Infections with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in Fattening Pigs. Influence of Piglet Production Systems and Influence on Production Parameters

Abstract. Fattening pigs are commonly kept in intensive housing systems with slatted floor which represent a very barren environment, causing poor animal welfare. To improve such conditions a small amount of straw or hay (100 g per animal per day laid daily in a rack) was used in our study as an environmental enrichment (EE). Two replications, each including 96 fattening pigs of both sexes (3 pens of 16 females and 3 pens of 16 male castrates) from 60 kg to slaughter at average 96 kg live weight, were used to test the effect of EE and sex on behaviour, growth rate, and carcass composition. EE significantly increased the proportion of total activity during the illumination period (between 6 a. m. and 2 p. m.) on account of increased occupation with substrate (P<0.01). EE also significantly reduced time spent biting pen bars and frequency of aggressive encounters (P<0.01). The EE increased total activity in female animals during the observation period, but not in male castrates. None of the EE significantly influenced pigs‘ growth rate and lean meat percentage; however females in enriched environment grew slower and had greater lean meat percentage than the castrated males. Provision of a small amount of straw or hay to pigs in intensive housing systems can enrich barren environment in inexpensive and efficient way. Therefore such enrichment can be widely used also in large commercial pig production systems.

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Effect of pneumonia on growth rate and feed efficiency of minimal disease pigs exposed to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/0167-5877(90)90074-r ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 287-294 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Barbara E. Straw ◽

Sang J. Shin ◽

Amy E. Yeager

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae ◽

Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae ◽

Minimal Disease

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Porcine pleuropneumonia: the first evaluation of field efficacy of a subunit vaccine in Croatia

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/5826-vetmed ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 47 (No. 8) ◽

pp. 213-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

B. Habrun ◽

V. Bilič ◽

Ž. Cvetnič ◽

A. Humski ◽

M. Benič

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Efficacy ◽

Death Rate ◽

Subunit Vaccine ◽

Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae ◽

Economic Damage ◽

Porcine Pleuropneumonia ◽

Field Efficacy ◽

A Subunit ◽

And Control ◽

Fattening Pigs

A vaccine for porcine pleuropneumonia caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae was studied in Croatia on a farm infected by agent serotypes 2 and 9. Vaccination with a commercial subunit vaccine was initiated in the second half of 1998 due to the immense economic damage caused on the farm by this disease. All prefattening and fattening pigs kept on the farm during the first three months of 1999 were allocated in two groups: vaccinated and control. In the control and vaccinated group, 226 and 35 animals (5.78% and 0.96% of the average number of prefattening and fattening pigs in control and vaccinated group), respectively, died from pleuropneumonia. The vaccine efficacy was 83.5%. Examination of the randomly selected lungs on the slaughter line revealed significant reduction in the lesions specific for the chronic form of pleuropneumonia in the vaccinated group (vaccine efficacy 78.6%). The tested vaccine significantly decreased the death rate and pulmonary lesions due to A. pleuropneumoniae.

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Production, Forage Quality, and Performance of Holstein Cows under Intermittent Grazing on Tifton 85

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v9n8p11 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Valdevino Rodrigues Da Silva ◽

Kátia Aparecida De Pinho Costa ◽

Marco Antônio Pereira Da Silva ◽

Edmar Soares Nicolau ◽

Victor Costa Da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Live Weight ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Production Parameters ◽

Randomized Design ◽

And Performance

Tropical forage grasses compose the base diet of the Brazilian cattle herd due to their low production cost, high production potential, and good adaptation to various Brazilian ecosystems. In recent years, the search has intensified for alternatives that increase the yield in pasture milk production systems. Thus, the present study evaluated the production and quality of Tifton 85 grass in relation to the production parameters (e.g. greater leaf: stem ratio), and milk quality of Holstein cows in an intermittent grazing system during different seasons of the year. The experiment was conducted at the Córrego da Ponte Farm in Santa Helena de Goias, Goias, Brazil, from April 2014 to March 2015. The experiment used a completely randomized design with nine replicates and the four seasons (fall, winter, spring, and summer) as treatments. The Holstein cows had a live weight of 560±36.8 kg and averages four years of age. The grazing method used was a mob-stocking, with one day of grazing and 19 days of rest. The results showed that Tifton 85 was efficient regarding production parameters (total dry mass) and forage quality (IVDMD, NDF, ADF). The milk production was satisfactory during the fall, spring, and summer. The forage showed limited production during the winter, due the highest NDF, ADF levels and lower IVDMD (P < 0.05), which was directly reflected in the milk yield, fat, protein and lactose (P < 0.05). A reduction in the stocking rate or an increase in the number of paddocks is advisable during the winter to maximize milk production without compromising forage development. The correlation data showed the importance of consuming better-quality forage to increase milk production without compromising the levels of milk solids.

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