Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries
Abstract Background Piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality is a welfare problem causing economic losses in pig production. In this study, the effects of housing and management interventions on the economic result of sow enterprises representing six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Porcine Health Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-022-00266-x |
| _version_ | 1811258210051424256 |
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| author | Anna H. Stygar Ilias Chantziaras Dominiek Maes Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen Dimitri De Meyer Hélène Quesnel Ilias Kyriazakis Jarkko K. Niemi |
| author_facet | Anna H. Stygar Ilias Chantziaras Dominiek Maes Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen Dimitri De Meyer Hélène Quesnel Ilias Kyriazakis Jarkko K. Niemi |
| author_sort | Anna H. Stygar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality is a welfare problem causing economic losses in pig production. In this study, the effects of housing and management interventions on the economic result of sow enterprises representing six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain) were tested. Interventions concerned: (1) installing mechanical ventilation, (2) re-designing of the gestation unit, (3) drying and warming newborn piglets, (4) providing enrichment for gestating sows, including high-fiber dietary supplementation and point-source objects, and (5) music provision and backscratching of sows in the farrowing unit. A bio-economic model was used to determine the effects of interventions on economic outcomes during the nursery phase and to calculate a maximum cost of 1%-point reduction in perinatal and pre-weaning mortality, irrespective of the intervention type. Biological parameters were set according to previous observational and experimental studies. Interventions 1–4 were expected to decrease perinatal mortality, defined as stillbirths and deaths occurring within the first 48 h of postnatal life. Intervention 5 was expected to decrease pre-weaning mortality. Interventions increased fixed (1–3) and variable costs (3–5). We hypothesized that housing and management interventions would have a positive economic effect. Results Piglet mortality can be decreased in various ways. Interventions concerning ventilation and re-designing of the gestation unit (1 and 2) were the most beneficial in countries with low housing costs and high perinatal mortality. Drying and warming newborn piglets (3) resulted in varying economic results, with the highest increase in profits obtained in a country with low labor costs and high litter size. Interventions providing sows with enrichment and human–animal interaction (4 and 5) were effective across varying conditions. Regardless of intervention type, policies aiming at 1%-point reduction in perinatal and pre-weaning mortality could cost from €0.2 to €0.5 (average €0.4) and from €0.4 to €0.5 (average €0.5) per piglet, respectively, depending on productions conditions. Conclusions To decrease piglet mortality, farmers should consider low input interventions, such as those targeting appropriate behavior. Our results suggest that providing enrichment or increasing human–animal interaction pays off and brings positive economic result even when piglet mortality is marginally reduced. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:09:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-136bbca98e3246d193c9dd0f9482ba6b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-5660 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:09:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Porcine Health Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-136bbca98e3246d193c9dd0f9482ba6b2022-12-22T03:21:51ZengBMCPorcine Health Management2055-56602022-06-018111310.1186/s40813-022-00266-xEconomic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countriesAnna H. Stygar0Ilias Chantziaras1Dominiek Maes2Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen3Dimitri De Meyer4Hélène Quesnel5Ilias Kyriazakis6Jarkko K. Niemi7Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and EnvironmentUnit of Porcine Health Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent UniversityUnit of Porcine Health Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent UniversitySEGES Innovation P/SVedanko BVPEGASE, INRAE, Institut AgroInstitute for Global Food Security, Queen’s UniversityNatural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and EnvironmentAbstract Background Piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality is a welfare problem causing economic losses in pig production. In this study, the effects of housing and management interventions on the economic result of sow enterprises representing six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain) were tested. Interventions concerned: (1) installing mechanical ventilation, (2) re-designing of the gestation unit, (3) drying and warming newborn piglets, (4) providing enrichment for gestating sows, including high-fiber dietary supplementation and point-source objects, and (5) music provision and backscratching of sows in the farrowing unit. A bio-economic model was used to determine the effects of interventions on economic outcomes during the nursery phase and to calculate a maximum cost of 1%-point reduction in perinatal and pre-weaning mortality, irrespective of the intervention type. Biological parameters were set according to previous observational and experimental studies. Interventions 1–4 were expected to decrease perinatal mortality, defined as stillbirths and deaths occurring within the first 48 h of postnatal life. Intervention 5 was expected to decrease pre-weaning mortality. Interventions increased fixed (1–3) and variable costs (3–5). We hypothesized that housing and management interventions would have a positive economic effect. Results Piglet mortality can be decreased in various ways. Interventions concerning ventilation and re-designing of the gestation unit (1 and 2) were the most beneficial in countries with low housing costs and high perinatal mortality. Drying and warming newborn piglets (3) resulted in varying economic results, with the highest increase in profits obtained in a country with low labor costs and high litter size. Interventions providing sows with enrichment and human–animal interaction (4 and 5) were effective across varying conditions. Regardless of intervention type, policies aiming at 1%-point reduction in perinatal and pre-weaning mortality could cost from €0.2 to €0.5 (average €0.4) and from €0.4 to €0.5 (average €0.5) per piglet, respectively, depending on productions conditions. Conclusions To decrease piglet mortality, farmers should consider low input interventions, such as those targeting appropriate behavior. Our results suggest that providing enrichment or increasing human–animal interaction pays off and brings positive economic result even when piglet mortality is marginally reduced.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-022-00266-xNeonatal mortalityOptimizationWelfareStillbirthHuman–animal interactionHousing |
| spellingShingle | Anna H. Stygar Ilias Chantziaras Dominiek Maes Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen Dimitri De Meyer Hélène Quesnel Ilias Kyriazakis Jarkko K. Niemi Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries Porcine Health Management Neonatal mortality Optimization Welfare Stillbirth Human–animal interaction Housing |
| title | Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries |
| title_full | Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries |
| title_fullStr | Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries |
| title_short | Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries |
| title_sort | economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre weaning mortality across european countries |
| topic | Neonatal mortality Optimization Welfare Stillbirth Human–animal interaction Housing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-022-00266-x |
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