Improved pig health with farm management systems. Project 'Beautiful stream of pigs' 21
Smits, J.M.; Merks, J.W.M.
Tijdschrift Voor Diergeneeskunde 127(7): 219-225
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-7453 PMID: 11962123 Document Number: 547098
As part of the project 'Clean pigs', an inventory was made of the different pig farm management systems described in the literature. These systems were evaluated for their potential use in improving animal health, focusing on the pathogens important in the Netherlands. The most promising systems for the control and/or eradication of pig pathogens in the Netherlands can be divided into two groups (with decreasing effect): I. Eradication from an existing positive population. The best systems for this are Embryo Transplantation (ET), Specific-Pathogen Free pigs (SPF), Piglet Snatching and Segregated Weaning (SW). II. Strategic veterinary and breeding strategies. The best systems for this are Freeze infection, test and removal, Test and removal, Vaccination, Medical elimination, Strategic medication and Genetic resistance. Farm systems can be a big help when trying to improve animal health, but the 'biosecurity' measures on the farm are at least of equal importance.