Salmonella infections occur at virtually every pig farm. Data gathered from practical environments however, show that piglets weaned in HyCare-managed units remain safe from salmonella. In three subsequent trimesters, all blood samples taken from piglets within six weeks after the initial body weight measurement, tested negative for salmonella, while piglets in the same herd that were reared in a traditional rearing unit showed increasingly higher blood values crossing the critical threshold. “It proves that salmonella continues to circulate among these piglets.”
The trend of remaining free of salmonella has continued with fatteners raised within a HyCare setting. All faecal samples of 16 week old pigs in a HyCare unit tested negative for salmonella. At the same time, the faecal samples of similar pigs raised in a traditional pen returned vast amounts of salmonella bacteria.
To verify these astonishing results HyCare appears to attain, another test was carried out. Special boot swabs were used to walk through the units, and samples were taken from the central corridor and in the pens of piglets, weaners and fatteners. All samples collected from these boot swabs tested negative for salmonella.
“This hard data proves that pig farms which adopted the HyCare method become and remain low-pathogen environments”, he stresses. “Barn floors are always coated with HyCare, to enable thorough cleaning and disinfecting. An adequate approach to combatting flies and a continuous treatment of drinking water also tangibly contribute to the success. The most important requirement is that pig farmers consistently stick with procedures and protocols, and it’s our job to provide for the coaching that helps them do that.”
The trend of remaining salmonella-free in HyCare settings continues for fatteners. All faecal samples of 16 week old pigs that live in HyCare barns have tested negative for salmonella, while samples of the fatteners in the traditional barn tested positive on large amounts of salmonella.
© 2021 HyCare is an initiative of The Schippers Group
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