Teat sanitation in lactating sows

Abstract

Preweaning piglet mortality is a serious source of economic losses in pig production, with enteric diseases as the most common infectious cause of mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of teat sanitation in lactating sows in order to reduce the piglet bacterial invasion through contaminated teats leading to outbreaks of enteric diseases. The study was carried out in a farrowing pen with 60 sows divided into three groups of 20 animals. Group 1 animals served as the control group and were left untreated. In group 2, sow teats were treated with water and in group 3 with a commercial antiseptic with potent bactericidal action. Microbiological purity of the teats was determined during 24 days of the piglet suckling period. Study results showed the bacterial count per teat to be significantly lower in both experimental groups as compared with the control group (p<0.01). Also, bacterial count was significantly lower in group 3 treated with the antiseptic than in group 2 treated with water alone (p<0.01). Accordingly, sow teat sanitation is a potential prophylactic measure during the piglet suckling period as it significantly decreased bacterial count on sow teats, thus reducing the risk of bacterial invasion of the piglet alimentary system.