ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPATIBLE PIG PRODUCTION - CONCEPTS OF HEALTH CONSERVATION

Serious endagering of hearth and productivity of ever growing pig stoc ks is caused, on the one hand, py classic epidemic diseases and, on th e other hand, by so-called factor diseases originating from environmen tal factors which favour infections with their negative effects on the animal. Depending on the individual structure of organization and on the size of pig stock, various methods are used nationally and interna tionally to improve health of pig stocks. These methods aim at prevent ing infections instead of combatting them. As regards the classic ende mic diseases, reliable control of these diseases by the state and effi cient hygienic protection of stocks against the introduction and sprea d of endemic agents must be required first of all. For the control of infectious factor diseases various methods and strategies may be used- their targets being different-to warrant a high level of animal health . The SPF method (specific pathogen free) aims at achieving pathogen f ree pig stocks by Caesarean operation and medicated rehabilitation. Me thods of divided pig production, which are more and more discussed, as for instance the medicated early weaning method or the ISOWEAN method , aim all at very early meaning of piglets under the protection of col ostral antibodies and at isolated rearing of piglets to warrant the in terruption of infection chains between the dam and her piglets. Also t he pig production system practised in Baden-Wurttemberg which is based on division of labour, works on the basis of a principle comparable w ith a multisite method. The majority of pig producers will follow the path of reducing disease frequency by using a minimal disease programm e adjusted to the individual pig stock. This programme is oriented tow ards reducing the pressure of agents or infections as well as towards improving sanitary measures.