Animal health beyond the single disease approach – A role for veterinary herd health management in low-income countries?
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research in Veterinary Science
Abstract
In order to identify and evaluate health related constraints faced by Ugandan pig farmers, a veterinary herd
health management approach (VHHM) was applied in 20 randomly selected pig farms in the Lira district,
Uganda. Regular herd visits were conducted between July 2018 and June 2019, using e.g. interviews, observations,
clinical examinations and laboratory analyzes to gather qualitative and quantitative data on relevant
aspects of the production. The pig farmers kept on average 18.6 pigs, including 2.6 sows/year. The production
figures varied considerably but were generally poor. The sows produced 1.6 litters/year and 8.2 piglets born
alive per litter, the average daily gain was 101 g/day, and the mortality in growers was 9.7%. Four major
constraints were identified; poor nutrition, infectious diseases, inferior biosecurity, and poor reproductive
management. The quantity and quality of feed was suboptimal. Endo- and ectoparasites were very common,
causing diarrhea, bronchitis, pneumonia, skin lesions and pruritus. Post-weaning diarrhea associated with enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli was important in the two largest herds, and parvoviral antibodies were found in
seven herds, two experiencing problems with mummified fetuses. Biosecurity practices were insufficient and
inconsistent, with free-ranging pigs and the use of village boars being the major risks. Reproductive figures were
affected by poor estrus detection and service management. Overall, farmers lacked important knowledge on good
management practices. In conclusion, the VHHM identified several important constraints that should be
addressed in order to increase the productivity of Ugandan pig herds.
Description
Keywords
ETEC, Parasitic diseases, Parvovirus, Reproductive performance, Swine, Veterinary medicine
Citation
Gertzell, E., Magnusson, U., Ikwap, K., Dione, M., Lindström, L., Eliasson-Selling, L., & Jacobson, M. (2021). Animal health beyond the single disease approach–A role for veterinary herd health management in low-income countries?. Research in Veterinary Science , 136 , 453-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.03.021