Association between serological salmonella monitoring in breeding herds and meat-juice prevalence in sow herds with production of finishers

Abstract

<p>Several epidemiological studies have studied risk factors for salmonella infections in finisher pigs. Most of these studies have focused on the risk for having a high prevalence, measured either bacteriologically or serologically. Surveillance programs have been implemented in several European countries, measuring the salmonella prevalence in meat-juice samples. The rationale is that herds should decrease the salmonella prevalence by instituting salmonella reducing production and management strategies, including hygiene, all in-all out production and manipulating the gut flora by the use of organic acids, fermented liquid feed and coarse ground, non-pelleted feed.</p>