Optivite: Salmonella control programme for pigs launched

The programme uses a number of the company’s established products and looks at meeting an overall need rather than looking at problems in isolation.

 

Optivite director Sarah Osborne commented. “The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) report last year suggested that pigs and pig meat may be responsible for 10 to 20 per cent of all human cases of salmonellosis in the EU. Weaners and growers are the pigs most commonly affected and the ones with the greatest risk of spreading infection to the rest of the herd.

 

 “Our programme is designed to help the producer combat salmonella by tackling all parts of the pig production system in a cost effective way.”

 

Opitsow: gives good bacterial control in feed and the intestine which helps the sow maintain a more positive intestinal microflora. Including Optisow in the lactating diet enables peak milk production levels to be reached, thus ensuring a correct level of protection is available for the piglets through colostrum and milk supply.

 

Preparing the sow is an important part of the programme. A piglets first contact with the outside environment is through the sow as birth involves the passing of the piglet from a sterile environment within the sow, through the birth canal and into the farrowing house where the Salmonella cell count will be much higher.

 

Optiweaner; to enable successful continuity through the life cycle, it is important to ensure the protection of the baby pigs once they have lost the passive protection of their mothers’ milk. Optiweaner, can be used as part of the programme in the period between weaning and nine weeks old when the baby pigs active immune system becomes effective.

 

Optiweaner includes Inulin, a complex sugar that supports the Bifidobacteria. This prevents an increase in the salmonellacount, keeps gut morphology under control and helps maintain natural acid secretions making the young pig less vulnerable to adverse pathogen activity.

 

Optimax:  a low inclusion acid that allows the producer to maximise nutrient availability whilst keeping a biosecure environment is the third part of the Optivite salmonella control programme.  Optimax ensures that salmonella is kept under control, lowers the risk of reinfection and ensures that finished pigs reach their potential growth with as clean a carcass as possible.

 

Powerful water disinfectant Credence can also be included in the drinking water as part of the programme to remove other potential sources of salmonella infection, especially in older systems where exposed header tanks may become contaminated. Credence contains the active ingredient sodium troclosene and is proven to be effective against water borne pathogens. This important water treatment can also be administered automatically via the new patented Flogenics system.

 

“The Optivite salmonella control programme for pigs, can be used in both home mix and compound feed systems in both outdoor and indoor units and will enable UK pig producers to better manage salmonella levels,” said Sarah Osborne. “It will also help reduce any financial burden as salmonella can add significant costs to the farmer as a result of higher mortality and slower growth.  Even where there may be no clinical symptoms of salmonella it could still be having a subclinical effect on performance and thus profitability.”