title: Relationship between biosecurity and production/antimicrobial treatment characteristics in pig herds.
abstract: The biosecurity status of 95 breeder-finisher pig herds was quantified using a risk-based weighted scoring system. Data relating to herd-, farmer- and production-characteristics and to the prophylactic use of antimicrobials were also collected. The average external biosecurity score (measures to prevent pathogens from entering a herd) was 65 (range, 45-89) and the average internal score (measures to reduce the within-herd spread of pathogens) was 52 (range, 18-87). External scores were positively associated with herd size, while internal scores were negatively associated with both 'age of buildings' and 'years of experience of the farmer', indicating that biosecurity is generally better implemented in larger herds, in more modern facilities and by younger farmers. External and internal biosecurity scores were positively associated with daily weight gain and negatively associated with feed conversion ratio of fattening pigs. Internal scores were negatively associated with disease treatment incidence, suggesting that improved biosecurity might help in reducing the amount of antimicrobials used prophylactically. This study demonstrates and quantifies a clear link between biosecurity and both production- and antimicrobial treatment-related criteria in pig herds.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: Maria.Laanen@UGent.be.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laanen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Persoons
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribbens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Callens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strubbe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001530:Belgium; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Antimicrobial treatment; Biosecurity; Daily weight gain; Feed conversion; Pig; Scoring