Diagnostics and disease complexes

from Farmers Guide May 2022

Antibiotics: What do industry changes mean for your farm?

Surveillance and vaccinations present zero-zinc scour solutions, Jane Jordan reports.

The VMD decision to allow zinc oxide products already licenced and in the supply chain to continue to be used after the withdrawal date on the 26th June 2022 will give pig producers extra time to establish alternative therapies for postweaning scours. However, many pig businesses have already removed zinc from their medicine shelves. Some are choosing to vaccinate pigs to protect them against key enteric pathogens, and routine diagnostic testing is becoming a key feature within herd health management. The combination of clinical surveillance, strategic vaccination programmes and more stringent hygiene is producing some positive outcomes.

Paul Thompson, Pig Veterinary Society senior vice-president and vet at the Garth Pig Practice, says tackling post weaning scours requires clear understanding of a herd’s disease complex and a de ned management plan aimed at reducing infection risk and improving piglets’ immunity. “Culture and sensitivity investigations will be imperative, going forward,” he explains.

A multitude of microbial strains can be implicated in post-weaning scours, so regular screening, using diagnostic techniques such as ELISA tests, quantitative PCR tests and frequent serology, will provide valuable clinical evidence.

Quality outcomes for health and performance

UK rearing and nishing herds. Caused by Lawsonia intracellularis, the bacterial infection tends to exist at sub-clinical levels and is often misdiagnosed.

“Unless an outbreak is severe, usually presenting as a spike in mortality rates in late-stage nishers, a high incidence of watery/bloody diarrhoea, inappetence, depressed growth and general morbidity – ileitis is rarely considered signi cant. But it can and does compromise growth rate and FCR, even at subclinical levels and that a ects production economics,” says Dr Rubén Del Pozo Sacristán, MSD Animal Health UK technical manager for pigs.

A eld trial on a 240-sow farrow-to- nish farm in East Anglia has shown how vaccinating pigs against Lawsonia can improve production outcomes and bene t returns. This commercial herd had a longstanding ileitis problem, which had been controlled using antibiotic medication with mixed results. Both diarrhoea and sporadic PHE-related deaths were common in growers and nishing pigs and a low-grade scour was evident from weaning. Associated mortality was around 3% and pig growth/performance was variable.

The trial observed four batches of pigs that were vaccinated with Porcilis Lawsonia at 21 days of age. Each piglet received a single, 2ml dose of the vaccine (intramuscular injection) and were weaned a week later. No medication was used during the rearing/ nishing period and performance was monitored.

Changes to dung consistency and pig uniformity were noticed early on, and in the nursery fewer weaners ‘went behind’. At grower stage, marked improvements to health and performance were noted and diarrhoea outbreaks decreased. Growth rates increased by 30g/ day during the weaner/grower period and performance was more consistent across all four batches. Pig quality was also better.

In the nishing house PHE deaths stopped, ADG improved by between 40–45g/day and pigs reached market weight six days earlier. Growth was more uniform, which enabled pens to be cleared over a 2/3-week period, rather than the usual 4–5 weeks. The farm was able to clear 20% of its nishers in the rst draw, with 70% sent for slaughter the following week. The rest followed in week three leaving pens empty, ready for cleansing/disinfection. This shorter ‘clearance time’ improved pig- ow in the nishing unit and allowed more e cient use of accommodation.

Another bene cial outcome was improvements in carcase quality. Pigs were reported to be more evenly sized with better conformation and a higher proportion also achieved optimum back fat and leanness grades.

Danish experience values vaccines

E. coli diarrhoea is another common cause of post-weaning scours. Many routinely vaccinate sows before farrowing to protect suckling piglets from infection, but this maternally derived protection begins to wane at around four weeks of age, so vaccinating piglets before weaning can help boost their immunity.

Again, diagnostics are usually required to determine which strains of E. coli are prevalent.

Elanco Animal Health swine vet and technical adviser, Kirsten Jensen, has been working with Danish vets and pig farmers to nd antibioticfree alternatives to zinc-based medication.

Vaccination with Elanco’s Coliprotec has been shown to e ectively control E. coli-related scours. Reports suggest those using this in-water vaccine have seen a 2% reduction in mortality, with good growth and performance achieved across the early rearing period.

A veterinary survey (SEGES, 2020) concluded that Coliprotec was e ective at protecting young weaners from E. coli infection, although the vaccine should not be used in isolation. Vets said using Coliprotec alongside stringent hygiene/disinfection protocols and the right nutrition would optimise piglet health and reduce the threat of other enteric problems occurring. It would also bene t vaccine e cacy, performance outcomes and the need for antibiotic treatments.

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Covid jab research bene ts scour vaccine development

SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre and Copenhagen University are currently running trials on a new combination vaccine to combat post-weaning diarrhoea.

Development has been underway since 2019, and recent research during the development of a human Covid-19 vaccine is bene tting the pig vaccine programme.

“If successful, the new vaccine will have a signi cant impact on the use of antibiotics in piglet production and make in-feed zinc treatments unnecessary,” said Poul Bækbo, senior veterinary adviser, Nutrition & Health at SEGES.

Beginning in May 2022, 60 pigs will be vaccinated with the prototype vaccine and their immune responses monitored. FG

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Restraining orders

Farrowing crates will go, but freedom systems must be safe, functional and economically sustainable, Jane Jordan writes.

Yorkshire pig producer Matt Wilkin has been free-farrowing on his family’s 2,100-sow breeding unit for around nine years. Initially, 360-degree freedom pens were installed to replace aging crated accommodation. The Wilkins are now 100% freedom farrowing using their own-designed FarrOpen, which combines both 360-degree movement and temporary restraint. However, it took 10 years to develop, which must be emphasised in the debate around banning crates, Matt says.

He believes functionality and safety are as important as sow freedom. “We now have a very practical, functional system that’s hygienic, gives the sow freedom, protects piglets and allows the stockmen to do a good job in a safe environment.”

The FarrOpen has a 6m2 fullyslatted pen with rails fixed to the walls to ensure sows lie centrally. A well-designed moveable, steel frame creates a temporary crate when needed but allows complete freedom when fully opened. It can be anchored in specific positions along the rear rail to accommodate any size sow comfortably.

Matt prefers to give sows and gilts complete freedom before and during farrowing, but likes to restrain them once all piglets are born and for the first four days of lactation. This allows stockmen safe access to the litter for sizing up, fostering and any treatments/ vaccinations. Allowing sows 360-degree movement when they farrow lets them position themselves comfortably, keeps them calm and has cut down the length of time farrowing takes, reduced the number of born dead piglets and improved neo-natal survival rates.

“Restraining sows might seem sensible for piglet safety, but we’ve found they’re better finding their own position. Once farrowing starts they tend to lie still until they’re finished. You just have to watch them once they’re done as they can get quite active, as they want to stretch, drink and eat, and will do this frequently during the first few days, so it’s better to restrict them in those early days, particularly if they have a large litter,” says Matt.

These are fundamental observations policy makers need to consider and a key reason why temporary crating must be permitted.

The Wilkins aim to wean 13–14 strong, good quality piglets a litter. Pre-weaning mortality averages between 10–12% and health and hygiene are paramount, which is why the free-farrow pens are fully slatted.

“Systems with solid floors and bedding are more difficult to keep clean and I think piglet health could suffer. The labour requirement to manage a free-farrowing system well is understandably higher than a crated system, and bedding just adds more costs. I doubt many farms could sustain a strawbased free-farrow system without assurance of premium payments,” says Matt.

The Wilkins’ business is part of AHDB Pork case studies evaluating a number of freedom-farrowing systems. Initial observations indicate FarrOpen satisfies all welfare objectives for sows, piglets and stockman; is capable of achieving high levels of health and performance and that staff find the system straightforward and efficient.

For more details visit: www. farropen.co.uk. FG

British Pig & Poultry Fair: “We are stronger together”

After a challenging few years for pig and poultry producers, the Pig & Poultry Fair is back as a live, in person event this May, o ering a platform to share information, ideas and strategies for recovery, organisers say.

From the shortage in pig processing to avian in uenza, and now soaring input costs, managing farm businesses at a time of such extreme volatility is both di cult and highly stressful, says Roly Taplin, chief operating o cer at RASE.

“It can be tempting to batten down the hatches and concentrate on the farm alone at times like these – but in truth it’s even more important to get out, meet people, share the load and nd new inspiration.”

This year’s British Pig & Poultry Fair – the rst in four years – o ers an opportunity for producers to meet friends and make new business acquaintances. Its comprehensive forum programme will tackle the thorny subjects of pig, poultry and egg market outlooks, as well as ways to improve farm e ciencies and reduce carbon emissions.

With input costs incredibly high, performance optimisation is more important than ever, says Danny Johnson, general manager at ABN. “If you can make small gains it has a big impact. Managing performance and e ciencies has real value in the current environment so listening to the technical sessions to get new ideas will be useful.”

With 335 exhibitors and around 10,000 visitors attending, there is bound to be something for everyone, whether that’s business advice or new products to improve farm e ciencies, organisers say. Indeed, there will be over 60 new products on display, from free farrowing systems to probiotics and low power lighting, to litter conditioners.

Rob Mutimer, who farms 750 outdoor sows in Norfolk and is chairman of the National Pig Association, will be looking out for feed options, especially with the withdrawal of zinc from the diet. “It’s also a good chance to see the building manufacturers; we are having to modify plans for investment due high costs right now but we know we will be investing in due course, so it is good to plan for that.”

The Fair is also hosting an industry support hub to o er a helping hand to those who might be struggling. The Addington Fund, Farming Community Network, RABI and YANA will be on hand to share advice and resources.

“With all the challenges the industry is facing, it’s so important to touch base and meet people,” says Aimee Mahony, chief poultry adviser at the NFU. “Producers can also visit the trade stands to learn about new technology and innovation to take back to their own business.”

The British Pig & Poultry Fair takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on May 10-11th.

For more information and to book your free ticket visit www.pigandpoultry.org.uk. FG