Prévalence des cas de lymphadénite granulomateuse sous‐maxillaire chez des porcs abattus en Belgique

Poster (2013, February 06)

In pigs the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) causes granulomatous lymphadenitis. Carcasses with such lesions must be detected, as parts of the affected carcasses and organs have to be condemned. These ... [more ▼]

In pigs the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) causes granulomatous lymphadenitis. Carcasses with such lesions must be detected, as parts of the affected carcasses and organs have to be condemned. These nontuberculous mycobacteria are opportunistic pathogens which have acquired an increasing importance in public health in recent decades due to their ability to cause lung diseases, lymphadenitis in children and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients ‐ even if the potential risk of infection of an immunocompromised person by MAC in the consumption of undercooked pork still has to be determined. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of submandibular granulomatous lymphadenitis in pigs slaughtered in Belgium. Between August 2010 and September 2011, 16,211 carcasses were inspected by the same veterinarian in 2 slaughterhouses – one in Flanders, the other in Wallonia. Eighty‐six suspected cases of submandibular granulomatous lymphadenitis (0.53% of pigs; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.42‐0.65%) were identified, collected and submitted to histopathological (Ziehl‐Neelsen and haematoxylin‐eosin staining) and bacteriological (culture, PCR, molecular typing) tests. The second objective of the study was to characterize lesions and to identify the relative importance of MAC and Rhodococcus equi to explain the lesions. Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) was isolated from 6 lymph nodes (7.0%; 95% CI: 2.6‐14.6%) and Rhodococcus equi from 45 (52.3%; 95% CI: 41.3‐63.2%). The final objective of the study consisted in farm investigation to evaluate the possible source of contamination of pigs by MAH. Potential sources such as sawdust, water, wild birds and/or cattle were identified. [less ▲]

Gaseous emissions from fattening pigs offered an ad libitum high-fibre diet and kept on fully slatted floor: preliminary results

in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Emissions of Gas and Dust from Livestock (2012)

Impact of the floor type on emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases from pig houses.

in Proceedings of the 2nd Scientific Meeting of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Liège – Belgium) (2012)

Effets des fibres et du type de sol sur les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et d'ammoniac associées à l’élevage de truies

in 44èmes Journées de la Recherche Porcine (2012)

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary fibre content (23% of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) with a standard diet based on cereals vs. 44% of NSP with a fibrous diet based on sugar ... [more ▼]

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary fibre content (23% of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) with a standard diet based on cereals vs. 44% of NSP with a fibrous diet based on sugar beet pulp) and the floor type (slatted floor vs. straw-based deep litter) on emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and CO2-equivalents (Eq-CO2). Six successive batches of 10 gestating sows were divided into 2 groups kept in 2 experimental rooms differing by the floor type. The standard diet was administered to the sows of the first 3 batches, the fibrous diet to the sows of the next 3 batches. Emissions were measured by infra-red photoacoustic detection. With the slatted floor, the fibrous diet decreased NH3 emission (12.0 vs. 15.5 g sow-1.d-1) but increased the Eq-CO2 emissions (0.69 vs. 0.57 kg sow-1.d-1) in relation to an increase of CH4 emissions (18.4 vs. 12.8 g sow-1.d-1), the N2O emissions not being impacted by the diet, with value around 0.62 g sow-1.d-1. With the straw-bedded floor, the fibrous diet increased the emissions of NH3 (12.3 vs. 9.2 g sow-1.d-1) and CH4 (14.6 vs. 9.6 g sow-1.d-1) but decreased N2O emissions (0.99 vs. 1.64 g/ sow-1.d-1) with the consequence that Eq-CO2 emissions were similar for the two diets, around 0.74 kg sow-1.d-1. [less ▲]

Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions during the fattening of pigs kept on two types of straw floor

in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2012), 150

Pig production is an important contributor to polluting gases emissions like ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases (GHG). Apart from environmental aspects, animal welfare is also an issue of growing ... [more ▼]

Pig production is an important contributor to polluting gases emissions like ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases (GHG). Apart from environmental aspects, animal welfare is also an issue of growing importance. The fattening of pigs on deep litter bedded system is consider as more animal friendly than the fattening on slatted floor, but it is also more expensive and requests more labour. The use of straw flow rather than straw deep litter could be a good compromise because of a reduced need for surface area, straw, labour and manure storage, combined with satisfying animal welfare. In order to evaluate the environmental impact of this rearing technique, a study was designed to quantify pollutant gas emissions of this system compared to the deep litter system for fattening pigs. Three successive batches of 32 Landrace fattening pigs were used. They were divided into 2 homogeneous groups of 16 animals randomly allocated to two treatments: straw deep litter or straw flow. The groups were kept simultaneously for a period of 4 months and separately in two identical rooms in volume (103 m3) and surface (30.2 m2) and fitted either with a deep litter pen (1.2 m2/pig) or with a straw flow system (0.75 m2/pig). Throughout the fattening period, 46.9 and 34.4 kg straw were used respectively per pig. In deep litter pen, the litter was removed after each batch. In the straw flow pen, the straw, mixed with dung, travelled down the slope by pig motion and went out of the pen to a scraped passage. The solid fraction was scraped every day, stored in a heap in the room and removed every month, 1 week before each period of gaseous emission measurement. The liquid fraction was automatically pumped from the scraped passage into a hermetic tank, which was emptied at the end of each fattening period. In both rooms, ventilation was automatically adapted to maintain a constant ambient temperature. Once a month, the emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapour (H2O) were measured continuously for 6 consecutive days by infra-red photoacoustic detection. Animal performance (final body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio), some carcass quality parameters and manure characteristics were not significantly affected by floor type. With fattening pigs kept in a straw flow pen, gaseous emissions were significantly greater (P < 0.05) for NH3 (+10%) and significantly lower (P < 0.001) for N2O (−55%), CH4 (−46%), CO2 equivalents (−47%), CO2 (−10%) and H2O (−23%) compared to pigs housed on straw-based deep litter. Thus, the use of straw flow system for pig fattening allows reducing the GHG emissions but presents the disadvantage of increasing the NH3 emissions. [less ▲]

Contrôle de l'involution utérine au moyen de l'écographie transabdominale en mode B : validation de la technique

in Colloques de la 43e Journée de la Recherche Porcine (2011, February 15)

Ammonia and greenhouse gas emission from group-housed gestating sows depends on floor type

in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2011), 140

The ban by 2013 in the EU of individual accommodations for gestating sows and the renewed interest for litter systems could promote in the future the group-housing of gestating sows on litter. But what ... [more ▼]

The ban by 2013 in the EU of individual accommodations for gestating sows and the renewed interest for litter systems could promote in the future the group-housing of gestating sows on litter. But what are the environmental impacts of this rearing technique? To answer this question, a study was scheduled to quantify pollutant gas emissions (nitrous oxide -N2O-, methane -CH4-, carbon dioxide -CO2- and ammonia -NH3-) according to floor type in the raising of group-housed gestating sows. The trial was carried out in experimental rooms located at Liège University (Belgium). Three successive batches of 10 gestating sows were used for this trial. Each batch was divided into 2 homogeneous groups randomly allocated to one of two treatments: concrete slatted floor or straw-based deep litter. The groups were kept separately in two identical rooms equipped with a pen divided into a lying area (slatted floor or deep litter) and five individual feeding stalls. The feeding stalls were equipped with front feeding troughs and rear gates preventing access to the stalls outside of the feeding time. Between each batch of sows, the pens were cleaned. In both rooms, ventilation was automatically adapted to maintain a constant ambient temperature. The gas emissions were measured 3 times (weeks 2, 5 and 8 of stay) during 6 consecutive days by infra red photoacoustic detection. Sow performance (body weight gain, backfat thickness, number and weight of piglets) was not significantly affected by floor type. With sows kept on slatted floor, gaseous emissions were significantly greater for NH3 (12.77 vs. 9.05 g d-1 sow-1; P<0.001) and CH4 (10.12 vs. 9.20 g d-1 sow-1; P<0.01), and significantly lower for N2O (0.47 vs. 2.27 g d-1 sow-1; P<0.001), CO2 equivalents (0.44 vs. 0.94 kg d-1 sow-1; P<0.001) and CO2 (2.41 vs. 2.83 kg d-1 sow-1; P<0.001) compared to sows housed on straw-based deep litter. There was no significant difference for water vapour emissions (3.25 vs. 3.21 kg d-1 sow-1; P>0.05). In conclusion, the main environmental disadvantage of the deep litter system pointed to in this study was the greater N2O-emissions and thus greater CO2eq-emissions compared to slatted floor. However, the use of deep litter was related to reduced NH3- and CH4-emissions. [less ▲]

Effects of available surface on gaseous emissions from group-housed gestating sows kept on deep litter

in Animal (2010), 4(10), 1716-1724

In the European Union, the group-housed pregnant sows have to have a minimal legal available area of 2.25m²/sow. However, it has been observed that an increased space allowance reduces agonistic behaviour ... [more ▼]

In the European Union, the group-housed pregnant sows have to have a minimal legal available area of 2.25m²/sow. However, it has been observed that an increased space allowance reduces agonistic behaviour and consecutive wounds and thus induces better welfare conditions. But, what about the environmental impacts of this greater available area? Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify pollutant gases emissions (nitrous oxide, N2O, methane, CH4, carbon dioxide, CO2 and ammonia, NH3), according to the space allowance in the raising of gestating sows group-housed on a straw-based deep litter. Four successive batches of 10 gestating sows were each divided into two homogeneous groups and randomly allocated to a treatment: 2.5 v. 3.0m²/sow. The groups were separately kept in two identical rooms. A restricted conventional cereals based diet was provided once a day in individual feeding stalls available only during the feeding time. Rooms were automatically ventilated. The gas emissions were measured by infra red photoacoustic detection during six consecutive days at the 6th, 9th and 12th weeks of gestation. Sows performance (body weight gain, backfat thickness, number and weight of piglets) was not significantly different according to the space allowance. In the room with 3.0m²/sow and compared with the room with 2.5m²/sow, gaseous emissions were significantly greater for NH3 (6.29 v. 5.37 g NH3-N/day per sow; P<0.01) and significantly lower for N2O (1.78 v. 2.48 g N2O-N/day per sow; P<0.01), CH4 (10.15 v. 15.21 g/day per sow; P<0.001), CO2 equivalents (1.11 v. 1.55 kg/day per sow; P<0.001), CO2 (2.12 v. 2.41 kg/day per sow; P,0<001) and H2O (3.10 v. 3.68 kg/day per sow; P<0.001). In conclusion, an increase of the available area for group-housed gestating sow kept on straw-based deep litter seems to be ambiguous on an environmental impacts point of view. Compared with a conventional and legal available area, it favoured NH3 emissions, probably due to an increased emitting surface. However, about greenhouse gases, it decreased N2O, CH4 and CO2 emissions, probably due to reduced anaerobic conditions required for their synthesis, and led to a reduction of CO2 equivalents emissions. [less ▲]

Gaseous emissions associated to a high-fibre diet fed to gestating sows group-housed on deep litter

in Proceeding of the XIV ISAH Congress (2009)

Gaseous emissions from weaned pigs raised on different floor systems

in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (2009), 130

Gaseous emissions from agriculture contribute to a number of environmental effects. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases taking part to the global problem of ... [more ▼]

Gaseous emissions from agriculture contribute to a number of environmental effects. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases taking part to the global problem of climate change. Ammonia (NH3) emissions are responsible of soil acidification and eutrophication and contribute also to indirect emissions of N2O. This work evaluated the influence of the type of floor on the emissions of these gases in the raising of weaned pigs. Two trials were carried out. In the first trial, the animals were kept either on fully slatted floor or on straw-based deep litter and, in the second one, either on fully slatted floor or on sawdust-based deep litter. For each trial and on each type of floor, 2 successive batches of weaned pigs were raised without changing the litter or emptying the slurry pit between the 2 batches. The rooms were automatically ventilated to maintain a constant ambient temperature. The performance of the animals was not significantly different according to the floor type. In trial 1, the nitrogen contents of the straw deep litter (including the substrate) and slurry were respectively 276 and 389 g pig-1. In trial 2, the sawdust deep litter and slurry nitrogen contents were respectively 122 and 318 g pig-1. Raising pigs on straw deep litter produced proportionately around 100% more NH3 than raising pigs on slatted floor (0.61 vs. 0.31 g NH3-N d-1 per pig; P<0.05). Differences in CO2, H2O and CH4 emissions were not significant between systems. Raising pigs on sawdust deep litter produced also proportionately more NH3 (+52%; 0.55 vs. 0.36 g NH3-N d-1 per pig; P<0.01) but also more CO2 (+25%; 427 vs. 341 g d-1 per pig; P<0.001) and H2O (+65%; 981 vs. 593 g d-1 per pig; P<0.001) and less CH4 (-40%; 0.52 vs. 0.86 g d-1 per pig; P<0.001) than raising pigs on slatted floor. Practically no N2O emission was observed from rooms with slatted floor while the N2O emissions were 0.03 and 0.32 g N2O-N d-1 per pig for the straw and sawdust deep litter respectively. The warming potential of the greenhouse gases (N2O + CH4), were about 22, 34 and 168 g CO2 equivalents per day and per pig on fully slatted floor, straw or sawdust deep litter respectively. In conclusion, pollutant gas emissions from rearing of weaned pig seem lower with fully slatted plastic floor system than with deep litter systems [less ▲]