- 10 minutes
- Expertise article
- Rick Janssen, Rudolf Raymakers, Verne Claussen, Martijn Steenaert, Rutger Jansen
Rick Janssen1, Rudolf Raymakers1, Verne Claussen2, Martijn Steenaert3, Rutger Jansen3
1De Varkenspraktijk, Someren, the Netherlands; 2Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Ames, USA; 3Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
Introduction
PRRS type 1 infections can play a role in finishing pig performance. However, with many pathogens involved in for instance airway infections it is hard to prove which infection is the limiting factor in optimal pig production. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the PRRS type 1 vaccine Ingelvac PRRSFLEX EU®.
Materials and Methods
In a closed farrow to finish herd, the trial facility VIC Sterksel from the Wageningen University, pigs were historical vaccinated with Ingelvac CircoFLEX and Ingelvac MycoFLEX at the age of 21 days and with Enterisol Ileitis at the age of 6 weeks pigs by the drinking water system. In the first two quarters of 2018 pigs needed to be treated with antibiotics due to bacterial respiratorial and intestinal infections combined with a PRRS infection. From the beginning of June 2018, Ingelvac PRRSFLEX EU was added to the vaccinations on the age of 21 days.
All pigs are identified with an RFID eartag on the first days of life. By coupling date of birth with carcass data, animal performance could be evaluated over time. A historical comparison was made from 2017 until 2019 between the control (CON, n = 1938) and the Ingeval PRRSFLEX EU® vaccinated pigs (PF, n=2465). Only finishing pigs were analyzed (Topigs 20 x Topigs Tempo; full intact boars and gilts). Breeding byproducts were excluded. To compare the effect of PF on mortality, data from the farms management system was analyzed.
Results
Respiratory health, as being judged by the animal care takers, improved resulting in less coughing in the barn and less labor time for treatment and care taking of the animals. Mortality dropped significant from 6.09 (4.14%) pigs/week at an age of 131.6 days (CON) to 4.85 (3.30%) pigs/week at an age of 122.9 days (PF). There was a tendency in lowered variation in mortality week by week (StDev 3.35 CON to 2.61 PF; p=0.051)
Figure 1: SPC chart of the weekly number of dead finishing pigs. Mortality reduced form an average of 6.09 pigs to 4.85 pigs week (p<0.05) with a tendency of reduced variation (p=0.051).
In total 4,403 finishing pig carcasses were analyzed (Table 1). Carcass weight was 0.7 kg heavier for the PF group (P<0.005; Table 1)
Table 1: Carcass and ADG from birth to slaughter. PF pigs had a significant higher carcass weight (p<0.005).
Antibiotic use decreased to almost zero after the implementation of Ingelvac PRRSFLX EU® vaccination (Table 2). Only individual treatment was needed. Oral treatment of several pigs at the same time was completely ceased.
Table 2: Antibiotic use over the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 in Daily Defined Dosage per animal year (DDDy).
Conclusions and Discussion
An increase of 0.64 kg meat yield results with an average meat price of €1.50 in an extra benefit of €0.96 per pig. The economic effect of the reduction mortality with 0.83% at an age of 131 days with an ADG of 703 grams equals pigs of 92kg live weight. This reduction in mortality direct loss of value of 80% meat percentage x 92 kg live weight x €1,50/kg meat x 0.83% reduction in mortality = €0.91 per pig vaccinated. The total benefit of vaccination is hereby €1.87 per pig vaccinated which results in a positive ROI.
This study shows that high growth in a conventional health status is possible with only the need for individual treatment.