The purpose of this study: (1) propose an evaluation indicator of the fattening efficiency of commercial pigs (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc)—fattening efficiency index (FEI). (2) Analyze the correlation to find the main productive factors affecting the FEI. (3) Compare and analyze the yearly/monthly/different piglets’ sources of productive performance in 2020 and 2021. The data included 2592 commercial pig batches in 2020 and 3266 in 2021, with a total of 6,134,234 commercial pigs. Descriptive statistics and difference analysis were carried out on 16 productive factors of a whole year and single/multiple sources for two consecutive years. The same period difference between the monthly data and the annual average were also analyzed. The top six productive factors correlated with FEI were average daily gain (ADG) (0.8080), feed conversion rate (FCR) (− 0.7203), survival rate (SR) (0.6968), number of deaths (− 0.4103), feeding days (− 0.3748) and body weight (BW) of marketing pigs (0.3369). The overall productive performance in 2021 was lower than that in 2020, which was reflected in more piglet sources and a lower BW of piglets, more deaths, a lower SR, longer feeding days, a lower ADG, a higher FCR and a lower FEI. The productive performance of a single source was better than that of multiple ones. The contrastive results of monthly data in 2020 and 2021 showed significant differences in most factors except for the number of marketing pigs, the number of piglets and feed consumption. The monthly trend of 15 factors for two consecutive years revealed similar trends only in the month of piglets purchasing, number of piglets sources, number of deaths and ADG. Compared with the annual average, the ADG significantly increased in May. The FEI of multiple sources was markedly lower than that of a single source. FEI may be suitable for evaluating the fattening efficiency of commercial pigs. The annual and monthly productive performance and fattening efficiency in 2021 were significantly lower than those in 2020. Single source was represented better productive performance and fattening efficiency than multiple ones.

Since the first report of ASFV in China in 2018, conventional whole herd depopulation method to control ASF has proved unwieldly because of high production intensity and complex trade network. To provide an alternative to conventional methods, we evaluated the feasibility of implementating an extensive sampling method and qPCR tests to determine the status of ASFV in herds, with a rapid response to identified outbreaks. By assessing and applying these methods without whole herd depopulation, we successfully controlled ASF and eliminated the virus from 4 large swine herds. The time to negative herd was 19, 28, 14, and 1 days in farms 1-4 respectively. Retention rates of pigs of farm 1 to farm 4 was 69.7%, 65%, 99.4% and 99.72% respectively. We anticipated that this innovative method would replace the conventional stamping out one and greatly facilitate the control and eradication of ASFV in China and worldwide.

Background Since the first report of ASFV in China in 2018, conventional whole herd depopulation method to control ASF has proved unwieldly because of high production intensity and complex trade network. To provide an alternative to conventional methods, we evaluated the feasibility of implementating an extensive sampling method and qPCR tests to determine the status of ASFV in herds, with a rapid response to identified outbreaks. Case presentations By assessing and applying these methods without whole herd depopulation, we successfully controlled ASF and eliminated the virus from 4 large swine herds. The time to negative herd was 19, 28, 14, and 1 days in farms 1-4 respectively. Retention rates of pigs of farm 1 to farm 4 was 69.7% , 65%, 99.4% and 99.72% respectively.Conclusions We anticipated that this innovative method would replace the conventional stamping out one and greatly facilitate the control and eradication of ASFV in China and worldwide.