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Table 2 Non-continuous explanatory variables on 41 post-weaning diarrhoea case farms and 28 control farms.

From: Risk factors for post-weaning diarrhoea on piglet producing farms in Finland

Explanatory variable

Categories

Number (%) of herds

P-value

  

Cases

Controls

 

Herd

    

Type of herd

   

0.75

 

Farrowing herd

25 (61.0)

16 (57.1)

 
 

Farrow-to-finish herd

16 (39.0)

12 (42.9)

 

The number of sows increased by 50% or more from 1998 to 2000

   

0.58e

 

Yes

16 (39.0)

12 (42.9)

 
 

No

23 (56.1)

13 (46.4)

 
 

No data on 1998

2 (4.9)

3 (10.7)

 

Pen and environment

    

Floor type in the farrowing pens

   

NEc

 

Solid

28 (68.3)

21 (75.0)

 
 

Partly slatted

9 (22.0)

7 (25.0)

 
 

Fully slatted

4 (9.7)

0

 

Floor type in the nursery pens

   

0.23c

 

Solid

14 (34.2)

11 (39.3)

 
 

Partly slatted

20 (48.8)

16 (57.1)

 
 

Fully slatted

6 (14.6)

1 (3.6)

 
 

Deep bedding

1 (2.4)

0

 

Use of bedding for newly-weaned pigs

   

0.06

 

Yes

30 (73.2)

26 (92.9)

 
 

No

11 (26.8)

2 (7.1)

 

Heating in the accomodation for weaners

   

1.00

 

Yes

39 (95.1)

27 (96.4)

 
 

No

2 (4.9)

1 (3.6)

 

Temperature control

   

0.12

 

Automatic

17 (41.5)

17 (60.7)

 
 

Manual

24 (58.5)

11 (39.3)

 

Heated lying area for weaners

   

0.40

 

Yes

37 (90.2)

27 (96.4)

 
 

No

4 (9.8)

1 (3.6)

 

Animal husbandry and hygiene

    

Piglets moved from the farrowing pen within 7 days after weaning

   

0.95

 

Yes

12 (29.3)

8 (28.6)

 
 

No

29 (70.7)

20 (71.4)

 

Mixing of litters after weaning

   

0.43

 

Yes

30 (73.2)

18 (64.3)

 
 

Noa

11 (26.8)

10 (35.7)

 

Runts moved to groups of younger weaned piglets

   

0.48

 

Yes

17 (41.5)

14 (50.0)

 
 

No

24 (58.5)

14 (50.0)

 

Piglets moved within 7 days after weaning to a separate room with own airspace intended for rearing of weaners only or for rearing of weaners and growers

   

0.85

 

Yes

8 (19.5)

6 (21.4)

 
 

No

33 (80.5)

22 (78.6)

 

Reared in a room with own airspace for weaners and growers from 1–3 weeks after weaning up to the body weight of about 25 kg

   

0.60

 

Yes

15 (36.6)

12 (42.9)

 
 

No

26 (63.4)

16 (57.1)

 

HYGIND (see Table 3)

   

0.86

 

0 – 0.5

8 (19.5)

5 (17.9)

 
 

1 – 1.5

8 (19.5)

7 (25.0)

 
 

2 – 2.5

9 (22.0)

6 (21.4)

 
 

3 – 3.5

11 (26.8)

5 (17.9)

 
 

4 – 4.5

2 (4.9)

2 (7.1)

 
 

5 – 6

3 (7.3)

3 (10.7)

 

Feeding and watering

    

Creep feeding

   

NE

 

Yes

40 (97.6)

28 (100.0)

 
 

No

1 (2.4)

0

 

Commercial feed for weaners

   

NE

 

Yes

41 (100.0)

26 (92.9)

 
 

No

0

2 (7.1)

 

Piglet age at change from unmixed weaner feed to other feed

   

0.79f

 

6–7 weeks

28 (68.3)

19 (67.9)

 
 

8 weeks or older

12 (29.3)

7 (25.0)

 
 

No data or own feed

1 (2.4)

2 (7.1)

 

A feeder as an only feed supply in the pen for newly-weaned piglets

   

0.18

 

Yes

15 (36.6)

6 (21.4)

 
 

No

26 (63.4)

22 (78.6)

 

Through feeding for newly-weaned piglets

   

0.20

 

Yes

20 (48.8)

18 (64.3)

 
 

No

21 (51.2)

10 (35.7)

 

Through feeding for older weaned pigs

   

0.44e

 

Yes

25 (61.0)

20 (71.4)

 
 

No

15 (36.6)

8 (28.6)

 
 

No data

1 (2.4)

  

Floor feeding

   

0.85

 

Yes

8 (19.5)

6 (21.4)

 
 

No

33 (80.5)

22 (78.6)

 

Feed provided for newly weaned pigs per day (times)

   

0.20

 

Two times

21 (51.2)

10 (35.7)

 
 

At least 3 times or ad lib

20 (48.8)

18 (64.3)

 

Special measures related to feeding after weaning

   

0.53d

 

Restricted feeding

14 (34.2)

12 (42.9)

 
 

Restricted feeding and otherb

18 (43.9)

8 (28.6)

 
 

Otherb

6 (14.6)

1 (3.6)

 
 

None

3 (7.3)

7 (25.0)

 

Restricted feeding and feed given twice a day for newly-weaned piglets (F-R2M)

   

0.17

 

Yes

20 (48.8)

9 (32.1)

 
 

No

21 (51.2)

19 (67.9)

 

Separate water supply for piglets in the farrowing pen (nipple or cup)

   

NE

 

Yes

41 (100.0)

27 (96.4)

 
 

No

0

1 (3.6)

 

Type of water supply in the nursery pen

   

NE

 

Nipple

39 (95.1)

28 (100.0)

 
 

Cup or other

2 (4.9)

0

 

Farmer observations

    

Seasonal variation in the occurrence of PWD

   

0.97e

 

Yes

15 (36.6)

10 (35.7)

 
 

No

26 (63.4)

17 (60.7)

 
 

No data

 

1 (3.6)

 

Variation in the occurrence of PWD between pens

   

0.70e

 

Yes

4 (9.8)

4 (14.3)

 
 

No

37 (90.2)

22 (78.6)

 
 

No data

 

2 (7.1)

 

Lying behaviour of the weaners observed by the farmer

   

NE

 

Yes

40 (97.6)

28 (100.0)

 
 

No

1 (2.4)

0

 

Health

    

Behavioural vices occurring often in weaned piglets

Yes

2 (4.9)

0

NE

 

No

39 (95.1)

28 (100.0)

 

Problems with pre-weaning diarrhoea

   

0.51

 

Yes

7 (17.1)

3 (10.7)

 
 

No

34 (82.9)

25 (89.3)

 

Sow vaccination against E. coli

   

0.95e

 

Yes

24 (58.5)

16 (57.1)

 
 

No

17 (41.5)

11 (39.3)

 
 

No data

 

1 (3.6)

 

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae status

   

1.00

 

M. hyo +

4 (9.8)

2 (7.1)

 
 

M. hyo -

36 (87.8)

25 (89.3)

 
 

Not known

1 (2.4)

1 (3.6)

 

Sarcoptes scabiei status

   

1.00

 

S. scab + or medication

3 (7.3)

3 (10.7)

 
 

S. scab -

36 (87.8)

25 (89.3)

 
 

Not known

2 (4.9)

0

 
  1. a Moving occasionally at weaning only a few piglets from a litter to another was not categorized as mixing of litters.
  2. b Other measures related to feeding after weaning include giving electrolyte solutions, adding acid to feed, adding fibre, giving peat with iron, adding zink etc.
  3. c Fully slatted floor tested against other floor type (solid or partly slatted floor or deep bedding)
  4. d Restricted feeding regimens tested against other or no measures.
  5. e Farms with no data not included.
  6. f Farms with no data or own feed not included.
  7. NE = non-estimable variable; one of the values is zero.
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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147