ZNCP Veterinarian Information
Password protected access is now available for veterinarians to access their client's ZNCP reports on-line for the latest results and changes to annual % prevalence of positve + suspect Salmonella results . Please go to the Home page and follow the instructions registering for access to your ZNCP services.
We are undertaking intervention studies, if any of your clients are interested in taking part or would like more information please contact Katrin Turvey under 0247 6478802 or email Katrin.Turvey@bpex.org.uk .
A number of potentially effective interventions for reducing Salmonella in pigs have been identified in a recently completed literature review (copies available on request), these are:
- Salmonella vaccination of sows
- Salmonella vaccination of slaughter generation
- Acidification of feed
- Acidification of water
- Change from pellet feeding to a Salmonella-reducing pelleted feed
- Change from pellet feeding to a Salmonella-reducing meal feed
- Liquid feeding
- Depopulation and repopulation from Salmonella tested or vaccinated source of weaners
We propose to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing the prevalence of Salmonella on pig farms in England and Wales and to establish, within the practical constraints of this project, the associated cost benefit at farm level. The farm-based trials will be used to demonstrate the practical implementation of these interventions on farms where basic standards of biosecurity, hygiene, record keeping and pest control are already in place.
We need to recruit up to 40 farms through their veterinary practices, which will be involved in the design, implementation and supervision of the intervention trials on the units.
The recruited farms will be high prevalence positive and suspect Elisa results. For each satisfactorily completed trial, the farm will receive up to £1000 for additional expenses, regardless of their Salmonella prevalence on completion and the vet will receive up to £500 for associated expenses.
Additional sampling and trends in results from meat-juice ELISA testing will be monitored and mixed-pen faecal sampling will also be undertaken with the support of the VLA. Basic record keeping will be agreed at the design stage. The effects of the interventions on Salmonella levels, ease of use, costs and performance will be monitored with a view to communicating results to all producers and vets.