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Postpartum dysgalactica syndrome still common in pig herds

Postpartum dysgalactica syndrome (PDS) is still present in many pig herds, a Belgian research team found. They studied the incidence and risk factors of PDS in sows from commercial pig herds.,

22.03.10

/ MEDCON

GHENT/BELGIUM, March 22nd (BIERMANN) – For their study, Dr. Georgios A. Papadopoulos, from the Laboratory of Animal Nutrition at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Ghent University (Belgium), and his colleagues surveyed 250 pig herdsmen. A total of 110 herdsmen replied. Among the responders, 37 reported occurrences of PDS and 73 reported no cases of PDS.

The authors analyzed the data using logistic regression. With a univariate analysis, they determined eight variables that could be associated with PDS. With these variables, Papadopoulos and his associates performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis. They were able to pin down four risk factors: moving pregnant sows to the farrowing unit four days or less before expected farrowing; farrowing induction; feeding sows ad libitum during lactation; and frequent farrowing supervision.

Papadopoulos and his research team conclude that even today there is still a considerable amount of pig herds that suffer from problems with PDS. Thus, “control measures should include optimizing management and feeding practices,” the authors write.