Abstract
Health status of pig farms can vary considerably and relates to the variation in zootechnical performance among farms. Classification of farm health can be helpful in monitoring farm health status in time and for the application of intervention strategies to improve farm health status. The aim of the current study was to develop a concept for classification of the health
status of growing-finishing pig farms. Six traits were incorporated into a health status web, related to the zootechnical performance and measurements at slaughter. Performance data from 1,074 and 783 Dutch pig farms, and abattoir data of 50,208 and 47,426 farm deliveries to slaughterhouses, acquired over 2011 and 2012 respectively, were used as a representative sample for the Dutch growing-finishing pig population to calculate the 25th and 75th percentiles of each trait per year. Per farm, a score was calculated per trait by inter- and extrapolation using the 25th and 75th percentiles from the Dutch pig population. The farm score was defined as the mean score over the six traits. A farm was classified as having a suboptimal health with a farm score between 50 and 62.5, as having a conventional health status with a farm score between 62.5 and 87.5 and as having a high health status with a farm score between 87.5 and 100. Further, two datasets were compiled: dataset 1 with farm data of 179 farms over the year 2011, and dataset 2 with farm data of 70 farms over both 2011 and 2012. In dataset 1, 13 farms were characterized as high health, 159 farms as conventional and seven farms as having a low health status. Analysis of dataset 2 revealed that farm scores are consistent across years,
indicating that the farm score is farm specific and the health status web is a valuable concept to characterize growing-finishing pig farms on their health status.
status of growing-finishing pig farms. Six traits were incorporated into a health status web, related to the zootechnical performance and measurements at slaughter. Performance data from 1,074 and 783 Dutch pig farms, and abattoir data of 50,208 and 47,426 farm deliveries to slaughterhouses, acquired over 2011 and 2012 respectively, were used as a representative sample for the Dutch growing-finishing pig population to calculate the 25th and 75th percentiles of each trait per year. Per farm, a score was calculated per trait by inter- and extrapolation using the 25th and 75th percentiles from the Dutch pig population. The farm score was defined as the mean score over the six traits. A farm was classified as having a suboptimal health with a farm score between 50 and 62.5, as having a conventional health status with a farm score between 62.5 and 87.5 and as having a high health status with a farm score between 87.5 and 100. Further, two datasets were compiled: dataset 1 with farm data of 179 farms over the year 2011, and dataset 2 with farm data of 70 farms over both 2011 and 2012. In dataset 1, 13 farms were characterized as high health, 159 farms as conventional and seven farms as having a low health status. Analysis of dataset 2 revealed that farm scores are consistent across years,
indicating that the farm score is farm specific and the health status web is a valuable concept to characterize growing-finishing pig farms on their health status.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 132 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2016 |
| Event | 16th International Conference on Production Diseases in Farm Animals - Wageningen University (Hof van Wageningen Conference Centre), Wageningen, Netherlands Duration: 22 Jun 2016 → 23 Jun 2016 Conference number: 16 http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/activity/16th-International-Conference-on-Production-Diseases-in-Farm-Animals-.htm |
Conference
| Conference | 16th International Conference on Production Diseases in Farm Animals |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICPD 2016 |
| Country/Territory | Netherlands |
| City | Wageningen |
| Period | 22/06/16 → 23/06/16 |
| Internet address |