Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #66366
Title: RISK OF SHEDDING SALMONELLA ORGANISMS BY MARKET-AGE HOGS IN A BARN WITH OPEN FLUSH GUTTERS

Author
item DAVIES, P - NORTH CAROLINA ST UNIV
item MORGAN MORROW, W - NORTH CAROLINA ST UNIV
item JONES, F - NORTH CAROLINA ST UNIV
item DEEN, J - NORTH CAROLINA ST UNIV
item CRAY, PAULA - 3630-14-00
item GRAY, J - 3630-14-00

Submitted to: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Infection of swine with Salmonella species results in millions of dollars in lost income to the swine industry. Additionally, swine are known carriers of Salmonella which may result in foodborne disease if consumers eat contaminated pork products. The prevalence of Salmonella was determined on a herd in North Carolina in swine which were near market age but housed in two different types of buildings; one with slotted floors an one with solid floors with open flush gutters. Additionally, we looked at the management characteristics of the farm, the seroconversion rate (did pigs develop antibody to Salmonella) and the feed being fed to the swine in order to determine if there were any factors which may increase the likelihood that swine will become contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella agona was isolated from 84% of the fecal samples from the open gutter barns compared to 9% of the fecal samples in the barns with slotted floors. There was no difference between the seroconversion rate between barns suggesting that swine had been exposed to Salmonella prior to, or immediately after, placement into either building. Feed samples were also negative for Salmonella. This study shows that barns with open gutters may increase the likelihood that swine will be positive for and shed Salmonella. Changing the design of barns may decrease the likelihood swine will shed Salmonella which translates into less pigs which may become positive for Salmonella. Ultimately, this means a more safe and wholesome product will be available for the consumer.

Technical Abstract: The prevalence of Salmonella spp. in the feces in finishing pigs, and serum antibody to Salmonella spp., was determined on a 650 sow farrow-to-finish herd in North Carolina. Pigs are weaned at 3 weeks of age into one of seven nursery rooms, which are managed all-in/all-out. At approximately 10 weeks of age, pigs are transferred from the nursery into barns with slotted dfloors or solid floors with open flush gutters. Pigs in both barns share the same rations. Salmonella agona was isolated from 26 of 31 (84%) fecal samples from the open gutter barns compared to 5 of 57 (9%) in the barn with slotted floors (P < 0.001). Ninety percent of pigs were seropositive, and the proportion of seropositive pigs did not differ between barns (P = 0.16). Median optical density was higher for samples from the open gutter barn (P < 0.001). Fifty feed samples were negative for Salmonella spp., but S. agona was isolated from 1 of 4 samples of recycled lagoon water. Housing of finishing swine in barns with open flush gutters may contribute to increased shedding of Salmonella spp.