PSVIII-21 Parasite prevalence and fecal egg counts on organic pig farms

Abstract

Abstract Swine parasites present challenges for organic pig farmers and represent suboptimal animal health because the use of synthetic anthelmintics is not allowed. The objective of this study was to investigate prevalence and fecal egg counts (FEC) of three intestinal parasites (Ascaris, Trichuris, and Oesophagostomum) on organic pig farms in the United States. Nine farms across 4 states were investigated. Pigs on all farms were raised within no-confinement facilities, had access to the outdoors or pasture except for one farm that housed sows in a hoop barn, and no use of synthetic anthelmintics from birth to market weight for growing/finishing pigs and from the third trimester of gestation for sows. Herd size varied from 12 to 416 (median=50) pigs. Four to 16 fecal samples were collected in each pen or pasture. A total of 186 samples were analyzed for FEC using the concentrated McMaster technique to yield eggs per gram (epg) of fecal samples. Pigs were categorized as breeders (gestating sows of all parity and boars), growing pigs (2 to 5 months old), or finishing pigs (5 months old to market weight). Results indicate that 56%, 89%, and 44% farms were infected with Oesophagostomum, Ascaris, and Trichuris, respectively. Overall, breeders on infected farms had higher (P=0.01) FEC of Oesophagostomum (1,115 epg ± 1,647 SD) than growing (60 epg ± 9.5 SD) and finishing pigs (237 epg ± 234 SD). Growing and finishing pigs had higher (P< 0.001) FEC of Ascaris (1,733 epg ± 1,208 SD for growing pigs; 1,162 epg ± 630 SD for finishing pigs) than breeders (5 epg ± 2.5 SD). Trichuris FEC was relatively low (< 80 epg for pigs in all production stages) compared to other parasites. Results suggest that swine parasite infection is common on organic/alternative farms and strategies to control parasites need to be developed.