Environmental Risk Factors Influence the Frequency of Coughing and Sneezing Episodes in Finisher Pigs on a Farm Free of Respiratory Disease

Safety Evaluation of an Intranasally Applied Cocktail of Lactococcus lactis Strains in Pigs

Three Lactococcus lactis strains from the nasal microbiota of healthy pigs were identified as candidates for reducing MRSA in pigs. The safety of nasal administration of a cocktail of these strains was examined in new-born piglets. Six days pre-farrowing, twelve sows were assigned to the placebo or cocktail group (n = 6/group). After farrowing, piglets were administered with either 0.5 mL of the placebo or the cocktail to each nostril. Health status and body weight were monitored at regular time points. Two piglets from three sows/treatment group were euthanised at 24 h, 96 h and 14 d after birth, and conchae, lung and tonsil samples were collected for histopathological and gene expression analysis. Health scores were improved in the cocktail group between d1-5. Body weight and daily gains did not differ between groups. Both groups displayed histological indications of euthanasia and inflammation in the lungs, signifying the findings were not treatment related. The expression of pBD2, TLR9 and IL-1β in the nasal conchae differed between groups, indicating the cocktail has the potential to modulate immune responses. In summary, the L. lactis cocktail was well tolerated by piglets and there was no negative impact on health scores, growth or lung histopathology indicating that it is safe for administration to new-born piglets.

Air Quality Assessment in Pig Farming: The Italian Classyfarm

On 24 September 2019, the Ministry of Health issued an explanatory circular containing clarifications on the implementation methods of the National Improvement Plan for the application of Legislative Decree 122/2011. The Plan states that "In all farms where weaning or fattening pigs are raised and in breeding farms which wean piglets (excluding those for self-consumption), a risk assessment is carried out by the veterinarian on the basis of three levels: insufficient, room for improvement and optimal". ClassyFarm, a risk assessment tool for livestock farming, is applied in Italy to evaluate the level of welfare and management of animals from a variety of points of view. Essentially, the categorization risk introduced by ClassyFarm in pig farming depended on the obligation stated by the EU in Decree 122/2011 to avoid tail docking in piglets and, at the same time, to reduce the stressor aspects able to induce aggressive behavior among pigs, improving the welfare and health status of animals. Since ClassyFarm evaluates many aspects of the management of animal farming, our aims in this review are to discuss the topic from an environmental point of view: (1) to frame the indications of ClassyFarm to make a farm risk assessment based on pigs' welfare; (2) to review environmental quality assessment in pig farms, and its repercussions on animal health and welfare; (3) to describe the most used sampling techniques of air pollutants measurements.

Artificial Intelligence for Automatic Monitoring of Respiratory Health Conditions in Smart Swine Farming

Porcine respiratory disease complex is an economically important disease in the swine industry. Early detection of the disease is crucial for immediate response to the disease at the farm level to prevent and minimize the potential damage that it may cause. In this paper, recent studies on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the early detection and monitoring of respiratory disease in swine have been reviewed. Most of the studies used coughing sounds as a feature of respiratory disease. The performance of different models and the methodologies used for cough recognition using AI were reviewed and compared. An AI technology available in the market was also reviewed. The device uses audio technology that can monitor and evaluate the herd's respiratory health status through cough-sound recognition and quantification. The device also has temperature and humidity sensors to monitor environmental conditions. It has an alarm system based on variations in coughing patterns and abrupt temperature changes. However, some limitations of the existing technology were identified. Substantial effort must be exerted to surmount the limitations to have a smarter AI technology for monitoring respiratory health status in swine.

Porcine respiratory disease complex: Dynamics of polymicrobial infections and management strategies after the introduction of the African swine fever

A few decades ago, porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) exerted a major economic impact on the global swine industry, particularly due to the adoption of intensive farming by the latter during the 1980's. Since then, the emerging of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) as major immunosuppressive viruses led to an interaction with other endemic pathogens (e.g., Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Streptococcus suis, etc.) in swine farms, thereby exacerbating the endemic clinical diseases. We herein, review and discuss various dynamic polymicrobial infections among selected swine pathogens. Traditional biosecurity management strategies through multisite production, parity segregation, batch production, the adoption of all-in all-out production systems, specific vaccination and medication protocols for the prevention and control (or even eradication) of swine diseases are also recommended. After the introduction of the African swine fever (ASF), particularly in Asian countries, new normal management strategies minimizing pig contact by employing automatic feeding systems, artificial intelligence, and robotic farming and reducing the numbers of vaccines are suggested. Re-emergence of existing swine pathogens such as PRRSV or PCV2, or elimination of some pathogens may occur after the ASF-induced depopulation. ASF-associated repopulating strategies are, therefore, essential for the establishment of food security. The "repopulate swine farm" policy and the strict biosecurity management (without the use of ASF vaccines) are, herein, discussed for the sustainable management of small-to-medium pig farms, as these happen to be the most potential sources of an ASF re-occurrence. Finally, the ASF disruption has caused the swine industry to rapidly transform itself. Artificial intelligence and smart farming have gained tremendous attention as promising tools capable of resolving challenges in intensive swine farming and enhancing the farms' productivity and efficiency without compromising the strict biosecurity required during the ongoing ASF era.

Welfare of pigs on farm

This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of pigs on farm, and is based on literature and expert opinion. All pig categories were assessed: gilts and dry sows, farrowing and lactating sows, suckling piglets, weaners, rearing pigs and boars. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system, highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, as well as related animal-based measures (ABMs), and hazards leading to the welfare consequences. Moreover, measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate the welfare consequences are recommended. Recommendations are also provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of pigs related to tail biting and related to the European Citizen's Initiative 'End the Cage Age'. For example, the AHAW Panel recommends how to mitigate group stress when dry sows and gilts are grouped immediately after weaning or in early pregnancy. Results of a comparative qualitative assessment suggested that long-stemmed or long-cut straw, hay or haylage is the most suitable material for nest-building. A period of time will be needed for staff and animals to adapt to housing lactating sows and their piglets in farrowing pens (as opposed to crates) before achieving stable welfare outcomes. The panel recommends a minimum available space to the lactating sow to ensure piglet welfare (measured by live-born piglet mortality). Among the main risk factors for tail biting are space allowance, types of flooring, air quality, health status and diet composition, while weaning age was not associated directly with tail biting in later life. The relationship between the availability of space and growth rate, lying behaviour and tail biting in rearing pigs is quantified and presented. Finally, the panel suggests a set of ABMs to use at slaughter for monitoring on-farm welfare of cull sows and rearing pigs.