Influence of different breeds, feeding and housing systems on sow reproductive performance and piglet's resistance to diseases in Central Vietnam Nguyen Quang Linh 1 , Hoang Nghia Duyet 1 , Ngo Huu Toan 1 , Vu Van Hai 1 , Ha Thi Hue 1 , Colin Cargill 2 1 Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry,Vietnam; 2 South Instutute of Livestock Development, Australia 1. INTRODUCTION Pig husbandry is a professional of farmers in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam, more than 80% of sow population, which are kept in small holding farms. In response to the increased demand for piglets for pig production systems, more small holders have intensified their breeding and feeding systems, while others have attempted to continue to produce pigs in older poorly designed facilities. As intensification has increased, so too have disease problems, particularly in the pre and post-weaning stages, so there are not only surprising that enteric diseases cause very substantial losses in this stages, but also housing system is very poor facilities and not suitable for sows and young piglets as farrowing crates and piglet areas, pregnancy sow area and also heating section as well. While the diseases and other components involved can usually be controlled by a combination of good management and strategic vaccination, the sub-optimal environment provided on many farms is also a major risk factor, especially in the farrowing and weaning areas. Antibiotics, which add significantly to the cost of production, are used to overcome these deficiencies and their indiscriminate use is probably contributing to the current high level of multi-drug resistance in isolates from pigs in Vietnam. This may also have serious human health implications. The better understanding of risk factors that are contributing to pig health problems, and limiting or reducing production, it is proposed to survey a large number of small holder farms in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces. Retrospective baseline data on production, health, housing, environment and income will be collected and deficiencies in husbandry and housing will be detected and assessed so that they can be prioritized. A representative sample of small holder farms (defined as those with less than 10-15 sows) and small commercial farms (30 to 100 sows) in each province will be selected for the survey and audit process, which will be used to assess the standard of production and competency of farmers and facilities. The Questionnaire will be developed by Vietnamese Scientists and reviewed by E-mail contact between the Vietnamese and Australian Scientists. Prior to commencing the survey, technicians will be trained to visit farms and interview the farmer and his/her family and collect required data on production and facilities. Following the survey of selected farms in the three provinces, a workshop will be held at Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry to identify the key risk factors that are negatively influencing health and production. A set of priorities will then be established for improving management, husbandry and housing on farms. This will result in the development of suitable models for pig production incorporating modified and improved designs for housing, as well as husbandry and management techniques. An 1 example of this approach would be the development of a “best practice” farrowing house design and management system. The design would provide a specialized “microclimate” for piglets established within a macroclimate for sows and would include improved hygiene and management for the farrowing area. Based on our collective personal experience, many small farms in Vietnam fail to provide facilities for farrowing sows and their litters that are adequate in terms of temperature, dryness and hygiene. Piglets are often housed in a wet environment and exposed to significant air movement, resulting in rapid loss in body temperature and outbreaks of diarrhea. Cleaning is often not part of the routine management process in farrowing pens. The models would be based on universally accepted features and local requirements that are cost-effective, and easily established within existing small-scale pig farms. A similar process would be used for modifying other areas of the production system until a complete production unit has been developed for both small householder units and small commercial units. The farm and production models would also be suitable for small co-operative farms. 2. METHODS AND MATERIALS 2.1. Questionnaires: There will be developed and discussed between different project partners and approach to small holding pig farms in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam 2.2. Training for interviewers Before starting of the survey, project partner coordinator has instructed to interviewers and examples for practice. 2.3. Farm selection All of the pig farms, whereas were kept sows and piglets in two provinces (Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue) and classified and random selection, 20 - 30 farms per commune and each province 90 farms at least. 2.3. Visiting and interview on field with every household by appointments with commune PPC, district agricultural and rural development department. Dien Ban, Quang Nam province 1)Dien Hoa commune (rice area with large garden) 2) Dien Thang commune (rice area and intensive pig rearing) 3) Dien Nam commune (sandy soil and near Da Nang city) Thua Thien Hue Province consist: - Huong Tra District: Huong Chu commune (rice production area) Binh Dien commune (up land area) - Huong Thuy District: Thuy Phuong commune (large garden with households) Thuy Duong (rice production, up land and near the Hue city) Thuy Bang communes (up land area with large garden) - Phu Vang District: Vinh Phu commune (sandy soil) 2 The lish of households numbers was selected and surveys: No= Name of commune Province Number of households Note 1 Binh Dien Thua Thien hue 30 Upland 2 Thuy Bang Thua Thien hue 20 Upland 3 Thuy Phuong Thua Thien hue 20 Rice, upland 4 Thuy Duong Thua Thien hue 20 Near the city 5 Huong Chu Thua Thien hue 20 Rice are 6 Vinh Phu Thua Thien hue 20 Sandy soil 7 Dien Hoa Quang Nam 30 Rice are 8 Dien Thang Quang Nam 30 Rice area 9 Dien Nam Quang Nam 30 Sandy soil Total 220 2.4. Variables will be collected in the questionaires and direct interviewing - General household variables (household characteristics, land uses and area, professional, labour) - Technical variables: Number of sows, pigs and other animals, sow reproductive variables, feeding variables and dietary composition - Housing design areas, water supplies, floor areas and dimension variables (pen wall, pen floors, floor hygiene, bedding, bedding replacement). - Disease infections and treated. 2.5. Statistical and analysis SPSS will be applied for analysis with relationships, correlations and mean, ANOVA will be used for analysis. 3. SURVEY RESULTS 3.1. Total of investigated pig farms in two provinces Table 1. Structure of samples in survey of province Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Quang Nam 92 48,9 48,9 48.9 Thua Thien Hue 96 51.1 51.1 100.0 Total 188 100.0 100.0 Table 2. Contributions of different districts Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Dien Ban 92 48.9 48.9 48.9 Huong Tra 67 35.6 35.6 84.6 Huong Thuy 29 15.4 15.4 100.0 Total 188 100.0 100.0 3 Table 3. Distributions of sows presented in different communes Location name Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Dien Hoa 29 15.4 15.7 15.7 Dien Nam Trung 33 17.6 17.8 33.5 Dien Thang Trung 27 14.4 14.6 48.1 Thuy Phuong 15 8.0 8.1 56.2 Binh Dien 33 17.6 17.8 74.1 Huong Tru 15 8.0 8.1 82.2 Thuy Bang 14 7.4 7.6 89.7 Vinh Phu 19 10.1 10.3 100.0 Total 185 98.4 100.0 Total 188 100.0 The households in two provinces, whereas more sows were kept in different systems with Quang Nam province, with 92 households in average number of sows was higher than in Thua Thien Hue province, general evarege is 3.52 ± 2.99 sows in table 4 conducted that no differences between two provinces P = 0.51, while maximum of 15 sows in Thua Thien Hue and 20 sows in Quang Nam. Table 4. Mean of sow numbers in different provinces N Mean Stdv 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Minimum Maximum Quang Nam 92 3,66 2,79 3,08 4,24 1,00 15,00 Thua Thien Hue 96 3,37 3,18 2,72 4,02 1,00 20,00 Total 188 3,51 2,99 3,08 3,94 1,00 20,00 The education is very important for farmers, who can learn more techniques in pig husbandry however, in Central Vietnam. Depend on the age of farmers, in table 5. age of household headed, more farmers in period of ages 46 -55 (60) years old, 42 % in total investigated farms. 3.2. Education levels Table 5. Educational levels of farmers in different areas of Central Vietnam Educational levels Frequency Percent Cumulative Percent Illiterate 3 1.6 1,6 Primary school 35 18.6 20,4 High primary 81 43.1 64,0 secondry 54 28.7 93,0 College 10 5.3 98,4 Universit y 3 1.6 100,0 4 Total 188 100.0 Table 5 was conducted the differences between educational levels of farmers in two provinces, highest percentage of level 3 (primary school), 43.1%, so the differences in education between two provinces (Hue and Quang Nam). More educational levels, they can keep less sows and pigs in their systems, herewith a maximum average of sow number for group of illiterate farmers. Table 6. Influence of educational levels on sow number keeping and sow breeding types Educational levels Range Mean SD Min. Max. Illiterate 3 3,0000 3,0000 1,00 3,00 Primary school 35 2,9714 3,1666 1,00 4,00 High primary 81 2,8148 2,9365 1,00 4,00 secondry 54 2,8519 2,9861 2,00 4,00 College 10 3,0000 3,0000 3,00 3,00 University 3 2,0000 4,4841 3,00 3,00 Total 186 2,8548 2,9323 1,00 4,00 Illiterate 3 2,0000 4,4841 1,00 3,00 Primary school 35 3,1429 4,0012 1,00 12,00 High primary 81 3,7654 4,4085 1,00 15,00 secondary 54 3,3889 4,2127 1,00 15,00 College 10 2,7000 3,1828 2,00 4,00 University 3 8,0000 33,8159 2,00 20,00 Total 186 3,5215 3,9572 1,00 20,00 The comparasion between differences of educational levels to sow breeding types (MC- local breed, crossbreds and exotic breeds). The education level is not influenced on number of sows but impact on sow breeding types, P < 0.01. With higher education of farmers, they will raise in their systems with exotic and crossbreed, compared with lower education with local breed in favors. As some suggestions by Hampson et al., 1993. 3.3. Pig husbandry experiences The farmer experiences in pig husbandry that also is very important component in pig development, especially households have skills and techniques via learning by farmers in the villages; they also would like to have more knowledge and techniques for their own farms. However, farmers start to learn and practice by themselves as field farming school, etc Table 7. Experiences in pig husbandry of farmers Experience years Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent 6,00 11 5,9 5,9 5,9 8,00 10 5,3 5,3 11,2 10,00 1 ,5 ,5 11,7 5 11,00 108 57,4 57,4 69,1 12,00 58 30,9 30,9 100,0 Total 188 100,0 100,0 There were more percentages of farmers have experiences around 10 years in pig husbandry, this is also a traditional professional of farmers in the two provinces. The relationship between experiences and sow breeding types, piglet born alive in table 8. seeming is a small difference between different experiences for sow breeding types. More experiences in pig husbandry can keep more exotic or F1 sow breeds in their system, however the Cramer' V relationship parameter was not significant, P > 0.05. Table 8. Effect of pig experiences on sow breeding types Farmers Sow breeding types Total Exotic F1 Mong Cai local breed Pig_Ex p 6,00 2 2 7 11 8,00 0 2 8 10 10,00 0 0 1 1 11,00 3 9 96 108 12,00 4 12 46 58 Total 9 15 158 188 When we consider the multi-factors of different ecosystems, education, ages and expriences on sow breeding types, table 9 conducted the relationship between education and ecosystems are significant effects, P < 0.01, so more farmers in lowland and urban areas can develop new breed as F1 and exotic breed (Yorkshire and Landrace), more farmers in sandy and highland areas by their favour in MC -local breed. Sow breeding types Frequency Percent Landrace 9 4,8 Yorkshire 15 8,0 Mong Cai local breed 158 84,0 F1 6 3,2 Total 188 100,0 In constrast in that, higher education they can reduce the sow numbers and remove exotic and F1 breed, this can show that more education and they has more opportunities to work in other field and they don't want to lose their time for F1 and exotic breed by labour time. While a longer experience in pig husbandry, farmer can apply more exotic and F1 breed in their production systems, conducted in table 8. 6 Table 9. Multi-factors on sow breeding types (a-cofficiences) Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients F Sig. B Std. Error Beta (Constant) 2.262 .465 4.866 .000 Province .008 .081 .008 .098 .922 Labours .016 .047 .027 .339 .735 Ecosystems .113 .077 .116 6.475 .035 Ages .003 .049 .005 .066 .948 Edulevel 061 .045 107 -6.344 .021 Pig_Exp .041 .028 .116 1.461 .146 The range of sow numbers in different areas was showed in table 10. The number of farmers keep 2-3 sows in each household mainly, 36.7 + 27.7 %, compared with 10 sows (only 1.6%) and 20 sows (0.5%), so we can think how many sows farmers in this areas can raise for project models, in strategies, we advise them to raise in their system from 5 - 10 sows depend on their capacity in animal husbandry. Table 10. Range of sow numbers in survey region (Hue and Quang Nam) Number of sows Frequency Percent 1.00 18 9.6 2.00 69 36.7 3.00 52 27.7 4.00 15 8.0 5.00 13 6.9 6.00 5 2.7 7.00 1 .5 8.00 1 .5 10.00 3 1.6 12.00 7 3.7 15.00 3 1.6 20.00 1 .5 Total 188 100.0 In generally, Number of sows are kept in household and types of breed were effected by areas, eductional and experience, skill of farmers. 3.4. Piglets born alive and still born The mainly, sows are kept in this areas can have more piglets for both local and exotic breeds as we can see in table 11. Genetic analysis yielded heritability of 0.02 for vitality on a piglet basis and 0.07 for mothering ability (Knol et al., 2002). A heritability of 0.02 is extremely low, but still promising because genetic variation is considerable and because a large number of observations are available per parent. Simulation (Table 1) 7 showed that single trait selection for litter size will reduce piglet survival, as is expected. Simultaneous selection for litter size and birth weight will increase birth weight dramatically, but will not increase survival nor increase litter size. Eight years of selection on an index of litter size and piglet survival will increase litter size total born from 12.3 to 12.8 piglets per litter and at the same time increase survival from 80.3% to 84.2%. Table 11. The range of piglets born alive in pig farms of Hue and Quang Nam Number of piglets born alive Frequency Percent 8 3 1.6 9 10 5.3 10 16 8.5 11 29 15.4 12 72 38.3 13 28 14.9 14 13 6.9 15 12 6.4 16 5 2.7 Total 188 100.0 The average is 12.04 ± 1.63 piglets/litter in overall mean, so each of breeding type with different effect on the variable, P < 0.001 as highest value in MC-local breed, 12.61 ± 1.47; F1, 10.07 ± 1.60; exotic, 9.55 ± 1.51 While piglets stillborn was conducted in table 12. that conducted in significant differences between groups of sow breeds (exotic, F1 and MC local), it is highest piglet dead during lactation period in group of F1, 3.67 ± 0.82, lowest in group of MC-local breed,, this is also showing that local breed has a better mother than others (exotic and F1) in the same condition, when we look in different interaction effects of breeds and ecosystems. The genetic differences in piglet survival and stillborn can be predicted accurately, high/low piglets sampling can be done to investigate the underlying biological processes. A high and low piglet group was formed of sows, inseminated with semen of high and low boar quality, respectively, and piglets were delivered with caesarean section. All piglets were sacrificed, dissected, and analyzed. Individual placentas were available. Survivability is only one of many traits important for efficient pork production. It is important to know the relationships between these traits. A statistical analysis revealed significant moderate genetic correlations (0.4-0.5) between piglet survival on one side and feed intake, daily gain, and protein and fat accretion on the other side. This indicates that selection for increased survival will definitely influence finishing traits, but also that intense selection on leanness will negatively affect piglet survival. 8 Table 12. Piglet stillborn in different sow breeds Sow breed Mean N Std. Deviation Exotic 3.13 24 1.08 MC-local 1.73 158 1.06 F1 3.67 6 .82 Total 1.97 188 1.19 Sum of Sq. df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups (Combine d) 58,073 2 29,037 26,230 ,000 Linearity 21,978 1 21,978 19,854 ,000 Within Groups 204,794 185 1,107 Total 262,867 187 The feed composition of the present invention, that is, the prepared cells, the disrupted cell fragments, or the cell wall component-containing fractions, may be given orally in the form of a supplement for piglets. The feed composition of the present method may be prepared by adding the addition substances, the disrupted cell fragments or the component-containing fractions to an ordinary feed for pregnant sows and mother sows and piglets. During the investigation, our data were showed that the very much differences between farmers to bring different dietary composition to sows and piglets. Table 13. Dietary composition in different areas for sows Ingredient used Total Quang Nam Thua Thien Hue Processing 188 92 96 Broken rice 82 31 51 Corn powder 93 68 25 Cassava meal 90 23 67 Sweet potato powder 25 7 18 Bean powder 12 10 2 Concentrate 89 44 45 Spinach 84 10 74 Sweet potato leaves 165 76 89 Banana 13 3 10 Cassava silage 13 3 10 crop residues 4 3 1 Brewer residues 184 89 95 Food remain 102 57 45 Fish meal 44 12 32 Salt fish 42 20 22 Shrimp residues 4 3 1 Fresh fish 43 28 15 Supplement 183 88 95 Enzymes 18 9 9 Probiotics 4 x 4 Vitamin 32 11 21 9 Premix 43 18 25 There were showed different dietary composition for each household, who can keep animal by their own feed mixed from local feed resources in table 13. The main households are processing for pig diets. The other components constituting the feed composition for pregnant sows and mother sows administered in the present invention are not specifically defined. For instance, the composition may contain from 10 to 15% by weight of crude proteins and from 1 to 5% by weight of crude fats. The metabolic energy of the composition is preferably 2000 to 3200 kcal/kg. The compared with requirement of sows in different periods (dry, pregnancy and lactation). The present invention is characterized by feeding the above-mentioned feed composition to pregnant sows and mother sows. Such feeding may be carried out either continuously or discontinuously. The period of the feeding may be before farrowing, preferably at least one week before farrowing, to at least up to farrowing, more preferably at least up to the end of the breast- feeding period. 3.5. Piglets with diarrhea and infected When picture of 155 of 188 litters had problems with diarrhea with 15%, 25%, 25%, 45%, 55%, 75% and 100% in two provinces. There were 179/188 litters with diarrhea, 55.55 % with 15-25% of piglets infected, 32.25% of litters with 35-45 of infected piglets and last small group of litter, 12.2 % more than 55% piglets in litters infected. There was correlations between different ecosystems, breeds and piglets infected by diarrhea with P < 0.05, also model showed that the no significant effect of interaction between ecosystems and breeds. The figure was showed the strong effects of ecosystems and suggested the alternatives for region, which are suitable for each ecosystem to avoid infected diseases. There were also relationships between piglet age groups and ETEC serogroup and pathotypes, Do et al., 2006. Table 14. Effects of different ecosystems and breeds on infected piglets during of lactation period Source Sum of Squares df F Sig. Corrected Model 1,710(a) 9 5,892 ,034 Intercept 33,630 1 157,878 ,000 Sow_species 25,492 72 1,770 ,112 Eco_level 176,572 56 10,894 ,045 Sow_species * Eco_level 89,770 41 1,205 ,310 Total 554,000 179 The reason of low weaned piglets was from the infection. When piglets had diarrhea after weaning, enterotoxigenic E.coli were generally detected in the faeces, (Evans, at al., 1975; Guinée et al., 1977; Marques, et al., 1987; Bertschinger et al., 1993; Casey et al., 1992). H owever, they were also detected in faeces of piglets without diarrhea. So, other causal factors must be involved in the occurrence of diarrhea after during the weaning period. The mortality, due to diarrhea, was associated with severe villus shortening and crypt deepening. Furthermore, weaning piglets was also associated with villas shortening 10 [...]... Land should not be steep or stony to avoid erosion and injuries to the feet Shelters and tree belts are essential to provide protection from extreme weather and heat stress While in two provinces, the most of pig housing is designed indoor systems, however, more farms with a small herd and they can raise sows and fatteners in side of housing, in the table 17 data were conducted average square for sow. .. sow housing is 16.58 ± 9.15 m2 for 3.52 sows, average for each sow can has a area of 4.71 m2, addition area of back yard for piglets outdoor systems Table 18 Ventilation systems for sow housing N Percent Ventilationwindow 107 56.69 Topventilation 60 31.91 Downventilation 57 30.32 Sideventilation 114 60.64 In generally, more housing has ventilation system by side and by window for exchange of air in. . .and crypt deepening and giving supplementary feed during the suckling period was effective in preventing villas shortening after weaning The more impacts for piglets by less absorption from milk sows and supplementary feed during the suckling period indicated Function of the large intestine also influences the severity of diarrhea in just weaned piglets It may be suggested in weaning piglets... No 04/2007 and we would like to thank to all of farmers for animal husbandry and onfarm data recording We thank the staff of the different 4 districts of two, especially; we would like to thank Dr Colin Cargill and Dr Tony, Daren Trott for more assistance and supports to our group in Hue 5 REFERENCES Bertschinger, H U., M Stamm, and P Vogeli 1993 Inheritance of resistance to oedema disease in the pig:... air in pig systems These farmers are pioneers in adapting structures, handling practices and management to let pigs really be pigs They are reducing their hogs' physical and psychological stress to make them more productive Old farrowing and piglet-handling techniques incorporating group nursing and deep-straw bedding have been especially successful in weaning high numbers of piglets per sow These producers... heat stress and sunburn On one of these farms, 315 outdoor sows wean an average of 23 piglets a year, an exceptionally good figure ( 4 ) Aggression is generally low among paddock pigs, and 11 is associated with feeding If food is spread out in a long line, even subordinate sows can eat their share and aggression is reduced ( 8 ) Table 17 Differences in housing system design in two province 2 Pig_area... fewer farrowing problems The property has good quality electric fencing, good water supply for drinking and mud wallows, while straw-bedded huts and shade cloth provide shelter Outdoor pig production has increased on the south island of New Zealand as model of 37 sows Sows are kept in groups from 5 to 14 in paddocks with movable straw-bedded huts Paddocks contain shade as well as mud wallows to minimize... opportunity for profitable innovation, not as a call to arms to defend conventional practices Due true conducted by Cronin G., 1995; 1999; Diet N, 1999 Farmers have always felt it is easier to produce and sell a product that our customers want than it is to convince the customer that they want what we have, even if it isn't what they want They sold breeding stock for a little while and it was ingrained a little... suggested in weaning piglets at later than plan to five or six weeks changes the flora, the morphology, and the function of the intestine; these changes together result frequently in diarrhea Therefore, the farmers used vaccination programme for sows twice a year Table 15 Vaccination programme for sows in two provinces Injection Vaccination Swine fever Pateurella Salmonella FMD Dextral-Fe N 181/188 146/188... "Enrichment of the production environment and the enhancement of welfare through the use of the Edinburgh Family Pen System of Pig Production", Research and Development in Agriculture , 1988, vol 5 (171-186) Lee, C H., S L Moseley, H W Moon, S C Whipp, C L Gyles, and M So 1983 Characterization of the gene encoding heat-stable toxin II and preliminary molecular epidemiological studies of enterotoxigenic Escherichia . Influence of different breeds, feeding and housing systems on sow reproductive performance and piglet's resistance to diseases in Central Vietnam Nguyen Quang Linh 1 , Hoang. Pig husbandry is a professional of farmers in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam, more than 80% of sow population, which are kept in small holding farms. In response to the increased demand for piglets. components constituting the feed composition for pregnant sows and mother sows administered in the present invention are not specifically defined. For instance, the composition may contain from