productivity is well above that prior to 1986. The antibiotics used in veterinary medicine have decreased by 60% since the ban and antimicrobial resistance among microbes is uncommon.
This manuscript focuses on the use of antibiotics and on efforts made to prevent respiratory disease.

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FIRST OUT TO BAN FEED ADDITIVES IN 1986. VETERINARY CHALLENGES WITHIN SWEDISH PIG PRODUCTION - PART II: INTESTINAL AND MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES
P. WALLGREN

Abstract
The Swedish pig industry today comprises 160,000 sows and rears 3.25 million pigs to market weight. Being surrounded by water and employing a restricted import of animals, the health status is favourable.
A ban of so called growth promoters (i.e. a routine add of low dose antibiotics to the feed) was achieved in 1986. Use of antibiotics in therapeutic doses to diseased animals has never been prohibited, but large scale medications are preceded by a proper diagnosis and a written disease preventing strategy including a last date for the in-feed medication. A doubling in incidence of post-weaning diarrhoeas and severe problems with Swine Dysentery followed the ban. Also other diseases were at hand and the mean age at 25 kg body weight was increased by one week at a national level. Obviously, disease preventing measures were mandatory.
Today the main part of pig production takes place in age-segregated systems from birth to slaughter, and the productivity is well above that prior to 1986. The antibiotics used in veterinary medicine have decreased by 60% since the ban. The impact of disease has decreased and antimicrobial resistance among microbes is uncommon.
This manuscript focuses on efforts made to prevent intestinal and miscellaneous diseases.

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ENERGY USE AND WASTE IN UK PIG PRODUCTION
N. BIRD and H.G. CRABTREE

Abstract
This paper reports the outcome of work undertaken over a period of almost two years monitoring electricity use on commercial pig units in the UK. The work was jointly funded by the British Pig Executive (BPEX), Farmex Ltd. and the pig producers involved. Readings from a total of 84 meters were recorded every 15 minutes on 11 different farms. The circuits being measured covered a range of uses from power used by Automatically Controlled Natural Ventilation (ACNV) systems through to total use of electric energy in farrowing rooms. The measurements cover a spectrum of farms, a range of uses and varying styles of production. Since the total number of meters is relatively small and the range of results between them so great, the records should only be considered to be indicative of commercial practice and not necessarily typical or representative of the industry as a whole. In order to be able to express energy use on a ‘per pig produced’ basis, data was divided into notional production stages of ‘farrowing’, ‘nursery’ and ‘grower’. The main conclusion is that operator understanding and use of equipment are by far the most influential factors determining energy use and waste on UK pig units.

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Case Studies

ATAXIA ASSOCIATED WITH SUNBURN IN OUTDOOR GILTS: A CASE REPORT
S. WILLIAMSON, N. WOODGER, R. HIGGINS and I. HANDS

Abstract
An investigation was made into the cause of ataxia in gilts on an outdoor breeding unit in Norfolk in May 2004. Up to 30% of gilts in each of three paddocks became clinically affected over several days with ataxia, sudden collapse into sternal recumbency, crab-walking and stiffness. They later developed skin lesions and severe photo-dermatitis was the main finding in a gilt which was necropsied. The probable cause was severe sunburn and two predisposing factors were identified. The first was contact with regrowth of the previous parsnip crop; juice in the leafy foliage or stems of parsnips contains furanocoumarins which cause contact photosensitisation if present on skin exposed to sunlight. The second was the unusual weather conditions which would not have stimulated gilts to wallow or seek shade even though at risk of sunburn.

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ACTINOBACILLUS PLEUROPNEUMONIAE: COMPARISONS OF SWEDISH ISOLATES OF SEROTYPE 2 AND 5 OVER TIME
P. WALLGREN and A. ASPÁN

Abstract
Respiratory disorders associated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) in Sweden have generally been associated with serotype 2 (Wallgren et al., 2003a). However, serotype 5 has also been isolated in a few herds between 1999 and 2007. Pigs affected by App serotype 5 have escaped detection in antibody-detecting ELISA systems based on phenol water extracted antigens of the type strains, but were detected when the ELISA systems were designed from the field isolates (Wallgren et al., 2003a).
During recent years health disturbances associated with App appear to have increased. The present study was carried out to compare strains of App recently isolated with older strains and with type strains.

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A CASE OF SUSPECTED THROMBOCYTOPENIA PURPURA
J. BOROBIA

Abstract
In November 2007 a 400 sow unit experienced an increase in sub-cutaneous haemorrhages and bruises in the skin of twenty-eight piglets in eight different litters. The unit had experienced this problem over the previous three years. Piglets, normal at birth, developed the clinical signs from seven days of age. Mortality was high after a few days developing the clinical signs.
An investigation was carried out involving clinical examinations, post-mortem examinations and laboratory investigations. However, haematology was not performed as blood samples clotted.
A diagnosis of Thrombocytopenia purpura was indicated based on the history, consistent clinical signs and laboratory investigations.
A control programme of cross-fostering affected litters to other sows was implemented. Nevertheless, some of the cross-fostered affected piglets died. Sows that produced affected litters were culled or mated with a different boar. This resulted in no further cases.

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Research Papers

EXCITABILITY SCORES OF PIGS ADMINISTERED ASCORBIC ACID AND TRANSPORTED FOR EIGHT HOURS DURING THE HARMATTAN SEASON
A.Y. ADENKOLA, J.O. AYO, A.K.B. SACKEY and N. S. MINKA

Abstract
Experiments were performed with the aim of investigating the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) administration on excitability of pigs transported by road for eight hours. Seventeen pigs served as experimental animals and were administered AA orally and individually at the dose of 250 mg/kg dissolved in 10 ml of sterile water. Twelve pigs given only 10 ml each of sterile water per os served as controls. During weighing of the pigs, excitability scores were recorded in each pig, before and immediately after road transportation using a standard method. A score of one to four was allocated to each pig, with a higher score representing greater excitability. Excitability scores decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in control pigs immediately after the transportation. The results show that road transportation induced considerable stress followed by depression as evidenced by a lower excitability score recorded post-transportation in control pigs. The administration of AA pre-transportation resulted in the maintenance of excitability of the central nervous system in the experimental pigs following road transportation. In conclusion, AA administration to pigs prior to road transportation during the Harmattan season ameliorates the depression induced by the journey, and may enhance their health.

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MODELLING PCV2 INFECTION WITHIN A FARROW-TO-FINISH PIG FARM
M. ANDRAUD, F. MADEC, N. ROSE , E.A. LEON and J.S. PIERRE

Abstract
A stochastic individual based model representing the population dynamics in a typical French farrow-to-finish pig farm has been developed to study the within-herd course of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection. The model is based on segregated rearing and a three week batch farrowing management with a 28 day lactation. An epidemic model for PCV2 infection was developed and coupled with the within-herd population dynamics model. The infectious process is based on a modified SEIR model taking into account the passive immunity intake by piglets as governed by the infectious status of their dams. Infectious parameters (within and between-pen transmission rates, time-related infectiousness, duration of passive immunity) were derived from previous experimental studies. Stochasticity was taken into account, through Monte Carlo procedures, for sow reproductive cycles, death and infectious processes. The model indicates herd structure throughout the simulations and allows focusing on specific data such as age-specific seroprevalence of infection. According to the simulations, and in accordance with real-farm data, the mean seroprevalence in sows was about 80% and more than 90% in finishing pigs leaving the finishing facilities. However, different patterns, due to the initial number of piglets with passive immunity or the number of piglets born infected, were highlighted between batches. The model was validated by comparing model outputs with actual farm situations and literature data.

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Clinical Practice

PRRS ERADICATION PROGRAMMES; IS IT WORTHWHILE? REASONS FOR SUCCESS AND FAILURE
G. SANDRI

Abstract
In spite of all the efforts PRRS is still costing the swine industry worldwide several hundred millions (£ or $) every year. The original source of PRRSv in all stages of production is the sow herd. Control must be achieved at sow level before positive control is realised in nursery or finishing sites. Vaccination and other procedures (such as gilt acclimatisation), have been widely used to try to minimise the impact of PRRS in sow herds. Unfortunately results are often disappointing and/or short lived. Whenever technically and economically possible, PRRS eradication programmes represent the best option. PRRSv elimination from swine herds has been accomplished using several different strategies: Depopulation/Repopulation, Test and Removal, Wean and Removal, Herd Closure, Attrition or Roll-over.

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LOW SOW REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE RELATED TO OESTRUS DETECTION AND TIMING OF INSEMINATION
G. CASSAR, R.M. FRIENDSHIP and R.N. KIRKWOOD

Abstract
A 700-sow herd experienced low farrowing rates over a 12 month period. Infectious reproductive disease, semen quality and insemination technique were ruled out as likely causes of the reduced fertility and so improper timing of insemination was investigated. One group of sows (n=102) received 600 IU eCG at weaning and 5 mg luteinising hormone (LH) 80 hours later to synchronise oestrus and ovulation, then inseminated once just prior to expected ovulation, at 36 hours after LH injection. Untreated sows returning to oestrus between four and seven days (n=102) after weaning were inseminated at oestrus detection and again 24 hours later. The treated group had pregnancy and farrowing rates that were generally acceptable by industry standards (89.2% and 86.1%, respectively), which were 16–17% higher than the untreated group (72.3% and 68.7%, respectively). The synchronisation technique was shown to be useful for indicating a problem with timing of insemination and in ruling out other causes of low fertility. The producer has since adopted the synchronisation protocol and his herd’s improved reproductive performance has been sustained.

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THE EFFECTS OF VACCINATION AGAINST PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 ON VIRAEMIA, VIRAL LOAD, MORTALITY AND GROWTH IN A HERD AFFECTED BY POST-WEANING MULTISYSTEMIC WASTING SYNDROME
I. VON RICHTHOFEN, K. ELBERS, A. LISCHEWSKI, N. WOOLFENDEN and W.D. STRACHAN

Abstract
The efficacy of a newly developed vaccine against Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2), the main known causative agent of Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), was assessed in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled field study in the United Kingdom. A total of 1542 animals were recruited to the study. The vaccine or placebo was administered to two to three-week-old piglets prior to weaning, and vaccinated and placebo-treated pigs were commingled through to slaughter. Weight gain until the middle of finishing was the primary efficacy variable and average daily weight gain (ADWG), frequency of poorly-grown pigs, viraemia, clinical signs, and mortality were also measured. Vaccinated animals showed significantly better results in terms of reduced mortality (10.7 percentage points lower in the vaccinates), weight gain parameters (with an average of 6.8 kg more than the placebo-treated animals at 23 weeks of age), reduced viral load, and reduced prevalence of clinical abnormalities. The superior weight gain, fewer poorly-grown pigs, reduced duration of viraemia and lower mortality rate demonstrated the efficacy of the PCV2 vaccine under commercial management and housing conditions of a pig finishing unit in the United Kingdom.

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PIG HERD HEALTH PLANS – GETTING BETTER
J. ROBERTSON

Abstract
The use of active, written plans for individual pig businesses to describe and manage health has been present for many years. The use of health plans was further promoted as part of quality assurance systems, but impact has been varied and attitudes towards the value of health plans is sometimes ambivalent. A pilot study was carried out with commercial veterinarians and producers using a pig herd health plan (phhp) that is internet based and incorporates features to improve access to existing data, to reduce repetitious administration, and to facilitate assessment of actions taken. The system removes the need for shared software and provides a platform for linking to other internet based information and services.
The pilot has been completed and the feedback mostly assimilated in to the current phhp. The paper describes the technical and personal factors that were fed back into the design process and the structure of the next phase that will roll out the phhp to the commercial production sector.

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A REVIEW OF THE INFLUENCE OF PCV2 IN REPRODUCTIVE FAILURE AND IMPROVEMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS AS A RESULT OF USING PCV2 INACTIVATED SOW VACCINE, CIRCOVAC® IN A LARGE NUMBER OF HERDS IN THE UK AND EUROPE
R. NETO and F. JOISEL M

Abstract
Porcine Circovirus type 2 is widespread and is recognised as the causal agent of PMWS.
PMWS was first observed in Canada and France in 1995 and the clinical signs observed in this new syndrome gave its name: Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS).
PMWS is a disease generally recognised by wasting, paleness, jaundice, increased mortality and increased antimicrobial use. This syndrome is responsible for huge economic losses in the pig industry, over £468 million a year.
PCV2 presence in the pig is however associated with other diseases than PMWS, including porcine necrotising pneumonia, granulomatous enteritis, porcine respiratory disease complex, PDNS and reproductive problems.
The pathogenesis of PCV2 as a cause of reproductive failure and the importance of PCV2 as a cause of reproductive failure, is less well characterised than the other clinical manifestations of PCV2.

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