January 4, 2010

A study conducted by the University of Missouri (MU) found the historical transition from raising pigs outdoors to indoor housing has improved animal health.

According to a MU veterinarian, the enhancement in pig health has been translated to higher quality pork products for consumers. Since 1945, the university's Commercial Agriculture Swine Focus Team started observing the changes in the swine industry.

Based on this study, veterinarians discovered a significant decline in parasites affecting pigs as pork producers followed scientific advice and shifted to indoor systems.

During the 1940s, 55% to 70% of pigs were infected with lungworms and 78% to 94% carried kidney worms. Currently, veterinarians find that infections of these two parasites are rare.

Meanwhile, scientists also believed eliminating access to wildlife has reduced disease incidence in pigs. For example, trichinella once was fairly common in the US but the real potential for problems with this disease today is from eating wild game.

The study also mentioned that many other pig diseases such as swine dysentery, atrophic rhinitis, actinobacillus, classic swine fever and pseudorabies have significantly decreased or have been eradicated with the move to confined farrowing and feeding facilities.