Improvement of nursery productive performance after PRRS and PCV-2 whole-herd prevention approach in Spain

  • 10 minutes
  • Expertise article
  • S. Figueras, Ll. Rocha, A. Martínez, G. Abella, I. Hernández, V. Rodriguez, E. Sánchez
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Introduction

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) costs in Europe are estimated between 100€ and 200€ per sow per year and 5€ to10€ per pig (1). Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) epidemiology has changed due to the widespread of vaccination (2). In this context, the stability of non-vaccinated sow populations can be challenged leading to the production of PCV-2 viremic piglets, as shown in unstable farms, and increasing the infectious pressure in the offspring (3).

Preventing PRRS and PCV-2 related diseases in large production systems is challenging, but is considered as one of the most important drivers for keeping systems producing at target levels with high profitability (4,5).

This is a summary of a field trial designed to evaluate the impact of the whole-herd-approach concept (defined as sows and piglets disease prevention strategy) and the 5 step process (6) on controlling PRRS and PCV-2 related diseases, assessed by nursery improvement performance.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in a 1000 sows farrow to wean production system located in Girona, Spain. At weaning, piglets were placed in 2 all-in-all-out nursery barns. The field PRRS virus strain detected had 13.3% ORF-5 heterology to the PRRS vaccine strain used in this trial. Serum and tissues samples from weaners were qPCR positive for both PRRS and PCV-2. Before the trial sows were vaccinated with another type-1 modified live PRRSv vaccine strain every 4 months.

Whole-herd approach prevention strategy was implemented by mass vaccination of sows with 2 ml of Reprocyc PRRS EU and 1 ml of Ingelvac CircoFLEX as shown in table 1.

Article Table 1

Table 1: sow vaccination scheme.

Piglets were vaccinated at weaning (3 weeks of age) with the FLEXcombo protocol (Ingelvac Circoflex1ml+Ingelvac Mycoflex1ml) from week 3 (2018) and from week 11 with 1ml IM of Ingelvac PRRSFLEX EU at 17 days of age on regular basis.

For data analysis, a before and after treatment approach, including 3 (31343 pigs) and 4 (22398 pigs) batches respectively, was adopted. The key performance indicators (KPI) compared were final nursery weight, medication cost per pig, mortality rate, economical feed conversion ratio (eFCR), and average daily weight gain (ADWG).

For statistical analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test with Minitab.17.1.0 software (2013 Minitab Inc.) was used and BECAL calculator for economics calculations.

Results

A comparison of the KPIs medians for both periods aredepicted in table 2. All the analyzed data numerically improved after de implementation of the whole-herd approach prevention program.

A p-value <0.05 was set up for statistical significance for the differences (Diff.).

The magnitude of the reduction was 52% for mortality and 41 % for medication costs. The improvement of ADWG was 29% and 10% for final weight. Final weight, and the improvement in FCR show a statistical trend.

Article Table 2

Table 2: Comparison of the KPI averages for the different periods.

Calculated return on investment (ROI) was 3.19:1.

Conclusions and Discussion

Disease prevention applied both in sows and piglets is a valuable approach for controlling PRRS and PCV-2 impact in swine herds consistently. The whole-herd vaccination program implemented in this system, had a significant positive impact on nurseries performances and economic data.

References

  1. De Paz, X. PRRS cost for the European swine industry. https://www.pig333.com/what_the_experts_say/prrs-cost-for-the-european-swine-industry_10069
  2. Dvorak et al,. Veterinary Microbiology 189 (2016) 86–90.
  3. Seate et al, ISERD 2015 p122.born
  4. Figueras et al, Proceedings ESPHM 2017 page 423
  5. Figueras et al, Proceedings ESPHM 2017 page 432
  6. 5 step process details explanations at https://www.prrs.com