April 23, 2007

 

Ileitis infections hamper pig farming profits- Elanco

 

 

Pig farmers wanting to boost overall swine herd should focus more attention to ileitis infections, according to Ian Hands, pig veterinary adviser for Elanco.

 

Hands said ileitis has become a major problem in pig units as lawsonia intracelluaris, the disease's causative agent has been present on farms for many years but only became significant when antibiotic growth promoters were removed in 1998.

 

He added that farmers were already experiencing a dramatic decrease particularly in growing pigs from 10 to 15 weeks old.

 

The economic cost of reduced performance is typically put at 2 GBP per pig with most farmers reporting a chronic form of the disease with looseness, reduced growth rates and feed conversion, according to Hands.

 

Lawsonia inhabits the gut wall of infected animals, causing irritation and reducing the efficiency with which nutrients are absorbed. Farm studies indicate that the difference between infected and uninfected animals is around 100g DLWG (daily liveweight gain).

 

In 1997, Elanco commissioned a study to determine how common Lawsonia was in the UK and Ireland and discovered the bacteria was present on 96 percent of the farms involved in the study and 30 percent of pigs were showing clinical signs of infection at any one time.

 

The problem is not unique to the UK. At a recent symposium in Denmark, the consensus was that 95 percent of pig units worldwide will have Lawsonia present.

 

Outbreaks are normally associated with other activities on farm, such as moving groups or changing diets, and mainly occur in the mid-growth stages.

 

Hands said only few farmers acknowledge ileitis as a major problem despite the widespread presence of the causative agent.

 

Current survey among veterinarians and animal producers showed that respiratory disease, PMWS (Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome) and PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus) were seen as being the most significant challenges. Ileitis was typically ranked fifth or sixth, and while the majority of farmers were aware of the problem, few were aware of its potential impact.

 

With these results, Hands said the major problem is farmers accept a degree of looseness being the norm than symptomatic of a health problem in the herd.

 

He added  that in some cases 30 to 40 percent loose pigs is seen as normal and many farmers may have "lost sight" on the appearance of "normal faeces".

 

The deterioration in feed conversion can also be a sign of ileitis despite full clinical symptoms, said Hands.

 

The consultant urged farmers to pay more attention to faecal consistency and to be more vigilant. At the same time he said veterinarians should be more proactive in raising the problem with farmer clients.

 

He said farmers should assume they have the problem rather than ignoring it, or wishing they were one of the 4 percent of farms where Lawsonia is not present.