Pathological monitoring of lungs lesions on modern pig farm in Ukraine

In industrial pig farming, respiratory diseases are one of the causes of economic losses. Lung diseases in pigs have different etiology. Bacteria, viruses, or violations of technological processes on the farms may cause them. To increase the farm's profitability, various schemes for monitoring the condition of the lungs of slaughtered pigs are used. Information obtained from slaughterhouses allows for timely response and adjustment of technological processes on the farm. Biosecurity compliance must affect animal health and pig farm profits the most. The study aimed to evaluate and determine the condition of the lungs of pigs slaughtered in pig farms with different levels of bioprotection. The authors also tried to establish the relationship between the condition of the lungs of slaughtered piglets and the number of sows on the farm. The condition of the lungs of piglets slaughtered at slaughterhouses was monitored. Lung conditions were evaluated using Madec and Dottori's method. This method involves the assessment of qualitative and quantitative indicators of lung damage. Pulmonary involvement is defined by pulmonary changes associated with bronchopleural pneumonia and pleurisy. The Ceva Lung Program (CLP) was used in the work to assess pathological changes in the lungs. On farms with a high level of biosecurity, significantly less lung damage was found in slaughtered piglets. In particular, in farms with a high level of bioprotection, the number of lungs with signs of bronchopneumonia was observed 47.7 % less often (P < 0.001) than in farms with a low level of bioprotection. At the same time, the percentage of surface lesions of all examined lungs with signs of bronchopneumonia was 23.43 % lower (P < 0.001) compared to farms with a low level of bioprotection. It is also worth noting the decrease in the level of pleuropneumonia on farms with a high level of biosecurity compared to a low one. The APP index in farms with a high level of bioprotection was lower by 20.9 % (P < 0.001). As the analysis showed, the population of the main sows has little effect on the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the pathological condition of the lungs under study. But at the same time, it should be noted the tendency to the fact that in farms with a herd of main sows up to 500 heads, lungs affected by broncho- and pleuropneumonia were found in smaller numbers than in other farms. Assessment of the condition of the lungs of slaughtered piglets reflects the veterinary well-being of the farm about lung diseases. It has been established that the most minor pathological changes are observed in farms where biosecurity measures are correctly applied. A direct connection between the prevalence of lung damage and the number of livestock in farms has not been established. Thus, determining the etiological factors of lung damage in farms and developing and implementing effective preventive and therapeutic measures is an essential direction of further research.