Skip to main content

Table 1 Variables and their level describing general factors, management and husbandry systems

From: Herd specific risk factors for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections in suckling pigs at the age of weaning

Variable

Level

Herds per level (%)

Herds per level (n)

General herd factors

Number of sows

< 250

58.4

73

250 - < 500

32.0

40

≥ 500

9.6

12

Number of nursery pigs

≥ 250 - < 500

9.6

12

≥ 500 - <1,000

46.4

58

≥ 1,000

44.0

55

 

0

27.2

34

Number of fattening pigs

> 1 - < 500

6.4

8

≥ 500 - < 1,000

25.6

32

≥ 1,000 - < 2,000

25.6

32

≥ 2,000

15.2

19

Production or age groups within the same building as the farrowing unit

No others

15.2

19

Nursery pigs and fattening pigs

12.0

15

Sows

48.0

60

Nursery-/ fattening pigs and sows

24.8

31

Moving of sows through compartments stocked with nursery pigs

No

98.4

123

Yes

1.6

2

Moving of sows through compartments stocked with fattening pigs

No

99.2

124

Yes

0.8

1

Management in the farrowing unit

Farrowing rhythm

continuous farrowing

4.8

6

Batch-wise farrowings:

every week

11.2

14

every second week

31.2

39

every third week

41.6

52

every fourth week

9.6

12

at longer intervals than four weeks

1.6

2

All-in/all-out policy

100% of all batches

68.0

85

< 100% of all batches

32.0

40

Farrowing unit for sows not fitting into a dedicated batch of the rhythm (RTE)

No

56.8

71

Yes

43.2

54

Idle time of the farrowing unit in days

< 1

19.2

24

> 1 - < 3

46.4

58

> 3

34.4

43

Disinfection of the compartment before restocking

100% of all batches

23.2

29

< 100% of all batches

76.8

96

Cleaning of the compartment with high pressure cleaner before restocking

100% of all batches

0.8

1

< 100% of all batches

99.2

124

Washing of the sows before moving into the farrowing unit

never

45.6

57

100% of all batches

32.8

41

< 100% of all batches

21.6

27

Age of piglet in days p.p., when receiving first iron injection

< 3

79.2

99

> 3

20.8

26

Repetition of iron injection in piglets

No

60.8

76

Yes

39.2

49

Age of piglets in days, when castration takes place

< 3

20.8

26

> 3 - < 7

49.6

62

> 7

29.6

37

Age of piglets in days, when tail docking takes place

< 3

75.2

94

> 3 - < 7

24.8

31

Age of piglets in days, when teeth grinding takes place

No teeth grinding

35.2

44

> 1 - < 7

64.8

81

Age of piglets in days, when ear tagging takes place

< 3

12.0

15

> 3 - < 7

40.8

51

> 7

47.2

59

Age of piglets in days, when weaning takes place

< 20

8.0

10

> 20 - < 28 days

87.2

109

> 28

4.8

6

Management in the nursery unit

All-in/all-out policy

100% of all batches

83.2

104

< 100% of all batches

16.8

21

Cleaning of the compartment with high pressure cleaner before restocking

100% of all batches

100.0

125

< 100% of all batches

  

Disinfection of the compartment before restocking

100% of all batches

83.2

104

< 100% of all batches

16.8

21

Management in the fattening unit

All-in/all-out policy

100% of all batches

85.7

78

 

< 100% of all batches

14.3

13

Cleaning of the compartment with high pressure cleaner before restocking

100% of all batches

90.1

82

 

< 100% of all batches

9.9

9

Disinfection of the compartment before restocking

100% of all batches

69.2

63

 

< 100% of all batches

30.8

28

Replacement policy (sows)

Source of the gilts

Own breeding

11.2

14

Purchase

88.8

111

Quarantine for gilts

No

5.3

6

Yes

94.7

108

Duration of the quarantine in weeks

≤ 3

24.1

26

> 3 - ≤ 6

66.6

72

> 6

9.3

10

Location of the quarantine compartment

Separate farm

8.3

9

Separate building

69.5

75

Separate compartment

22.2

24

All-in/all-out policy

Yes

86.1

93

No

13.9

15

Exposure to the gilts

Nothing

55.5

60

Living pigs

30.6

33

Faeces

13.9

15

Replacement policy (boars)

Source of replacement boars

Own breeding

52.0

65

Purchase

48.0

60

Number of purchases of replacement boars in the last 12 month

0

74.4

93

≥ 1

25.6

32

Quarantine for replacement boars

No

78.3

47

Yes

21.7

13

Housing in the farrowing unit

Flooring in the farrowing pen

Completely plastic

26.4

33

Other materials

73.6

92

Flooring in the piglet creep

Completely plastic

28.0

35

Other materials

72.0

90

Heating in the piglet creep

Underfloor heating + infrared light

63.2

79

Other systems

36.8

46

Air inlet

Door

44.8

56

Other systems

55.2

69

Air outlet

Fan

83.2

104

Other systems

16.8

21

Housing of gilts

Flooring

Fully slatted

39.8

43

Other systems

60.2

65

Pen walls

Concrete

57.4

62

Open

42.6

46

Feeding system

Automatic

60.2

65

Manual

39.8

43

Air inlet

Door

23.1

25

Other systems*

76.9

83

Air outlet

Fan

46.3

50

Other systems**

53.7

58

Storage of manure

Subsurface

92.6

100

Outside of the compartment

7.4

8

Housing of replacement boars

Flooring

Fully slatted

46.2

6

Other systems

53.8

7

Pen walls

Concrete

30.8

4

Open

69.2

9

Feeding system

Automatic

69.2

9

Manual

30.8

4

Air inlet

Door

30.8

4

Other systems

69.2

9

Air outlet

Fan

53.8

7

Other systems

46.2

6

Storage of manure

Underfloor

92.3

12

 

Outside of the compartment

7.7

1

  1. *Alternative systems for air inlet include perforated ceilings, air flaps along the outer wall, air flaps in the central aisle, etc.
  2. **Alternative systems for air outlet include centralized subsurface exhaustion, decentralized subsurface exhaustion, etc.