October 15, 2007

Pleurisy risk higher when pigs from different parents are mixed

The lesser the mixing of pigs from different birth parents, the lower risk of pleurisy, according to research by the Dutch Animal Sciences Group at Wageningen University and Research Centre.

The study was conducted jointly with the Veterinary Centre Someren and Intervet and reported by the Dutch agricultural newspaper Agrarisch Dagblad.

The aim of the study was to look for ways to reduce the number of pigs with pleurisy on the slaughter line.

The study investigated whether by delivering pigs in one group from birth to the slaughterhouse, without mixing them with the other pigs, the incidences of pleurisy could be lowered.

The results of this group of pigs were compared with a group which was sorted according to weight from the weaning stage. In the farrowing house, the non-mixed group of piglets grew quicker and were heavier at the weaning stage than the mixed group.

However, there were no differences between both groups at weaning stage in terms of feed intake and feed conversion. Weights at slaughter was also unaffected. 

The non-mixed group grew 16 g per day faster and had 1.1 mm thicker muscles than their mixed counterparts.

The percentage of finished pigs with infected lungs had fallen from 10.3 to 5.9 percent by not mixing the animals, the study concluded.