From: Risk factors for post-weaning diarrhoea on piglet producing farms in Finland
Explanatory variable | Categories | Number (%) of herds | P-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Cases | Controls |  |
Herd | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Type of herd | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Floor type in the farrowing pens | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 0.06 |
 | Yes | 30 (73.2) | 26 (92.9) |  |
 | No | 11 (26.8) | 2 (7.1) |  |
Heating in the accomodation for weaners | Â | Â | Â | 1.00 |
 | Yes | 39 (95.1) | 27 (96.4) |  |
 | No | 2 (4.9) | 1 (3.6) |  |
Temperature control | Â | Â | Â | 0.12 |
 | Automatic | 17 (41.5) | 17 (60.7) |  |
 | Manual | 24 (58.5) | 11 (39.3) |  |
Heated lying area for weaners | Â | Â | Â | 0.40 |
 | Yes | 37 (90.2) | 27 (96.4) |  |
 | No | 4 (9.8) | 1 (3.6) |  |
Animal husbandry and hygiene | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Piglets moved from the farrowing pen within 7 days after weaning | Â | Â | Â | 0.95 |
 | Yes | 12 (29.3) | 8 (28.6) |  |
 | No | 29 (70.7) | 20 (71.4) |  |
Mixing of litters after weaning | Â | Â | Â | 0.43 |
 | Yes | 30 (73.2) | 18 (64.3) |  |
 | Noa | 11 (26.8) | 10 (35.7) |  |
Runts moved to groups of younger weaned piglets | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 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) | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Creep feeding | Â | Â | Â | NE |
 | Yes | 40 (97.6) | 28 (100.0) |  |
 | No | 1 (2.4) | 0 |  |
Commercial feed for weaners | Â | Â | Â | NE |
 | Yes | 41 (100.0) | 26 (92.9) |  |
 | No | 0 | 2 (7.1) |  |
Piglet age at change from unmixed weaner feed to other feed | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 0.18 |
 | Yes | 15 (36.6) | 6 (21.4) |  |
 | No | 26 (63.4) | 22 (78.6) |  |
Through feeding for newly-weaned piglets | Â | Â | Â | 0.20 |
 | Yes | 20 (48.8) | 18 (64.3) |  |
 | No | 21 (51.2) | 10 (35.7) |  |
Through feeding for older weaned pigs | Â | Â | Â | 0.44e |
 | Yes | 25 (61.0) | 20 (71.4) |  |
 | No | 15 (36.6) | 8 (28.6) |  |
 | No data | 1 (2.4) |  |  |
Floor feeding | Â | Â | Â | 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) | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 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) | Â | Â | Â | 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) | Â | Â | Â | NE |
 | Yes | 41 (100.0) | 27 (96.4) |  |
 | No | 0 | 1 (3.6) |  |
Type of water supply in the nursery pen | Â | Â | Â | NE |
 | Nipple | 39 (95.1) | 28 (100.0) |  |
 | Cup or other | 2 (4.9) | 0 |  |
Farmer observations | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Seasonal variation in the occurrence of PWD | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | NE |
 | Yes | 40 (97.6) | 28 (100.0) |  |
 | No | 1 (2.4) | 0 |  |
Health | Â | Â | Â | Â |
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 | Â | Â | Â | 0.51 |
 | Yes | 7 (17.1) | 3 (10.7) |  |
 | No | 34 (82.9) | 25 (89.3) |  |
Sow vaccination against E. coli | Â | Â | Â | 0.95e |
 | Yes | 24 (58.5) | 16 (57.1) |  |
 | No | 17 (41.5) | 11 (39.3) |  |
 | No data |  | 1 (3.6) |  |
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae status | Â | Â | Â | 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 | Â | Â | Â | 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 |  |