Vaccinating piglets for mycoplasma pneumonia pays big dividends in
increased carcass weights.
A recent University of Montreal study found that animals that had more
than 10 percent of their lungs affected by mycoplasma pneumonia lesions
had an average weight loss of 2.2 kilograms.
Weight loss fell to .34 kg when less than 10 percent of the lungs were
affected.
The study examined more than 116,000 hogs from 10 Quebec abattoirs over
a six-month period.
Josee Daigneault of Pfizer Animal Health in St. Hyacinthe, Que., said
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the number of Canadian producers vaccinating for the disease has
increased to 45 percent in 2001 from 36 percent in 1999. That number
will likely continue to rise, she said.
“There is increased awareness that it is a costly disease and there are
benefits in controlling it.”
She estimated a $2 return to producers for every dollar invested in the
vaccine.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is the primary cause of lung lesions in pigs and
is estimated to be carried in 93 percent of herds worldwide. Not all
will become infected, she said, but the larger the operation, the more
likely the transmission of disease.
“It is a very prevalent disease.”
The vaccine is available from veterinarians and is given to piglets
around weaning age.
