Using the Biocheck.UGent™ scoring tool in Irish farrow-to-finish pig farms: assessing biosecurity and its relation to productive performance

Abstract

Background Biosecurity is one of the main factors affecting disease occurrence and antimicrobial use, and it is associated with performance in pig production. However, the importance of specific measures could vary depending on the (national) context. The aim of this study was to describe the biosecurity status in a cohort of Irish pig farms, to investigate which of those biosecurity aspects are more relevant by using the Biocheck.UGent™ scoring system, and to study the impact of such aspects on farm performance. Results External biosecurity score was high compared to most countries due to the characteristics of the Irish pig sector (i.e. purchasing only semen and breeding gilts on farm). The internal biosecurity score was lower and had greater variability among farms than other EU countries. Using multivariable linear regression, the biosecurity practices explained 8, 23, and 16% of variability in piglet mortality, finisher mortality, and average daily gain, respectively. Three clusters of farms were defined based on their biosecurity scores (0 to 100) using principal components and hierarchical clustering analysis. Scores for clusters 1, 2 and 3 were (mean ± SD) 38 ± 7.6, 61 ± 7.0 and 66 ± 9.8 for internal and 73 ± 5.1, 74 ± 5.3 and 86 ± 4.5 for external biosecurity. Cluster 3 had lower piglet mortality ( P = 0.022) and higher average daily gain ( P = 0.037) when compared to cluster 2. Conclusions Irish farms follow European tendencies with internal biosecurity posing as the biggest liability. Our results suggest that practices related to the environment and region, feed, water and equipment supply, and the management of the different stages, need to be addressed in lower performing farms to improve productive performance. Further studies on the economic impact of these biosecurity practices including complementary data on herd health, gilt rearing, piglet management, vaccination and feeding strategies are needed.

Quantification, description and international comparison of antimicrobial use on Irish pig farms

“…However, recent work has identified respiratory disease as a significant problem on Irish pig farms [56] and this may explain the high use of antimicrobials in the weaner diets fed to 2nd stage weaner pigs. Also, internal biosecurity on Irish pig farms is lower than in other European countries [57]. Improved biosecurity was shown to aid in reducing AMU on Belgian pig farms [58] and a recent initiative launched by Animal Health Ireland has made biosecurity audits available to all Irish pig farms.…”

Financial Analysis of Herd Status and Vaccination Practices for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Swine Influenza Virus, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms Using a Bio-Economic Simulation Model

“…Replacement gilts were home-reared as per common practice in Irish pig farms (32); selected at 24 weeks of age and artificially inseminated at their second oestrous. All breeding females were artificially inseminated when standing oestrous was observed and 24 h after the first service.…”

“…For example, 85.7% of unvacPRRSv(+) farms always isolated sick pigs and consistently handled them after healthy ones (Calderón Díaz et al, in preparation) compared with 61% of vacPRRSv(+) farms practicing the same measures as per results from the Biocheck.UGent TM (https://www.biocheck.ugent.be/ index.php?) scoring tool completed as part of the crosssectional study conducted by Rodrigues da Costa et al (32). Additionally, unvacPRRSv(+) farms higher score for disease management than vacPRRSv(+) farms (90.0 ± 21.07 vs. 73.3 ± 20.49, respectively; Calderón Díaz et al, in preparation).…”

Biosecurity Level Practices in Pig and Poultry Production in Vietnam

“…Therefore, high scores reaching the maximum score of 100% can be more easily obtained for internal biosecurity. Costa et al (2019) researched the effect of biosecurity scores and farm characteristics on productive performance. They found that there was an increase in mortality with age of the youngest building in which pigs were kept, and a tendency for it to decrease in farms with better scores in the biosecurity category referring to feed, water, and equipment supply.…”