Influence of long-term vaccination of a breeding herd of pigs against PCV2 on reproductive parameters

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate an efficacy of sows vaccination protocols in the herd with serious problems affecting efficacy of reproduction. The study was performed in a large pig herd with about 1200 sows. Before vaccination against PCV2, farrowing rate in this farm was about 65%.Sows, boar and replacement gilts were immunized using Circovac vaccine (Merial, France) according to producer's recommendations. Parameters of production were analyzed since 2007 until 2010 in selected batches of sows inseminated at the same weeks of the year (17th, 18th, 19th and 20th) to eliminate seasonal variability. In total, 940 sows were subjected to the study. No significant changes in management during these years were introduced.The applied protocol of sow herd long-term vaccination proved to be very efficient. All measured production parameters: reproduction rate, number of piglets born alive, birth weight of piglets and number of piglets weaned per a litter improved after implementation of immunization program. Moreover, further improvement was observed with vaccination in the following reproduction cycles. The most spectacular effect of vaccination regarded average farrowing rate that increased from 64.76% in control group to 86.93% after basic vaccination. Two years after implementation of vaccination program this parameter reached 93.6%. Number of piglets weaned per sow per a litter improved from 10.31 to 11.74 after one year of vaccination and remained relatively stable through the following year. Simultaneously, the percentage of newborn piglets with birth weight < 1 kg decreased significantly (p < 0.05).To summarize, vaccination against PCV2 influenced positively the insemination rate, number of piglets born alive and weaned per litter as well as birth body weight and percentage of piglets weighing < 1 kg.

Exploratory field study on the effect of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) sow vaccination on serological, virological and reproductive parameters in a PCV2 subclinically infected sow herd

“…Moreover, piglets from vaccinated sows had higher vitality (in the first three hours of life) than the animals issued from non-vaccinated ones in both reproductive cycles. This finding was subjectively reported in a farm with major reproductive problems, most probably related to PCV2, using the same vaccine than the present study [ 28 ]. Besides, since VI was higher in piglets coming from vaccinated sows, one would expect to have less crushed piglets in that group.…”

“…In this study, sow vaccination at first cycle was applied at a relatively late time during pregnancy when the litter size is already established; therefore, the potential impact of PCV2 vaccination on litter size was only expected after second cycle vaccination. This effect on reproductive parameters is in line with those observed by Pejsak et al [ 28 ], but in disagreement with the ones reported by Kurmann et al [ 23 ]. The first trial [ 28 ] was conducted in a farm with important reproductive problems (most likely related to PCV2-RD) and sporadic PCV2-SD cases.…”

“…This effect on reproductive parameters is in line with those observed by Pejsak et al [ 28 ], but in disagreement with the ones reported by Kurmann et al [ 23 ]. The first trial [ 28 ] was conducted in a farm with important reproductive problems (most likely related to PCV2-RD) and sporadic PCV2-SD cases. In that study, the application of a 3-year PCV2 vaccination in boars, gilts (at acclimatization) and sows (before farrowing) resulted in the improvement of all measured reproductive parameters (insemination rate, number of live-born and weaned piglets per litter and birth weight).…”

“…As for example, this type of problems has been tackled as a secondary goal and in a very limited number of sows (1-3 sows per group) in some experimental studies [ 24 , 25 , 27 ]. At farm level, this issue has only been assessed in two peer-reviewed studies: firstly in one farm suffering from PCV2-SD in growing pigs but without evident reproductive problems (PCV2-SI scenario in the sow herd) [ 23 ] and, secondly, in one farm with PCV2-SD among weaners and serious reproductive problems in sows [ 28 ]. Whereas in the first study no significant differences on the main reproductive parameters between treatments were detected, in the second one an improvement of all measured reproductive parameters were recorded.…”

Emergence of Porcine Circovirus 2 Associated Reproductive Failure in Southern India

“…The herd history was indicative of PCVADs, with increased piglet mortality and reproductive failure. Interestingly, gilts are recorded to be more prone to PCV2‐induced reproductive failure, as observed in the current episode (Farnham et al., ; Pensaert et al., ; Sharma and Saikumar, ; Pejsak et al., ).…”