Risk Factors for Diarrhoea in Weaned Pigs
Author Information
Author(s): Taina M Laine, Tapani Lyytikäinen, Maija Yliaho, Marjukka Anttila
Primary Institution: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira
Hypothesis
What are the risk factors related to the occurrence of post-weaning diarrhoea on Finnish piglet producing farms?
Conclusion
Feeding newly-weaned pigs twice a day with restricted amounts of feed increases the risk of post-weaning diarrhoea.
Supporting Evidence
- Feeding newly-weaned pigs twice a day with restricted feed increases the risk of diarrhoea.
- Automatic temperature control reduces the risk of post-weaning diarrhoea.
- A higher number of sows on the farm is associated with an increased risk of diarrhoea.
Takeaway
If you feed baby pigs only two times a day and don't give them enough food, they might get sick. It's better to feed them more often.
Methodology
A case-control study was conducted using data from 73 piglet farms, analyzing 39 factors related to herd characteristics and management.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported data from farmers regarding the occurrence of diarrhoea.
Limitations
The study was limited to conventional piglet farms in Finland and may not be generalizable to other regions or farming practices.
Participant Demographics
The study included 73 conventional piglet producing farms in Finland.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
1.19–19.12
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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