engleski

Air-borne microbe numbers in different housing conditions of rearing pigs

The aim of this investigation was to determine the degree in which different housing systems and population size, with monitoring of primary microclimatic conditions, influence the number of airborne microorganisms in piglet nurseries. The investigation extended through three production cycles totaling 150 days in two different nurseries with full capacity of piglets per turn. Nursery A was 180 m2 in size equipped with 16 pens with full floors and bedding area of 8 m2 estimated for 20 piglets. Nursery B was 280 m2 in size equipped with 60 one story cages with 3 m2 of slated floors estimated for 10 piglets. Fifteen air samplings were performed in equal weekly intervals in every 45 - days turn with the use od SAS 100TM (PBI International, Italy) device and Testo and Drager (Germany)device for the control of microclimatic conditions. Air was sampled onto growth medium for the isolation of mezophylic, hemolytic, coliform bacteria and fungi. The numbers of bacteria and fungi were determined in the laboratory with standard analytical methods. According to asquired results significantly higer microbe numbers were recorded in nursery A in relation to nursery B. However, total microbe numbers in both nurseries did not exceed 10.000 CFU/m3 ensuring beneficial conditions to overall piglet health status. The use of bedding can cause an increase of airborne microbes in the nursery but by achieving optimal microclimatic condiotions and acceptable number of animals per floor space it does not negatively affect production results and welfare of weaned piglets.

piglets; nursery; floor and cage housing system; airborne microbes

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