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Objective: In addition to castration, further husbandry procedures are performed in piglets during the first week of life without anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pain-induced stress of the husbandry procedures castration, tail docking and ear tagging performed in piglets in combination in comparison with castration or handling alone. Furthermore, the effect of the presurgical administration of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam alone or in combination with iron was investigated., Material and Methods: The levels of pain and stress were evaluated based on cortisol and catecholamine concentrations, as well as from behavioural observations. The compatibility and the effect of combined drug administration were assessed, and the daily weight gain and blood iron level were determined., Results: When comparing the application procedures, the slight changes observed at the iron injection site were reduced by 40% when using the mixture. After performing all three husbandry procedures without administration of meloxicam (KSO group), higher cortisol concentrations were induced for up to 4 hours compared to the handling (H) and castration (K) groups. In piglets receiving meloxicam or the mixture of iron and meloxicam presurgically, the cortisol concentration was significantly reduced for 0.5 hours after castration and up to 4 hours following all three husbandry procedures when compared to piglets without medication (groups K and KSO, respectively)., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: The results indicate that the blood cortisol concentration significantly rose due to multiple pain and distress when combining castration, ear tagging and tail docking. Application of meloxicam before performing these husbandry procedures reduced pain equally to its application before castration alone. The application of a mixed preparation of iron and meloxicam did not affect the efficacy of either drug and improved the local tolerance of the iron injection.

Objective: The effects of vaccination against gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF) with Improvac® (Pfizer Animal Health) were compared with surgical castration in fattening pigs., Material and Methods: A total of 205 pigs were surgically castrated (group K) and 191 were vaccinated twice (group V) using the boar taint vaccine (Improvac®; 2ml s.c.). The first dose was administered atthe age of 12 weeks when the animals were moved into the fattening unit and the second dose in week 18, 4-6 weeks before the planned slaughter date. Live weights were recorded in weeks 1, 4, 12, 18, and 22. In weeks 18 and 20, length and width of the testicles of 171 animals of group V were measured. After slaughtering cold carcass weight, back fat depth, muscle thickness, percent lean meat, and fat and muscle areas of the carcasses were determined. A piece of the neck muscle from each pig was used to conduct a cooking and melting sensory test., Results: While no significant weight difference was evident in week 22 (K=89.4kg; V=88.6kg), cold carcass weight, and back fat and muscle thickness were lower for vaccinates. Vaccinates had higher average daily weight gains (ADW) after the second injection from week 18 up to the cut-off weighing in week 22 (V=1121g; K=1007g; p<0.001) in contrast to average daily weight gains between weeks 12 and 18 (K=740g; V=668g; p<0.001). After the second injection, testicle size of vaccinated pigs decreased significantly. All animals were negative for boar taint by both cooking and melting tests., Conclusion: Boars vaccinated against boar taint had lower ADW before the second vaccination, but compensated the weight difference after complete vaccination. The significant reduction in the testicle size after the second injection indicates a vaccination success. After vaccination no boar taint was detected in carcasses., Clinical Relevance: Vaccination as well as surgical castration reliably prevents the incidence of boar taint. The late rise in daily gain can be beneficial if management is aligned.

In a field trial, the development of antibodies of a combined vaccine against the porcine parvovirus (PPV) as well as against swine erysipelas was compared with corresponding mono vaccines. Furthermore, these vaccines were used in different vaccination schedules. The tests were carried out on 109 gilts in three closed farms. In all gilts, a basic immunization repeated twice was carried out at the age of six months and at intervals of three weeks. The revaccination was carried out four months after the basic immunization with half of the animals, and six months after the basic immunization with the remaining gilts. Between the combined vaccine and the mono vaccine no significant differences in the development of antibodies against PPV could be found according to different vaccination schedules. The gilts having been vaccinated with the mono vaccine and boostered six months later showed significantly higher antibody titers against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Between the remaining vaccination groups no significant difference in the development of the antibodies against swine erysipelas could be found. On only one farm, a continuous decrease of antibody titers against PPV in case of altogether 238 non-vaccinated piglets until the sixth month of life could be observed. On the two other farms, an increase of antibody titers against PPV could be found at different points of time, which indicates an infection of the piglets. Between the individual vaccination groups no significant antibody titers against PPV could be measured in milk tests. With regard to the number of piglets born alive per litter, the number of piglets born dead per litter and the number of mummies, a significant difference could neither be found between the vaccination groups 1-4.

Epizootiological, clinical, bacteriological and haematological studies were carried out to assess the effectiveness of the recently developed cephalosporin preparation Cefquinome in the treatment of the puerperal septicaemia and toxaemia syndrome. Cefquinome was administered at three different doses (1, 2 and 4 mg/kg BW) to 188 sows with feverish puerperal illness. Amoxicillin (7 mg/kg BW) was used as a control drug. In 41% of cases endometritis was a monoinfection whereas in 70% of mammary infections mixed infections were diagnosed. Results showed that for therapy of puerperal septicaemia and toxaemia Cefquinome at doses of 2 mg/kg BW and 4 mg/kg BW is clearly more effective than the control drug Amoxicillin and Cefquinome at its lowest dose of 1 mg/kg BW.

In wild boars kept in a paddock of approximately 1.7 square miles Brucella suis biotype 2 was isolated and Aujeszky's disease was diagnosed by serological tests. To clear the paddock, the wild boars were lured by offered food and caught using specially built smaller pens. They were then transported to a location far off their original surroundings and euthanized. Of a total of 297 wild boars kept in the paddock, 71% were caught and 28% shot. Three wild boars (= 1%) were found trapped. The described method could also be used in case of epidemics to catch wild boars living outside existing paddocks. In order to avoid killing the boars which stayed in separate quarantine enclosures, a darting gun was used to anaesthetize the animals with tiletamine/zolazepam. Achieved sedation levels were deep enough to allow for blood samples to be taken from the jugular vein without any problems, i.e. without any defence reactions of the boars. The origin of infection could not be identified.

Porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) was recognized as an important economic factor in pig production. In the following, three cases of PPE in pigs presented for necropsy are discussed. The animals were raised in a stud stock and a weaning production facility in Bavaria. The clinical signs described in the history indicated a herd problem with hemorrhagic diarrhoea and paleness being the cardinal signs. The diagnosis was based upon gross and histopathological findings and was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The different types of manifestation of the disease seen in the two production facilities are discussed in the context of the current literature on etiology and pathogenesis.

Since the beginning of 1997 the use of the hypnotic drug metomidate (Hypnodil) in swine is not longer allowed. This ban caused a substantial therapeutic deficit for anesthesia in swine. The ban is based on provisions of the European Council Directive 2377/90 for fixing maximum residue limits (MRL) of veterinary drugs in animal-derived food and due to the fact that the pharmaceutical industry has not submitted any application for determining an MRL for metomidate. According to the regulations of the German drug law only those substances can be used as alternatives which are authorized for use in swine or another food-producing animal species. Registrations for use in swine exist for the barbiturates thiamylal and narcobarbital, for ketamine and for the neuroleptics azaperone, acepromazine and propionylpromazine. In the exceptional case of therapeutic emergency levomethadone or xylazine can be used. The administration of propofol, thiopentone, opioids (except levomethadone) or benzodiazepines (except brotizolam) to swine is not allowed since these drugs are authorized only for use in humans or companion animals. At present the most appropriate alternative for anesthesia in swine is thiamylal after premedication of azaperone and ketamine inducing general anesthesia with sufficient tolerance at low risks. In current studies general anesthesia with tolerance could further be produced by combinations of levomethadone, ketamine and azaperone or xylazine. Combined use of levomethadone with benzodiazepines appeared to be not suitable in swine.