Food safety, swine health, and productivity of a farrow-to-finish swine farm following implementation of a certified HACCP system in Japan

Abstract

This study examined the safety and productivity of a farrow-to-finish swine farm from 2015 to 2019, in Japan. The farm implemented a farm Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system in July 2016. The critical control point was “the selection of shipping pigs” and the critical limit for preventing contamination with residual antibiotics in pigs was “the withholding period has passed,” while that for preventing contamination with residual needle fragments was “the needle was not included.” No deviations from critical limits were observed, indicating the pigs were safe. In addition, the numerical goal of pigs born alive per litter (PBA), pre-weaning mortality (PRWM) and post-weaning mortality (POWM) were not achieved during the study period. But PBA improved and POWM remained low, but PRWM was not improved. Although PRWM seems to have increased due to the birth of weaker piglets among the high number of PBA, overall productivity at the farm improved. These results suggest that the HACCP system had a positive effect on the health and productivity of the swine.