Productivity and Salmonella Incidence of Swine Reared in Differing Management Systems

Purdue University 1997 Swine Research Report. Food contamination due to Salmonella is the cause of large numbers of human food-borne illnesses worldwide. Reduction in fecal shedding and prevention of new Salmonella infections in livestock during the late finishing/marketing phase of production are critical control points associated with human food safety. In Scandinavian countries, swine producers who have large numbers of Salmonella positive swine entering the food chain are penalized if measures are not instituted to decrease the incidence. This is also likely to happen in the United States, as meat packing plants begin to implement new food inspection procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). The objective of this research was to compare multi-site segregated early weaning to continuous flow rearing on the shedding of Salmonella during the late finishing phase of swine production. Since it is common practice to feed growth promotant antibiotics, and to withhold feed from pigs for 12-24 hours prior to slaughter, these variables were also studied. Measurements of productivity, such as average daily gain (ADG, lb/day) and number of days to reach market weight of 240-260 lbs., were also examined.