PROHEALTH has mapped different ways to maintain a high level of animal health and welfare, and gain economic benefits in pig farming. This is especially important since

increased modern and intensive production is expected to meet the growing demand of the increasing world population. Therefore, the risk and susceptibility of animals to

production diseases are of utmost importance for a sustainable production.

PROHEALTH used a holistic approach that contributes to the understanding of complex interactions between viruses and bacteria, animal genetics, and farming environment.

This allowed the development of new tools and innovative solutions for stakeholders throughout the pig production chain.

Moving towards increased sustainability of modern pig farming in Europe

STRATEGIES THAT BENEFIT ANIMAL HEALTH AND FARM PROFITABILITY

SOCIETAL ADVANCESPROHEALTH research has demonstrated that the public is concerned about farm animal welfare, yet little is known about public attitudes towards production diseases, and interventions to reduce these diseases. A better understanding of public perceptions from industry and policy stakeholders can encourage improved relationships between consumers, retailers and suppliers. The public sees the benefits of intensive production for consumers such as reduced costs and increased availability of animal products; however it has concerns about the use of antibiotics, and the related issue of antimicrobial resistance and animal welfare. Nevertheless, many members of the public are unfamiliar with how the food they eat is produced. Yet they are willing to pay

a small premium for products associated with improved disease control and welfare.

Source: PigCHAMP Pro Europa https://www.pigchamp-pro.com/

MANAGEMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC ADVANCESWork in the PROHEALTH project demonstrates how the challenges of prolificacy for keeping piglets alive can be addressed by implementing new management approaches in day to day practice. Researches have revealed that it is possible to identify susceptible piglets in an early stage by monitoring the IgG (Immunoglobulins) serum content after colostrum intake. The performance of these piglets can be improved by grouping immediately post-weaning and providing them with special health care and feed. Feed formulated to improve aspects critical at weaning such as mucosa integrity, immune system response and increasing appetite improves average daily gain by about one third. Additional tryptophan, threonine, glutamine and arginine are recommended to address these critical aspects. Other management changes such as a more intensive vaccination plan or a better environmental control could also help. PROHEALTH research highlights that such management improvements help to avoid extra work and expenses with the rest of the piglets, and it can improve piglets’ performance and rationalise the use of antibiotics. In order to facilitate the identification and better management of these piglets there is a need for a quick method to measure IgG content and a need for enhanced feeds.

Highlights from PROHEALTH to practice

GENETIC ADVANCESGENETIC ADVANCESGenetic studies in the PROHEALTH project have looked Genetic studies in the PROHEALTH project have looked for new neonatal and maternal traits which might be for new neonatal and maternal traits which might be utilised in future genetic selection strategies. Piglet utilised in future genetic selection strategies. Piglet maturity at birth is of great importance and results maturity at birth is of great importance and results show that, in addition to birthweight, other simple show that, in addition to birthweight, other simple visual indicators of intra-uterine growth restriction visual indicators of intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) such as the head shape of the piglet affect (IUGR) such as the head shape of the piglet affect their survival prospects. Sow level analysis shows their survival prospects. Sow level analysis shows that the heritability for the proportion of IUGR piglets that the heritability for the proportion of IUGR piglets in a litter suggests it could be a suitable proxy for in a litter suggests it could be a suitable proxy for uterine capacity to be included in future breeding uterine capacity to be included in future breeding programmes for selection of future lines. Selection programmes for selection of future lines. Selection against a high proportion of IUGR will result in against a high proportion of IUGR will result in lower litter proportion of IUGR piglets and increase lower litter proportion of IUGR piglets and increase in piglets’ survival. Care must be taken to maintain in piglets’ survival. Care must be taken to maintain current level of litter size when selecting against current level of litter size when selecting against IUGR, as the proportion of IUGR piglets is positively IUGR, as the proportion of IUGR piglets is positively genetically correlated with litter size. genetically correlated with litter size.

COMPETITIVE ADVANCESEasy to use online tools to score management and biosecurity in pig farms have been developed to guide improvements in on-farm internal and external biosecurity. They can be used to highlight weaknesses at farm level (e.g. improper stocking density in nursery pigs, insufficient health monitoring of purchased breeding animals or lack of disinfection after emptying the stables). The online scoring tools are species-specific and have been developed in order to score practices in an objective and standardised way across Europe. The online scoring tools can be accessed through the following link:

https://www.survey.ugent.be/lime/index.php/999926/lang-en

ECONOMICAL ADVANCES Poor housing hygiene and the lack of respecting biosecurity recommendations have been clearly identifi ed by PROHEALTH as risk factors for pig health. Even when corrective measures were applied later, poor hygiene reduced the growth rate and health of pigs in the long term. Pigs in poorer hygienic housings suffered from a reduction of 20 percent in daily weight gain and provided close to €10 lower fi nancial margin than pigs grown under better hygienic conditions. Poor hygiene in the pen induced a systemic infl ammatory response in pigs. Moreover, the prevalence of respiratory lesions at slaughter was higher in dirty conditions. Ensuring a good hygiene during housing improves pig health in the growing-fi nishing phase and increases pigs’ weight at slaughter.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCESNovel user-friendly real-time measurement systems comprise of a network of sensors that record key environmental indicators and transmit data to the cloud. This system together with data-analytics tools produces information that alerts when the risk of a respiratory or enteric disease outbreak is elevated. These real-time animal behavioural measurements in conjunction with the farm environment should be utilised to take pre-defined early interventions.

The PROHEALTH Consortium

“This brochure was prepared as part of the PROHEALTH project which has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No. 613574. Its content refl ects the views of the PROHEALTH consortium. The European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.”

KEY FACTS22 European partners:

12 industry, 10 academicProject duration:

01/12/2013 – 30/11/2018Project coordinator:Prof Ilias Kyriazakis,

Newcastle University, UK

PROHEALTH projectwww.fp7-prohealth.eu

Source: PigCHAMP Pro Europa https://www.pigchamp-pro.com/