Productive assessment of a needle-free injection programme for the administration of Porcine Circovirus Type II and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccines on a wean to finish swine production unit

Abstract

Vaccination against PCV2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) plays a key role for intensive swine production sanitary programs worldwide. New vaccines and administration methods have been introduced over the last 5 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate under field conditions the impact of two single dose M. hyo and PCV2 vaccines administered mixed in one shot either by needle or needle free devices. Over three subsecuent production weeks or replicates, cohorts of 21 days old animals were randomly divided into three experimental groups for intramuscular injection: Group A (n = 240) was vaccinated against PCV2 and M. hyo using a needle free device, Group B (n = 240) was vaccinated using a needle device and animals from group C (n = 60) were injected with saline serum using needles. Vaccinated animals had a better growth performance with up to 6,6 kg extra liveweight and up to 48 g improvement in ADGW ahead of non vaccinated animals from weaning to slaughter age (P < 0.005). Vaccinated animals also had a 4 fold reduction per head in therapeutic medication injections, average dose and therefore less average production cost than the non vaccinated group in this regard. Additionally, vaccinated groups had a reduction between 1-8 porcentual points in loss of animals due to mortality and culls (P < 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, one shot vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and PCV2 using needle free technology was as efficient and safe as vaccination with needle devices. Vaccinations against both pathogens improved productive performance from wean to finish.