Abstract:

Partial budget analysis of sow Escherichia coli vaccination

Thomas E.Wittum, PhD; and Catherine E. Dewey, DVM, PhD

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We evaluated the profitability of vaccinating sows against Escherichiacoli using a partial budget analysis incorporated into a computer spreadsheet. Herd inputs intended to approximate the average swine operation were used to provide generalizable results. Vaccine efficacy was estimated using previous reports of reduced diarrhea morbidity and mortality in neonatal piglets associated with vaccination. Our results indicate that the average swine producer who does not currently vaccinate sows against E. coli could expect to generate $5.51 per sow in additional yearly profits by implementing a vaccination program. Losses attributable to piglet diarrhea would be reduced by nearly $10 per sow per year. Investment in a sow E. coli vaccination program is expected to result in a 124% return on investment Sensitivity analysis found that these results were fairly insensitive to variations in vaccine efficacy, market value of pigs, vaccine cost, liveborn litter size, and diarrhea morbidity and mortality rates without vaccination. Threshold analysis suggests that herds with diarrhea morbidity and mortality rates in l- to 14-day-old piglets of at least 3.5% and 0.8%, respectively, could expect returns adequate to justify investment. We therefore predict that E. coli vaccination of sows would be a cost-effective health management strategy for many United States swine producers.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, management


RIS citationCite as: Wittum TW, Dewey CE. Partial budget analysis of sow Escherichia coli vaccination. J Swine Health Prod 1996;4(1):9-13.

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