[Consequence of frequent moving among stalls on the economics of swine fattening]

In an industrial pig productions unit the weaned piglets of 20 sows were assigned to two Groups. The Groups were treated as follows: Group one (99 piglets of 10 sows): the pigs were kept in the same pen of the unit from birth until slaughter and received no prophylactic medication. If illness occurred, only the individual pig was treated. Group two (102 piglets of 10 sows): according to standard operating procedures on this farm, the pigs assigned to Group two were moved during the growing-fattening period three times, having received after moving into Flat-Deck and into the growing-fattening house for one week prophylactic antibiotic treatment. If illness occurred, only the individual pig was treated. The following Parameter were evaluated: A: Mortality B: Food Conversion C: Medicine expenses D: Stress related diseases E: Infectious diseases F: Age at slaughter at 100 kg live weight G: Revenue differences between the Groups The Group one showed regarding all investigated Parameters, when compared to the Group two, markedly better results and 15.58 Deutsche Mark cheeper production cost per pig. These result shows, that moving pigs among houses markedly influences the economics in fattening units.

[Vulvar discharge before parturition and a risk factor for postpartum diseases of the sow and for early postnatal piglet losses]

Periparturient biotechniques with prednisolon are widely used in Europe for the prevention of perinatal losses in intensive pig production. However, the routinely applied 100 mg prednisolon on the 113th day of pregnancy to the sow are not without controversy. In four intensive pig production units altogether 2143 sows treated thus were subjected to the evaluation of the following parameters: A: the presence or absence of vulvar discharge at the 110th day of pregnancy B: postparturient disease of the sow C: early postnatal piglet losses The results showed that the sows having prepartal vulvar discharge developed after prednisolon application significantly (p < 0.001) higher incidence of postparturient disease (20.5% versus 9.3%) when compared to the sows having no prepartal vulvar discharge. The early postnatal losses were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in sows having prepartal vulvar discharge and consecutive postparturient disease when compared to the healthy sows. It is the opinion of the authors that prepartal biotechnique with prednisolon (in order to reduce perinatal losses) in sows showing the signs of prepartal vulvar discharge is contraindicated.

[The effect of timing of labor induction on the occurrence of congenital myofibrillar hypoplasia--short clinical report]

In an intensive pig production unit with routinely performed prostaglandin partus induction four groups of sows were formed shortly before parturition. The animals received 3 mg alfaprostol as a single intramuscular injection each. The sows of group 1 on the 112th, those of group 2 on the 113th and the animals of group 3 on the 114th day of pregnancy. Group 4 sows were not treated and formed the control group. We evaluated the number of live born piglets and the number of piglets born with congenital myofibrillar hypoplasia. The results showed no significant difference regarding live born piglets. As regards congenital myofibrillar hypoplasia the sows with early partus induction (group 1) showed significant higher incidence when compared to the other groups. It is likely that in cases of partus induction before the 113th day of pregnancy the fetus is still insufficiently protected by natural maturation, adaptation and tolerance ability against such congenital condition as CMH. Therefore it is the opinion of the authors that partus induction before the 113th day of pregnancy should not be performed.

[The peripartal disease complex of the sow in the industrial swine breeding facility. 4. The effect of prophylactic oral medication on the occurrence of the peripartal disease complex of the sow with the symptoms of urinary tract infection and vaginal-vulvar discharge]

In an industrial pig production unit 20 sows were selected at random. All the sows had a puerperal disease in their anamnesis. The sows were divided in two groups consisting of ten sows each. Group 1 received Ampicillin per os (3 g per sow and day) four days a.p. and four days p.p. The majority of the sows showed a significant E. coli bacteriuria and non of the sows showed a significant Enterococcus bacteriuria prior to treatment. The development of puerperal disease was registered. The treated group showed less occurrence of disease compared to the control. Group 1 revealed significant (p < 0.05) less early postnatal losses than the untreated control. Group 1 showed better four weeks weaning weights as well. It is the authors opinion that sows having significant bacteriuria a.p. should be treated a.p. and p.p. before periparturient disease occurs.

[The peripartal disease complex of the mother sow in the industrial swine facility. 3. Slaughter findings of old sows with anamnesis of peripartal diseases]

In an industrial pig production unit ten sows were selected at random. All the sows had a puerperal disease in their anamnesis. The sows were slaughtered after weaning and subjected to pathological examination. The mammary glands, uteri and bladder of ten slaughtered sows were examined for gross pathological alterations. All the sows showed symptoms of chronic mastitis (abscess, granuloma, fibrosis or cysts). Four of the examined uteri showed pathological alterations. Nine out of the ten bladders examined revealed pathological findings.

[The peripartum disease complex of the sow in commercial swine breeding. 2. The effect of prepartum bacteriuria on the peripartum and postpartum occurrence of puerperal diseases in the sow with anamnesis of urinary tract infection and vaginal-vulvar discharge]

In an industrial pig production unit ten sows were selected at random. All the sows had puerperal disease in their anamnesis and all of them revealed at the time of selection--during their late pregnancy--urinary tract infection (UTI) and vaginal-vulvar discharge (VD) and most of them had significant bacteriuria a.p. All the sows were evaluated using Bilkei's MMA early detection system. The majority of the sows which have had significant bacteriuria a.p. developed a puerperal disease.

[The peripartum disease complex of the sow in industrial swine breeds. 1. Peripartum course of bacteriuria of sows with vaginal-vulvar discharge in a modern swine breeding facility]

In an industrial pig production unit ten sows were selected at random. All the sows had puerperal disease in their anamnesis and all of them revealed at the time of selection--during their late pregnancy--Urinary Tract Infection (UT)I and vaginal-vulvar discharge (VD). Mid-stream early morning urine samples were collected during four days ante partum and during four days post partum. The samples were semiquantitatively examined for E. coli and gram positive cocci. Three sows showed ante partum non significant bacteriuria which turned into significant bacteriuria post partum. The majority of the reminding sows revealed a significant bacteriuria during the whole period of examination.