Das Schwanzbeiß Interventions Programm für Aufzuchtferkel (Aufzucht SchwIP) - Vorläufige Ergebnisse der ersten Erhebungsrunde mit den Schwerpunkten Tiergesundheit und Verhalten

The tail biting intervention program "SchwIP" is a software-based management tool for systematic weak-point analysis and risk planning on farms. It includes aspects of management and husbandry, as well as animal-based indicators. During a farm visit, an interview with the farmer and a risk assessment at barn-, room- and pen-level is applied. Collected data is summarized in a report, which is discussed with the farmer. The farmer then determines aims and intervention measures for reducing tail biting risk on his farm, in the long run, tail biting risk can be reduced by checking success of measures and repeating the risk assessment regularly twice per year. SchwIP is currently being developed for weaner piglets. This publication presents results from the first application on 27 farms. On these farms, the median prevalences for tail lesions were 20.6 %, ear lesions 20.0 % and losses of tails or ears 0.0 %, respectively. Frequent problem areas were animal health, barn climate and water supply. Animals with respiratory symptoms were found on over three quarter of the farms and pigs with diarrhea were observed on half of the farms. On one third of the visited farms barn climate measurements for NH3 and CO2 exceeded the recommended limit of 15, or 2000 ppm, respectively, in at least one pen. Inadequate flow rates of drinkers were found on almost all farms.