Bettering well being can cut back your prices in addition to your carbon footprint by optimising efficiency while lowering inputs, akin to feed and electrical energy1 and the model of vaccine you select might make extra of a distinction than you realise.
Good biosecurity stays one of many key pillars to forestall pathogen unfold inside farms in addition to between farms with vaccines representing an important a part of illness management. Vaccines prepare the immune system to recognise and destroy particular pathogens that, when left unchecked, could cause illness with decreased efficiency in consequence.
Illness inflicting pathogens are many and might have an effect on the well being of your pigs in quite a lot of methods, some have a direct affect on the instant well being/productiveness of the animal, whereas others can have adverse impacts past the preliminary and apparent indicators.
Porcine Circovirus sort 2 (PCV2), can immediately trigger points akin to losing pigs, elevated mortality or subpar efficiency. PCV2 additionally reduces the flexibility of the immune system to reply to different illness challenges, making it harder to beat an infection and thus seemingly growing drugs use and poor productiveness.
Vaccination towards PCV2 generally tremendously helps to minimise and even get rid of the consequences of PCV2 an infection. Latest research2,3,4,5 point out nonetheless that not all vaccines are equal, and the model of vaccines used can have a pronounced impact on productiveness and, by extrapolation, on the prices and carbon footprint of that enterprise.
Carried out within the UK, two separate research in contrast the efficacy of FLEXCombo® (Ingelvac CircoFLEX® combined with Ingelvac MycoFLEX®) to that of various Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae plus PCV2 vaccines which can be routinely used on farm. The place needle free units had been used, the operators had been skilled in using the units.
In each research FLEXCombo® outperformed the opponents with a greater ending weight (greater than 3kg distinction2,3) and an elevated wean-finish common day by day acquire (ADG) of over 28g/d, this was a rise of 4.1percent2 (Research 1 vs Mhyosphere®) and three.6percent3 (Research 2 vs Hyogen® combined with Circovac®).
“Well being and administration are two of the principle elements that drive pig efficiency.”
Because of this weight for weight, animals vaccinated with FLEXCombo® might be completed faster, lowering inputs, and thus value of manufacturing.
In Research 1 there was additionally a marked distinction in mortality2. FLEXCombo® vaccinated pigs had a 6.5% decrease mortality than the pigs on Mhyosphere®, which meant that fewer sources had been wasted general, thus reducing that herd’s carbon footprint if FLEXCombo® had been for use routinely.
In financial phrases for Research 1, accomplished in 2022, utilizing FLEXCombo® saved the producer £10.23/pig (based mostly on common feed prices, pig worth and FCR for wean-finish herd as per AHDB and common euro-pound alternate fee in 20226) calculated utilizing BECALpig7.
Additionally, in Research 1 smaller pigs group4, the distinction and unfold of the day by day weight positive aspects at switch (13 weeks of age) was apparent with the small pigs on the competitor product displaying slower development (-22.4g/d) and extra variability4 (graph 2).
The good thing about higher uniformity at this stage is that administration within the ending lodging is far simpler8 and is prone to lead to a extra uniform pig going to slaughter, which performs a serious position in profitability9.
The decreased efficiency within the nursery present in Research 1, with pigs vaccinated with Myhyosphere®, was additionally demonstrated in all pigs vaccinated with Hyogen® and Circovac® in Research 25.
All pigs shared the identical airspace and all medical remedies in each trials, aside from the Mhp + PCV2 vaccines, had been the identical.
Nevertheless, with the knowledge we have now, there are a couple of potentialities to elucidate this distinction within the nursery (and thus wean-finish) efficiency.
All pigs had been uncovered to the identical pathogens on the identical time, thus there might merely be a distinction in how properly the vaccines do their job. This could possibly be on account of variations within the antigen (the pathogen or elements of the pathogens) and/or the adjuvant within the vaccines (the ingredient designed to direct a particular immune response to the antigen) ensuing within the constant variations in efficacy.
Authors have described in a number of publications10,11 a distinction within the manufacturing of acute section proteins (APP), proteins produced as a response to damage, illness or stress, relying on the vaccine used. These publications demonstrated a a lot larger manufacturing of APP within the Hyogen® and Circovac® vaccinated piglets, than in piglets vaccinated with FLEXCombo®.
So why might this be necessary? APP are an indication that the physique is preventing an insult, which is important for preventing off illness and restore of wounds for instance. Throughout this course of, a number of bodily reactions occur akin to fever, decreased feed intakes and decreased intestinal motility amongst others.
The upper the degrees of APP, the extra scientific indicators you’re prone to see. And this comes at a price as a result of the pigs are producing proteins that aren’t used for development and are thus not making the perfect use of the feed they eat. So excessive APP ranges after vaccination are usually not productive.
In each these publications about APP manufacturing, the authors additionally demonstrated a a lot larger physique temperature submit vaccination for not less than 24 hours within the Hyogen® + Circovac® pigs. In a type of research there was a a lot better day by day acquire within the FLEXCombo® pigs 24h after vaccination, seemingly reflecting higher feed intakes.
While they didn’t measure feed intakes, if animals have a fever, they won’t eat as a lot as they’d usually do. And as we’ve all learn within the “Maximising Pig Well being” August complement of Pig World, ensuring that stress is minimised round weaning and feed intakes maximised, perhaps this non permanent episode after vaccination with sure merchandise makes all of the distinction for the lifetime efficiency. Or perhaps it’s a mix of each higher safety and mild adjuvant that explains the higher efficiency of FLEXCombo® vaccinated pigs?
Will all vaccines assist shield your pigs’ well being and your earnings? Sure, if in contrast with unvaccinated pigs, however there’s a large distinction how properly the completely different vaccine manufacturers will do the job. There’s a purpose Ingelvac CircoFLEX® remains to be ranked primary pig vaccine bought globally12.
To judge how properly the vaccines are serving to your pigs and provide help to earn money, you must use a vaccine confirmed to enhance efficiency on a number of scientific parameters persistently and measure the efficiency of your pigs, the extra exactly the higher.
Obtain Info (opens as PDF)
References
- Pig World August Complement (2025): Maximising Pig Well being: p 18.
- Huelsmann-Diamond and others (2023). Outcomes of a discipline examine evaluating the efficacy of two mixed Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae plus PCV2 vaccines administered by way of needle free units. ESPHM IMM-PP-47
- Strachan and others (2025). Comparative efficacy in wean to complete feminine pigs of two freshly combined Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae plus PCV2 vaccines given at weaning. ESPHM IMM-PP-27
- Huelsmann-Diamond and others (2023). Outcomes of a discipline examine evaluating the efficacy between 2 mixed Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae plus PCV2 vaccines administered by way of needle free units in small pigs at weaning. ESPHM IMM-PP-39
- Strachan and others (2025). Comparative efficacy of two freshly combined Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae plus PCV2 vaccines administered at weaning in nursery pigs. ESPHM IMM-PP-21
- https://www.exchangerates.org.uk/GBP-EUR-exchange-rate-history.html
- https://www.preventionworks.data/becal-pig-calculator
- Endurance and others (2004). Variation: prices and penalties. Proc of the Banff Pork Seminar Adv Pork Prod.15:257–66.
- López-Vergé and others (2018). Methods to enhance the expansion and homogeneity of growing-finishing pigs: feeder house and feeding administration. Porc Well being Manag 4, 14
- Fernandez-Aquilar and others (2019). Results of acute section proteins in Iberian breed piglets of two completely different Circovirus sort 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine protocols. ESPHM IMM-PP-22
- Figueras and others (2023). Results on acute section proteins in piglets of two completely different Pcv-2 and Mycoplasm hyopneumoniae vaccination protocols. ESPHM IMM-PP-29
- Q1 2025 Ceesa knowledge rating
