Asset Details
Do you wish to reserve the book?
Effects of season, age and parasite management practices on gastro – intestinal parasites in pigs kept outdoors in Ireland
Hey, we have placed the reservation for you!
By the way, why not check out events that you can attend while you pick your title.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place the reservation. Kindly try again later.
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
Effects of season, age and parasite management practices on gastro – intestinal parasites in pigs kept outdoors in Ireland
Do you wish to request the book?
Effects of season, age and parasite management practices on gastro – intestinal parasites in pigs kept outdoors in Ireland
Please be aware that the book you have requested cannot be checked out. If you would like to checkout this book, you can reserve another copy
We have requested the book for you!
Your request is successful and it will be processed during the Library working hours. Please check the status of your request in My Requests.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place your request. Kindly try again later.
Journal Article
Effects of season, age and parasite management practices on gastro – intestinal parasites in pigs kept outdoors in Ireland
2025
Overview
Outdoor farming offers pigs considerable behavioural freedom and better consumer acceptance than intensive, indoor systems. However, gastro – intestinal (GI) parasites pose a significant health and welfare challenge for pigs reared outdoors. The aim of this study was to ascertain effects of management, season and animal factors such as age, on a range of different GI parasites in Irish pigs farmed outdoors. Sixty-five pig faecal samples (a mix from at least 2–4 animals per paddock) were collected from 65 paddocks across 20 outdoor pig farms, over two visits (1
st
visit – February/May-December 2023,
n
= 37, 2
nd
visit– July/October 2023,
n
= 28). Samples were collected and mixed thoroughly to achieve a paddock level sample. Data were also collected related to pig characteristics (grower/fatteners or sows and boars), anthelmintic usage (Yes/No) and paddock rotation (Yes/No) and categorized at paddock level. Samples were analysed using the McMaster floatation method, faecal egg count (FEC) was calculated, and GI parasites were identified by morphology. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyse the effect of season, age, anthelmintic usage and paddock rotation on FEC. Four parasite taxa were identified (
Eimeria/Isospora
spp., strongyles,
Ascaris suum
and
Trichuris suis
). Infection rates were > 80% for
Eimeria/Isospora
spp. and strongyles, 31% for
A. suum
and 9% for
T. suis
for both visits.
Eimeria/Isospora
spp. FEC was higher at the 2
nd
visit (
P
< 0.001) and strongyles FEC was higher at the 1
st
visit (
P
< 0.05). Fattener pigs had higher FEC for
Eimeria/Isospora
spp. (
P
< 0.01) and sows/boars had higher strongyle counts (
P
< 0.05). Strongyle count was lower with anthelmintic use (
P
< 0.05) and
Eimeria/Isospora
spp. count was lower (
P
= 0.05) with paddock rotation when anthelmintics were used. Lower winter temperatures may have influenced the seasonal variation in strongyle FEC. This study provides a comprehensive picture of GI parasites in outdoor pig farms in Ireland in terms of the taxa, their prevalence and risk factors.
