Housing and management factors and breed predisposition for haemorrhagic bowel syndrome in swine

Fabienne Holenweger; Gertraud Schüpbach; Andreas Hofer; Xaver Sidler; Alexander Grahofer

doi:10.1186/s40813-023-00340-y

Housing and management factors and breed predisposition for haemorrhagic bowel syndrome in swine

Porcine Health Manag. 2023 Oct 11;9(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s40813-023-00340-y.

Authors

Fabienne Holenweger¹, Gertraud Schüpbach², Andreas Hofer³, Xaver Sidler⁴, Alexander Grahofer⁵

Affiliations

¹ Clinic for Swine Department for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland.
² Veterninary Publich Health Institute, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Liebefeld, 3097, Switzerland.
³ SUISAG, Allmend 10, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland.
⁴ Division of Swine Medicine, Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
⁵ Clinic for Swine Department for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland. alexander.grahofer@unibe.ch.

Abstract

Background: Haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is a sporadically occurring disorder characterized by sudden death in pigs in combination with a pale and bloated carcass with no prior signs of disease. Most often HBS is affecting fattening pigs. Due to the good general health and performance before death as well as the time point of disease shortly prior to slaughter, this syndrome means a significant economic impact for the farm and is a major animal welfare concern. Furthermore, the cause or the causing agents have not yet been identified even though it is a worldwide known problem. The aim of this study was to detect possible risk factors for the occurrence of HBS with the focus on risk factors on herd level.

Results: Management and feeding strategies of 97 Swiss fattening herds with high and low HBS incidence were assessed and examined to identify risk factors for the disease. Having only pigs sired by the PREMO® breed in the herd showed to be a significant risk factor for HBS (Odds Ratio (OR) = 147) as compared to having other breeds or a mixture of multiple breeds. Furthermore, pigs from two or more origins per batch compared to having only one origin per batch significantly increased the disease risk (OR = 52). Farms with 1 decimetre greater feeding place width per finisher pig have a lower HBS incidence (OR = 0.07). The frequency of cleaning of the distribution pipes (split up into categories, e.g. once a month) was associated with being a HBS case farm (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The four factors identified in this study for the occurrence of HBS represent different aspects of the environment and management. This leads to the assumption that it is a multifactorial syndrome and a thorough examination of each herd individually is necessary to mitigate disease risk. This study suggests that part of the susceptibility to HBS is genetically determined. The reduction of HBS in the herd should be the main objective to improve the economic status of the herd and improve animal welfare.

Keywords: Abdominal distension; Environment; Pig; Risk factor; Sudden death.