Epidemiological studies of pig diseases: 2. Post-weaning diarrhoea and performance in Western Australian pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine in Australian pig herds the accuracy of French protocols for risk factor assessment of post-weaning diarrhoea and illthrift.


METHODS
French protocols for the collection of data on health indicators and risk factors for post-weaning diarrhoea were conducted on 54 batches of weaner pigs from 28 Western Australian pig herds during three years.


RESULTS
Large variations in post-weaning performance were found. About one-third of the batches were growing at < 200 g/day during the 3 weeks after weaning, and 54% had growth rates of < 250 g/day. Weaning age and weight of at least 30 days and 7.9 kg, respectively, optimised weaner performance. Other risk factors associated with little post-weaning diarrhoea and good weaner performance were high creep feed intakes, relatively little diarrhoea as suckers, and, contrary to expectations, large temperature fluctuations.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the 'predictability' of post-weaning problems as assessed by measurement of risk status, was good. However, the model was less accurate at predicting the performance of a single batch of pigs.
Skirrow
S Z
SZ
Animal Industries Division, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.
Buddle
J R
JR
Mercy
A R
AR
Madec
F
F
Nicholls
R R
RR
D000818:Animals; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D008954:Models, Biological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014886:Weaning; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology