Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Buildings supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    9. January 2025
    10. December 2024
    11. November 2024
    12. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. August 2024
    16. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    17. July 2024
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    24. March 2024
    25. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    31. October 2023
    32. September 2023
    33. Health Supplement
    Featured

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025
    Recent

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Animal Health

Study confirms an extra piglet per litter by using Circovac

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersMay 20, 20142 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

A study from Denmark has confirmed previous findings that vaccinating with Circovac can improve the reproductive performance of sows by up to one piglet per litter. Presented at Merial’s Swine Forum in Budapest, the research also showed that a vaccination programme to control PCV2 can help to reduce antibiotic use.

Dr Dorte Risum from the Porcus Swine Practice in Denmark presented the findings of a study on a 220-sow farm that had Mycoplasma but no PRRS or AP.  In the autumn of 2009, problems were experienced with discharge post-farrowing, and there was an increase in the number of stillbirths from 1.4 to 2.0 per litter. The number of live births remained unchanged at 14.9 per litter.
 
Improved post-farrowing management and treatment with penicillin solved the discharge problem, but didn’t have any effect on the number of live or stillbirths. In the same period, despite high growth rates, weaners became less uniform in size and antimicrobials were being increasingly used to try to address these health issues.
 
Blood samples were negative for PRRS and Leptospirosis. PCV2 was suspected and it was decided to vaccinate all sows and gilts against PCV2 with Circovac, a two-shot vaccine approved for sow and gilt vaccination. Sows were vaccinated six and three weeks prior to farrowing, while gilts were vaccinated with Circovac six and three weeks prior to breeding.
 
After vaccination, the live-born rates rose from 14.9 to 15.8, and stillbirths reduced from 2.0 to 1.5 per litter. When piglets from vaccinated sows were weaned, they were more even in size and as a consequence the use of antimicrobials declined.
 
Merial Animal Health’s head of large animal business, Findlay MacBean, said the results from the study were consistent with similar studies carried out in the UK that demonstrated vaccinating sows against PCV2 could result in an extra piglet per sow per litter.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleCranswick reveals strong results for 2013/14
Next Article New general secretary at BAFSAM
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

Keeping your animals cool in the heatwave

July 1, 2025

Defra-funded vet visits expanded to cover multiple herds

June 26, 2025

RVC research highlights evolving swine flu threat

June 11, 2025
Latest News

Government pledges to protect UK standards in trade deals

July 1, 2025

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) closing date approaching

July 1, 2025

Keeping your animals cool in the heatwave

July 1, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1757 South East England

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson Farm Worker – Ref 1756 UK

    • United Kingdom
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Assistant Pig Manager – Ref 1755 Oxfordshire

    • Oxfordshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.