FARROWING UNIT HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASES AND DISEASE SIGNS OF IMPORTANCE FOR FEEDER PIG QUALITY

Housing and management were described in 114 randomly selected farrowi ng units. Associations between housing/management factors, enzootic pn eumonia, erysipelas and disease signs of importance for feeder pig qua lity were investigated. Diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, joint infection and mange signs were scored and summed to create a total sign score. F actors increasing the risk of unfavorable outcomes included slatted pe n floors, liquid manure management, restricted water, free access of c ats and dogs into the piggery, pigs? admission to dung alley, low rela tive humidity, creep feed serving on floor, existence of boar(s) in th e herd and large herd size. Solid, concrete pen floors, straw bedding, solid manure management, nipple water and quarantine for replacement pigs decreased the risk of unfavorable outcomes.