PRRSFLEX increases average daily weight gain in Dutch finishing pigs

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Rutger Jansen1; Martijn Steenaert1

1Boehringer Ingelheim AH, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

 

Introduction

PRRS is circulating in about 85% of the Dutch finishing pigs resulting in an estimated loss of 60 grams in ADG during the finishing pig period (1). In a 600 sow head farrow to finish farm with a historical growth of 783 grams/day, Circo-vaccination was implemented. A group of pigs was also vaccinated against PRRS to evaluate its effect on ADG.

Materials and methods

Growth of in total 1028 was followed during finishing. Pigs were all vaccinated with Ingelvac CircoFLEX (CF) at 3 weeks of age. In total 339 pigs were vaccinated with Ingelvac PRRSFLEX EU® 2 weeks after weaning at the age of 6 weeks (CPF). Grower pigs were weighed at allocation (18 pig/pen) and again after 15 weeks of finishing. Each pen was scored every week for the presence of conjunctivitis, sneezing, and coughing (0-4; 0 = no signs; 4 = most severe). In total 16 pens were selected for fixed spatial sampling of faces pen swabs (FS) and oral fluids (OF) at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of finishing. FS were tested for the presence of Lawsonia intracellularis (Law), OF was tests by PCR for PRRS, Mhyo, SIV and PCV2. At 22 weeks of age 1 blood sample per pen was tested for the presence of antibodies against PRRS, Mhyo, SIV and PCV2. Differences in ADG were tested using Generalized linear model using treatment and sex (SAS).

Results

Oral fluids, faces and serum antibody testing results are presented in Table 1. CPF pigs had higher PRRS SP-ratios when compared to CF (1.87 vs 1.80; P<001).

Table 1: Oral Fluids, feces and antibody testing results. There were no differences amongst treatments

Table 1 Image

ADG results are presented in Table 2. ADG of CPF pigs were higher when compared to CF pigs (937 vs. 894 gram/day; p<0.05). ADG of boars was higher when compared to gilts (p<0.05).

Table 2: Average Daily Gain (ADG) of the finishing pigs (gram/day). CPF pigs had a significant higher ADG (P<0,05) when compared to CF. Boars had a higher growth when compared to gilts (p<0,05).

Table 2 Image

CF pigs had higher clinical score for eyes (0.24 vs 0.10) and sneezing (0.14 vs 0.11). Differences of the eye score were most prominent and presented in Figure 1. Only minor symptoms like black eye lids (score 1) were observed which faded away during finishing.

Figure 1: Results from weekly scoring of the eyes during the growth-finishing phase.

Discussion

There was an increase of 43 grams in ADG in the CPF group. With a gross profit of €30.51 per pig (Dutch 2018 average) (2) this results in 30.51/894=€0.034 extra benefit per gram growth increase. The improvement of 43 grams result in an economic benefit of 43*€0.034 = €1.46 per pig. It was not possible to measure FCR, but assuming that FCR will improve when ADG is improved, the probable result will even be (far) larger.

Conclusion

PRRSFLEX increased ADG with 43 grams (4,8%) resulting in an improved economical benefit, after deduction of vaccine costs. PRRS vaccinated pigs had slightly higher but non relevant SP ratios.

References

  1. Jansen et al 2016; IPVS Dublin PO-PW1-129
  2. Dutch gross finishing pig profit 2018