[Aspects of animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity during 101 transports of piglets in Switzerland].

The transfer of piglets is associated with stress for the transported animals. In addition, animal transports are a risk factor for the spread of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria and for the introduction of diseases into the herd. In the present study, 101 randomly selected transports of piglets were accompanied from the breeding facility to the pig farm. Parameters related to animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity were assessed. Transported piglets showed signs of abscesses, hernias or cannibalism in 30% and diarrhea or cough in 15% of the cases. The proportion of animals with injuries from conflicts were higher after (15%) than before transport (8%). Suboptimal conditions in regard to density, temperature and lighting were found in 19%, 55% and 36% of the transports. Vehicles were cleaned and disinfected only in 55% of transports before arriving at the breeding facility. Thirty percent of the vehicles were soiled and 20% had already loaded piglets when arriving at the sending facility. Vehicles were neither cleaned nor disinfected in 83% between two piglet transports. Overall, there was a great potential for improvement in animal loading and risk of disease transmission in the investigated piglet transports.