Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on weight gain in weaners in a pig farm, Penang, Malaysia

The aims of this study were to compare the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on body weight, average daily gain, percentage of body weight gain, health status and faecal coliform counts in weaner pigs. Fifty commercial breed (Landrace and Duroc) weaner pigs were selected from a pig farm in Penang, Malaysia. The weaners were equally distributed into control and treatment groups. The control group was fed commercial diet while the treatment group fed commercial diet with IGF-I added. Body weights of weaners were recorded every 15 days. In this study, IGF-1 treatment group showed statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement in body weight and average daily gain towards the end of the study (45 days). No significant difference in percentage body weight gain between control and treatment groups was observed. From the blood parameters, there was no sign of toxicity or infection in the control and treatment groups. The study showed that IGF-1 treated group had lower coliform count compared to controls, which indicates that IGF-1 may have beneficial effects on the digestive system of weaner pigs

Serological survey of Aujeszkys disease in Peninsular Malaysia in 2016

Aujeszky’s disease (AD) is a common swine disease that widespread throughout the world. The symptoms include nervous signs, respiration and reproduction problems that lead to great economic losses to the industry. AD is endemic in Malaysia, where outbreaks had been reported in previous years. In Malaysia, approximately 95% of the pig farms are vaccinated for AD. Despite the regular vaccination, AD serological status remains unknown in this country. This study provides AD serological status in Peninsular Malaysia in 2016 based on the samples submitted to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia (UPM). A total of 1154 serum samples from 36 farms were submitted for AD ELISA diagnostic test; grouped as 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks, gilts and sows with different parity. The samples were subjected to AD antibody detection with IDEXX Pseudorabies Virus gpI Antibody Test Kit. Among the 36 farms submitted to UPM, 8 farms were detected with positive gI antibody indicated that these farms were still facing challenges from AD field virus. Among these eight seropositive farms, three farms were having seroprevalence in the range of 33.33% to 37.14%. In general, vaccination of AD is ideal and stable in Malaysia but we still need to be alert with the field challenge as it will be a threat to the industry

Effects of different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome vaccine regimes on pig immunity status in selected pig farms in Malaysia

Vaccination is a key component of PRRS disease control strategies. Various types of vaccines, including killed virus (KV) and modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines had been develop for the control of the disease. In Malaysia field condition, the producers adopted different vaccination regime which either breeder vaccination only or whole herd (both breeder and porker herd) vaccination regime. Therefore, the ideal vaccines option (strain or type) and vaccination approach had remained highly debatable in the market. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the pig immunity status against PRRS in farm by comparing different farms which practicing different vaccination regime or different types of PRRS vaccines in Malaysia farm condition by using PCR and ELISA technique to check on the vertical and horizontal disease transmission and disease pressure in the farm. There are 4 vaccinations regime being include in this study where Farm A only vaccinated Type 2 MLV in breeder herd, Farm B vaccinated both Breeder and porkers with Type 2 MLV, Farm C only vaccinated Type 1 killed vaccine (KV) in Breeder herd and Farm D vaccinated both Breeder and porker with type 1 MLV. All samples collected from all farms were test with both PCR and ELISA. Results showed that whole herd vaccinating MLV approach is a better option for PRRSv control in the farm compare to breeder approach (Chapter 3). In the farm that practiced whole herd vaccination approach, Type 2 MLV showed its benefit in establishing the dominant strain in the farm and able to better control of PRRSv circulation in the farm as compare to Type 1 MLV (Chapter 4). When comparing between Type 2 MLV and Type 1 KV in breeder herd vaccination approach (Chapter 5), the study showed that Type 2 MLV demonstrated its benefit in controlling PRRSv shedding in the herd over Type 1 KV. The conclusion obtain from this research to combat PRRS by strategically practice whole herd vaccination regime (Chapter 3), using the Type 2 (US strain) vaccine strain (Chapter 4) and MLV type vaccine (Chapter 5)