Implementing a PCV2 piglet vaccination on a Dutch farm

Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) was first identified in Canada in the mid-90’s. Since then, it evolved to the worst disease of modern swine industry as a complex of PCV2 diseases i.e. Porcine Circovirus (associated) Diseases (PCV(A)D). It is now present in all parts of the world. PMWS is characterized by a sudden wasting in weaners. Later PCVD is more often seen in the finishers and as a reproductive problem. The aim of the present paper is to report on a recent field case of the improvement of PCVD-related problems when using CIRCOVAC® (Merial, Lyon, France) as a piglet vaccination.

In the south of the Netherlands on a farrow-to-finish farm of 300 sows 9 batches of piglets were alternately vaccinated with Circovac 0.5 mL IM or not vaccinated. The boars are not castrated.

5 batches of 240 non-vaccinated piglets (NV) were compared with 4 batches of 240 Circovac vaccinated piglets (CV). The technical results were compared for the batches going into finishing during the period of June 1st till July 29th 2015. The comparison per batch was done on the basis of: Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG), mortality %, % of animals in the hospital pen, meat percentage, loin depth (mm) and meat quality score at slaughter. The economical improvements were calculated on the basis of the Dutch economical values “Waarderingsnormen vleesvarkens 2015” of the Agricultural University of Wageningen.

Mid 2015 alternating 5 batches of 240 NV finishers (data of in total 1.161 pigs) were compared with 4 batches of 240 CV finishers (data of in total 936 pigs). On average the NV animals went into finishing at a weight of 27.34 kg and had a carcass weight of 92.80 kg. The CV animals resp. 27.03 kg and 94.02 kg.

Both groups NV and CV, boars and gilts, had on average 105 days in finishing.

On average the ADWG was resp. 862 g/d vs 886 g/d, the mortality 3.25% vs 2.50%, % of animals in the hospital pen 4.03% (45 animals) vs 1.74% (16 animals), a meat % of 60.1% vs 59.9%, a loin depth of 63.2 mm vs 63.9 mm and a % AA (highest) carcass quality 22,81% vs 36,67%, % A carcass quality 76,18% vs 62,58% and a % B (lowest) carcass quality 1,01% vs 0,75%.

For this small Dutch family farm the economical improvement was calculated to be (on ADWG and mortality improvement) € 11.363,- on a yearly basis.

In this case, on a Dutch 300 sow farrow-to-finish herd, the implementation of PCV2 vaccination in piglet using Circovac yielded a clear performance improvement regarding ADWG, mortality and % of animals in the hospital pen. At slaughter the Circovac groups had a better carcass quality. All these are leading to a good economic improvement.

Disclosure of Interest: W. van Herten: None Declared, A. Verhaegen Conflict with: Merial B.V., V. Dekens Conflict with: Merial B.V., T. Meyns Conflict with: Merial N.V., H. Smits Conflict with: Merial B.V.