The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2014 - Issue 36 | Page 42

PIGS

Swine influenza in a third
of herds, says Merial
Aggregated data from
surveys in Scotland and
Northern Ireland show that
more than a third of herds
surveyed are positive for
swine influenza, according
to Merial Animal Health.
Between the surveys
just over 280 farms were
assessed and serology
demonstrated that 34%
were positive.
This compares to research
on pig farms in England
carried out by the Royal
Veterinary College (RVC) and
the COSI Consortium in 2010
which showed that 59 per
cent of herds were positive
for one of the swine influenza
strains.
The Scottish data is from
figures collected by Quality

Meat Scotland based on
blood samples taken in 2012
and 2013. The Northern Irish
data was gathered at the two
main slaughter houses in the
Province in 2011.
Callum Blair from Merial
Animal Health said: “We
would suspect that the
results of blood tests at
slaughter are an underestimate of the actual
prevalence of swine influenza
as antibodies from natural
infection wane over time. Pigs
that may have been affected,
therefore, could still test
negative at slaughter. So it
may be that the prevalence
is even higher than a third of
herds.
“The disease can be subclinical and the productivity

of the herd can fall before the
disease is detected. By this
point, treatment can be costly
and pigs’ health severely
compromised.
He continued: “In the case
of the Northern Irish study
there also seemed to be a
link between the prevalence
of swine influenza and
pericarditis (infection around
the heart) and pleuritis
(infection around the lungs).”
Swine influenza can
also significantly increase
herd replacement rates.
It increases the likelihood
of both abortion and still
births. The disease can
affect conception rates and
decrease lactation, both of
which add to a decrease in
herd output.

GRIPOVAC® 3 is the only
approved swine influenza
vaccine on the UK market
and is approved for all three
of the main subtypes of the
disease.
GRIPOVAC 3 suspension
for injection for pigs contains
inactivated Influenza A strains
H3N2, H1N1 and H1N2.
Advice on the use of this
or alternative medicines
must be sought from the
medicine prescriber. Legal
Category: POM-V. Read
packaging before use. Further
information: Merial Customer
Support Centre 0800
592699.
Use medicines responsibly.
www.noah.co.uk/
responsible

www.farmers-mart.co.uk

Bpex launches new pig app to teach
stockmen pig husbandry skills
The new Practical Pig App features over
50 videos that demonstrate practical
management techniques for both indoor
and outdoor breeding herd production.
The clips explain not only how tasks
are done, but also why they are done
in a certain way and what impact that
can have on pig productivity.
Bpex knowledge transfer manager
Richard Bows worked closely with
East Anglia pig producer Tony Bayles
and his stockman, Marc, who trialled
the app. Bayles said: “Some stockmen
don’t always feel that comfortable in a
classroom environment and can struggle

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Oct/Nov 2014 FarmersMart

to learn. But Marc is really positive about
learning on-site with someone he knows,
using the app on a tablet computer, which
is technology he is familiar with.”
Bayles is planning for more staff to
take part in training sessions using the
app: “In the longer term, there’s potential
for the app to be used as part of an
induction programme to give everyone
on the unit the same background level of
knowledge.”

‘get in contact with
any suggestions’
Bpex has asked producers to get in
contact with any suggestions they have to
improve the app.
www.bpex.org.uk

To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk