26 Potential dietary feed additives with antibacterial effects and their impact on performance of weaned piglets: A meta-analysis (Research paper, Vanrolleghem et al., 2019)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Feed / gut health \ Feed additives and supplements – Feed additives and supplements ; Specific alternatives

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): growth parameters; ‘average daily gain’ (ADG); ‘feed conversion ratio’ (FCR)
Summary: Between January 2010 and January 2017, 23 in vivo studies (comprising 50 trials) were published that evaluated the use of potential dietary feed additives (pDFA) against a positive control diet with antibiotics in weaned piglets, and reporting the performance parameters average daily gain’ (ADG) and ‘feed conversion ratio’ (FCR). The results of the meta-analysis clearly show that adding a pDFA at weaning can improve performance indicators compared to an untreated group (negative control), suggesting that pDFA could increase growth and improve feed conversion. As such, pDFA could potentially enhance production without the negative side effect of AMUs. Compared to the use of AMUs (positive control), the results of the meta-analysis show no overall significant difference. This is a beneficial result, as it suggests that the use of AMUs around weaning, a very commonly used practice, could be replaced by pDFA without significant negative effects on the performance indicators.
26 Research paper – Vanrolleghem – 2019 – Potential dietary feed additives with antibacterial effects and their impact on performance of weaned piglets: A meta-analysis. Vanrolleghem, W., Tanghe, S., Verstringe, S., Bruggeman, G., Papadopoulos, D., Trevisi, P., Zentek, J., Sarrazin, S. and J. Dewulf 2019 The Veterinary Journal 249: 24-32
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023319300528; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.04.017
Country: BE, IT, DE

26 Research paper – Vanrolleghem – 2019 – Potential dietary feed additives with antibacterial effects and their impact on performance of

18 Seges online course by Seges (Farm Innovation)

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Significant Impact Group(s): Prudent use AB \ Agri-advisor ; Other

Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary: Digital courses (in Danish) relevant to employees in Danish milk cattle farming and pig production. Pig course is available in Danish, English, Ukrainian and Romanian, and designed to support the farmer in the training of employee.
18 Farm Innovation – Seges online course by Seges
Where to find the original material: (in Danisch)
https://www.seges.dk/akademi/onlinekurser;
Country: DK

18 Farm Innovation – Seges online course by Seges

17 Indic@Vet by Ceva/Sanders

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Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use

Species targeted: Rabbit; Pigs; Poultry;
Summary: Sanders and Ceva joined forces to launch Indic@Vet:
Indic @ Vet is an innovative and unique tool for monitoring the consumption of antibiotics in rabbit, meat poultry and egg and pig farming, developed by the company DBM for SANDERS in partnership with the French veterinary laboratory Ceva.
Indic @ Vet makes it possible to objectify, measure and enhance the actions put in place to reduce the use of antibiotics, to compare changes by production, sector or breeder, and with French or European benchmarks. It collects and correlates production data on the one hand, and data on prescriptions from volunteer veterinarians or breeders on the other. Based on drug consumption data and official calculation methods, a follow-up calculation of antibiotic consumption is carried out in order to view the official French and European indicators (mg / kg, ALEA, DDDvet, DCDvet) for each quarter or each batch of animals.
17 Tools & Checklists – Indic at Vet by Ceva Sanders
Where to find the original material: (in French;)
https://www.ceva-santeanimale.fr/Actualites-media/Actualites/Sanders-et-Ceva-s-associent-pour-lancer-Indic-Vet;
Country: France;

17 ToolsChecklists – Indic at Vet by Ceva Sanders

15 GVET by AACTING (Farm Innovation)

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Significant Impact Group(s): AMU reduction strategies \ Monitoring and surveillance \ Antibiotic use

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): It effects social and/or public health positively.
Summary: GVET is a voluntary, computerized register for all the treatments in pig farms. It is active since early 2017, and is run by the French Institute for pig and pork Industry (IFIP) in cooperation with The French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and Isagri, a private software company.
Data collection is available for subtopics like weight categories (sows, fatteners, weaners and sucklers) and input is asked about antibiotic treatment (like dosage, date of administration, duration, reasons of treatment, etc.).
Analysis is used for farmers and for national and European purposes. Also benchmarking will be performed.
15 Farm Innovation – GVET by AACTING
Where to find the original material: (in English)
https://aacting.org/matrix/gvet/?lid=1423;
Country: FR

 

15 Farm Innovation – GVET by AACTING

9 Powerpoint Improving udder quality traits in sows to aid survival health and lifetime of piglets by FarmAntibiotics-org (Farm Innovation)

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9 Farm Innovation
Powerpoint – Improving udder quality traits in sows to aid survival, health and lifetime performance of piglets by FarmAntibiotics.org
in Significant Impact Group(s): Breeding for disease resistance or robustness ; Feed / gut health

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary: Improving udder quality traits in sows to aid survival, health and lifetime performance of piglets:
This powerpoint presentations discusses of 5 experiments in sows and piglets.
Topics are:
1) Udder morphology: Define udder conformation traits measurable in a reliable way
2) Udder morphology variation: Define udder conformation traits measurable in a reliable way
3) On-farm colostrum IgG methodology: Evaluation of Brix refractometer to assess colostrum quality
4) Variation of litter performance: the effect of maternal and birth characteristics on litter weight and serum IgG at 24h
5) Relationship between piglets and udder traits
The presentation ends with:
– Study in progress (which focusses on udder conformation changes in consecutive parities of the sow)
– Industry focus
o Breeding company’s should be allowed to take udder conformation and colostrum quality into account
o Increase number of weaned piglets by selection on better nursing capacity and improving colostrum accessibility and quality
9 Farm Innovation – Powerpoint – Improving udder quality traits in sows to aid survival, health and lifetime performance of piglets by FarmAntibiotics.org
Where to find the original material: (in English)

https://farmantibiotics.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Improving-udder-quality-traits-in-sows-to-aid-survival-health-and-lifetime-performance-of-piglets.pdf;

Country: UK

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5 experiments to show you the importance of udder traits of sows in raising healthy piglets.

Optimizing digestion and intestinal protection in young piglets with Lianol Basdiar

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Diarrhea is a common problem in young piglets which can lead to mortality. Ardol has developed the product Basdiar, to guide and accelerate proper intestinal development and intestinal digestion in newborn piglets.

Basdiar is a food supplement that must be dissolved in warm water (100 grams of product to 1 liter of water). It is mainly a mixture of algae and clay minerals. Due to the high iron and mineral content, Basdiar is an optimal supplement to the iron-poor colostrum and milk. It is given in a feeding bowl, which actively stimulates the natural rooting behavior so that each piglet quickly drinks water and learns to eat vegetable feed.

Basdiar is given from birth as a supplement to colostrum and sow’s milk for at least a week, about 1 liter per litter per day. It can also be fed into the piglet pen to reduce weaning dip. There are also good experiences with feeding Basdiar to the smallest piglets in the piglet barn, to improve uniformity. The product is a supplement to colostrum and sow’s milk, and can also be given simultaneously with artificial milk and candy feed.

Several trials have shown that using Basdiar decreases mortality and increases the number of weaned piglets. The piglets start off better in the piglet barn, as they are already accustomed to eating liquid feed. The litters are more uniform and have less diarrhea. Basdiar ensures:

– less loss to weaning

– sufficient moisture in the first days of life

– ALL piglets learn to eat in the farrowing pen

– an indispensable natural source of iron

– the binding of endotoxins

– a good intestinal protection

A greater feed intake in the first weeks of life and good continued growth after weaning are other benefits of this product.

 

7 Reducing Antimicrobial Usage in Pig Production without Jeopardizing Production Parameters (Research paper, Postma et al., 2017)

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7 Research paper
Reducing Antimicrobial Usage in Pig Production without Jeopardizing Production Parameters by Postma, M., Vanderhaeghen, W., Sarrazin, S., Maes, D., and J. Dewulf 2017 Zoonoses and public health 64: 63-74
Significant Impact Group(s): Biosecurity ; Prudent use AB

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Decreased AMU; Improved animal health so less disease and increased production; reduced costs on medicines so economical savings
Summary: This study evaluated the extent to which antimicrobial use (AMU) could be reduced in pig production by focusing on herd health, disease prevention and AMU. Their research involved 61 Flemish pig herds and included three visits per herd. During the visits, information was gathered on herd management, biosecurity status using the Biocheck.UGentTM tool, vaccinations, anthelmintic therapy and AMU. This info was then translated into a herd‐specific action plan which was discussed with the farmer and veterinarian/advisor during the visits. Significant improvements in biosecurity combined with additional vaccination, anthelmintic therapy and responsible AMU was seen. There was a 52% reduction in AMU in pigs from birth – slaughter. Increased biosecurity and decreased AMU were combined with increased numbers of weaned piglets per sow per year (+1.1), daily weight gain (+5.9 g/day) and mortality in the finisher period (−0.6%). Guided interventions as a team effort between farmer, veterinarians/advisors has shown to be a promising method in the reduction of AMU in pig production. Antimicrobial usage (AMU) has been described to be high in pig production. Although farmers are aware of the high usage, little is known about intervention to improve the situation. This study evaluated the extent to which AMU could be reduced in pig production by the optimization of herd management, biosecurity status, vaccination strategy, anthelmintic therapy and advice on prudent AMU. Furthermore, the effects of these interventions on the herd production results were explored. This intervention study was conducted on 61 Flemish pig herds and included three visits per herd. During the initial visit, information was gathered on herd management, biosecurity status (quantified by means of the Biocheck.UGentTM risk‐based scoring system), vaccination strategy, anthelmintic therapy and AMU. This info was then translated into a herd‐specific action plan which was discussed with the farmer and herd veterinarian/other advisors during the second visit. In the final herd visit (±8 months later), comparable data were obtained to evaluate the progress. Overall, a significant improvement of 2.4 points external and 7 points internal biosecurity on the herds was obtained, combined with additional vaccination, anthelmintic therapy and prudent AMU. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in the AMU with a decrease of 52% for the pigs from birth till slaughter and 32% for breeding animals, based on treatment incidences (TIs) and included an important reduction in the use of critically important antimicrobials. More importantly, the increased biosecurity levels and decreased AMU were combined with significantly improved technical results such as the number of weaned piglets per sow per year
(+1.1), daily weight gain (+5.9 g/day) and mortality in the finisher period (−0.6%). Guided interventions as a team effort of farmer and herd veterinarian/other advisors have shown to be a promising method in the reduction of AMU in pig production.
7 Research paper – Postma – 2017 – Reducing Antimicrobial Usage in Pig Production without Jeopardizing Production Parameters Where to find the original material:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/zph.12283; https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12283
Country: BE

 

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If combined, biosecurity principles, vaccination strategy, antihelmintic treatment and antimicrobial usage, along with a well-trained field team, the antimicrobial usage in general could be reduce and still obtain the set-out production parameters.

5 Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Research paper; Van Dixhoorn, 2016)

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5 Research paper

Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus (PRRSV) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) in Young Pigs by van Dixhoorn, I.D.E., Reimert, I., Middelkoop, J., Bolhuis, E.J., Wisselink, H.J., Groot Koerkamp, P.W.G., Kemp, B., and N. Stockhofe-Zurwieden, 2016 PLOS ONE 11: 24p.
in Significant Impact Group(s): Housing and welfare \ Enrichment

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): Lower disease susceptibility to PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae; Improved welfare
Summary: Stress can reduce the ability of the immune system to fight disease, increasing an animal’s susceptibility to infection. Interventions that reduce stress may have positive effects on an animal’s immune system. This study investigated the effect of social and environmental enrichment on the impact of disease in pigs that were infected with PRRS virus and A. pleuropneumoniae bacteria. They compared groups of pigs housed in enriched pens to groups housed in barren pens. Enriched housed (EH) pigs showed faster clearance of the virus in blood and had less lung damage from infection – barren housed (BH) pigs had more lung lesions and tissue damage than EH pigs. EH pigs showed less stress-related
behaviour and differed immunologically and clinically from BH pigs. The research concluded that enriched housing reduces disease susceptibility to PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae in pigs. Enrichment positively influences behaviour, immune response and clinical outcomes in pigs. Until today, antimicrobial drugs have been the therapy of choice to combat bacterial diseases. Resistance against antibiotics is of growing concern in man and animals. Stress, caused by demanding environmental conditions, can reduce immune protection in the host, influencing the onset and outcome of infectious diseases. Therefore psychoneuro-immunological intervention may prove to be a successful
approach to diminish the impact of diseases and antibiotics use. This study was designed to investigate the effect of social and environmental enrichment on the impact
of disease, referred to as “disease susceptibility”, in pigs using a co-infection model of PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae. Twenty-eight pigs were raised in four pens under barren conditions and twenty-eight other pigs were raised in four pens under enriched conditions. In the enriched pens a combination of established social and environmental enrichment factors were introduced. Two pens of the barren (BH) and two pens of the enriched housed (EH) pigs were infected with PRRSV followed by A. pleuropneumoniae, the other two pens in each housing treatment served as control groups. We tested if differences in disease susceptibility in terms of pathological and clinical outcome were related to the
different housing regimes and if this was reflected in differences in behavioural and immunological states of the animals. Enriched housed pigs showed a faster clearance of viral PRRSV RNA in blood serum (p = 0.014) and histologically 2.8 fold less interstitial pneumonia signs in the lungs (p = 0.014). More barren housed than enriched housed pigs developed lesions in the lungs (OR = 19.2, p = 0.048) and the lesions in the barren housed pigs showed a higher total pathologic tissue damage score (p<0.001) than those in
enriched housed pigs. EH pigs showed less stress-related behaviour and differed immunologically and clinically from BH pigs. We conclude that enriched housing management reduces disease susceptibility to co-infection of PRRSV and A. pleuropneumoniae in pigs. Enrichment positively influences behavioural state, immunological response and clinical outcome in pigs. In our study, the enrichment stimulated the EH pigs psychologically differently as compared to the barren housed pigs and diminished (chronic) stress in the animals. Chronic stress in general is considered a potential influencing factor on disease susceptibility, however the complex pathways that mediate the effects of stress on infectious diseases, are not completely understood [1]. The better psycho-physiological and immunological state of the EH pigs likely positively affected their immune and inflammatory responses [67–71], and in this way, diminished the clinical manifestation. Our results are also in line with the increasing epidemiological evidence in humans and other species that environmentally induced adaptations, occurring at crucial stages of life, can potentially change behaviour, disease susceptibility and survival also known as the ‘early origins of
the adult disease susceptibility’ hypothesis [4, 72]. In conclusion, enriched rearing leads to a less severe onset and outcome of a PRRSV A. pleuropneumoniae co-infection. The enriched housed pigs showed a remarkably reduced impact of infection and were less prone to develop clinical signs of disease. We found more support for implementation of
psychoneuro-immunological intervention strategies to reduce the impact of infectious diseases and by this reducing antibiotics use. Future research should investigate the possible involved explanatory pathophysiological pathways.
5 Research paper – van Dixhoorn – 2016 – Enriched Housing Reduces Disease Susceptibility to Co-Infection with Porcine Repro
Where to find the original material:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015855/;
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161832
Country: NL

 

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1 Colostrum is gold – by RUMA – Responsible-Use-Of-Medicines-in-Agricultural-Alliance (Farm Innovation)

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1 Farm Innovation
#ColostrumisGold by RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agricultural Alliance)
in Significant Impact Group(s): Feed / gut health \ Early feeding (colostrum/feed) – Early feeding (colostrum/feed)

Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy; Beef; Sheep;
Age: Young;
Outcome Parameter(s): Lower disease susceptibility
Summary: #ColostrumisGold, a website from the English company RUMA (RUMA = Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance, see: https://www.ruma.org.uk/)
This easy to read farm innovation is about improving animal health and welfare, in beef and dairy cattle, pigs and sheep. The main topic of the website is colostrum; the first milk from cows, sheep and pigs. According to the website; “Colostrum is chock-full of antibodies, energy and essential nutrients that can benefit the newborn animal.”
The website includes documents with Tech tools & Tips; read antibiotic use case studies, showing implemented management changes on-farm that have reduced, refined or replaced use of their antibiotics. There is a search function to choose from. These are basics on colostrum, storing and administering colostrum and use of colostrum, in different types of material (case study, technical guide and video’s).
1 Farm Innovation – #ColostrumisGold by RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agricultural Alliance)
Where to find the original material: (in English) https://colostrumisgold.org/;
Country: UK

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#ColostrumisGold, a website from the English company RUMA (RUMA = Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance, see: https://www.ruma.org.uk/)
This easy to read farm innovation is about improving animal health and welfare, in beef and dairy cattle, pigs and sheep. The main topic of the website is colostrum; the first milk from cows, sheep and pigs. According to the website; “Colostrum is chock-full of antibodies, energy and essential nutrients that can benefit the newborn animal.”
The website includes documents with Tech tools & Tips;

Best practice recommendations regarding biosecurity and boars

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On many breeding farms, a search boar is used for good oestrus stimulation in the sows. However, this activity also carries risks. 

Direct contact between animals is the most effective way to transmit disease. With the oestrus stimulation the boar walks in front of and/or behind the sows and direct contact is possible. It is therefore important that the boar does not transmit disease to the sows and gilts. In general, it is advisable to buy animals from a farm that has at least the same health status, but preferably higher. These farms are free of a number of diseases and this reduces the chance of disease introduction. When an animal is purchased, it must be placed in quarantine upon arrival. The incubation period of a disease (the time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms) determines the quarantine period. In general, a minimum quarantine period of four weeks is advised, but it is safer to apply a longer period, e.g. six to eight weeks. In addition to the prevention of disease introduction, the newly purchased animals can also adapt to the farm during the quarantine period and receive the necessary vaccinations (adaptation period). It is advised to administer the same vaccinations to boars and sows.  

In order to keep the boar sufficiently active, mating can be allowed occasionally. However, sperm can also be a risk for disease introduction. This also applies when new genetics are introduced to the farm by artificial insemination.  

Conclusions: 

  1. Buy animals from a farm with the same or higher health status. 
  1. When purchasing animals, maintain a quarantine period of at least four weeks 
  1. Vaccinate the boar together with the sows