Postpartal booster vaccination of sows against E-coli infections

In an eastern european pig productions unit with high prevalence of sucklin g piglets diarrhoea during late lactation the following trial was conducted : The sows were assigned to an experimental and to a control group and were treated as follows: Group one (15 sows) were vaccinated with a single 2 mi dose of Porcovac Plus(R) (Hochst Roussel Vet.) during their late pregnancy (gilts were vaccinated twice). Booster vaccination was performed between d ay 2-7 p. p. Group two (15 sows) were vaccinated during their late pregnanc y the same way as the sows in the group one, but received no p.p. Booster. The following parameter were evaluated. A: Preweaning diarrhoea B: Preweaning mortality C: Three weeks weaning litter weights D: Postweaning mortality E: Average weight gain during the first 3 weeks postweaning The results revealed a marked difference between the groups (group 1. 16,1 % vs, group 2. 23,3 %) regarding preweaning diarrhoea (parameter A). A simi lar difference was to be seen regarding parameter B (preweaning mortality) between the groups (group 1: 7,5 % vs. group 2. 10,7 %). In spite of this t here was a non significant difference as regards weaning litter weights (pa rameter C) between group 1: 59,2 +/- 2,4 kg and group 2: 57 +/- 2.2 kg. Pos tweaning parameters showed better results in the booster vaccinated group r egarding both evaluated parameter as well. Regarding piglet mortality (pa r ameter D) there was a marked difference between the group 1 (0,67 %) and gr oup 2 (2,1 %) to be seen. Regarding average daily gain (parameter E) betwee n group 1 (470 +/- 11 gr) and group 2 (380 +/- 9 gr) there was a significan t difference (p < 0.05) to be discovered. It is the opinion of the authors that p. p. Booster vaccination of the sows is an economically important too l in large and small pig production units.