The title of this paper, as proposed by the meeting organisers, implies that Europe is different when it comes to biotechnology. In the early years of the 21st Century, even an impartial observer would agree that Europe differs from most of the rest of the world in its attitudes to at least one biotechnology – Genetically Modified (GM) crops. On the other hand, parts of Europe are seen as relatively enthusiastic about applications of biotechnology in human medicine. Take for instance, the UK's stance on research with human stem cells. Do these differences reflect permanent differences or merely a more cautious approach in Europe to the adoption of biotechnology in food production? Does this matter to pig producers?

This paper seeks to give a broad and shallow overview of the opportunities for developments in biotechnology to impact on pig production. It will consider which of the many potential new technologies, if they were available now, might be acceptable in Europe and what might be the consequences of failure to access technologies that others exploit.

No matter how specific an abattoir's requirement, and no matter how many different incentives are offered to pig producers to encourage them to send in a particular sort of carcase, the bottom line is that pigs do not come like nuts and bolts.

Variable factors such as genetic make–up, nutrition, production system, feeding regime, environment and disease status all combine to result in decreasing the uniformity of the carcases found inside the chillers of UK abattoirs. This variation not only occurs in carcases from different units but also between carcases produced on the same unit, and it’s not uncommon to find a wide spread of carcase weights, lengths and fat deposition within one batch of pigs.

This lack of uniformity provides a headache for all pig processors for the sole reason that, over the years, their customers have become a lot more specific with their meat requirement. For example, several years ago a third party processor would buy 500 loins of pork at a premium price for pork chop production.

The annual cost of Salmonella to the UK economy has been estimated at over £46 million and at €2.8 billion across the EU. The Food Standards Agency has made it clear that it wants to see a reduction in the proportion of pigs found to be carrying Salmonella when they arrive at the abattoir. The most recent results published to date (2000) show that 23% of UK pigs arriving at abattoirs carry Salmonella in their gut with 5% of pig carcases and 8% of pork sausages testing positive for Salmonella. While Salmonella cannot be eradicated on pig units, it can be controlled and minimised. With this in mind, the British Pig Executive (BPEX) have developed the “ZAP Salmonella Monitoring Programme” as a way of identifying farms with high levels of Salmonella and to act as the means of driving down overall levels (MLC, 2002).

In order to reduce ammonia emissions from pig housing systems, the Council of Europe proposes the use of part slatted flooring in preference to fully slatted flooring, but the effects of such changes on the health and welfare of pigs in the UK has not been defined. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different floor types on the emission of ammonia, behaviour and welfare, physical performance and respiratory and enteric health of growing/finishing pigs. This involved three replications of five treatments: 1) UK fully-slatted, 2) UK fully–slatted with rubber matting over 50% of the slats, 3) UK fully–slatted with “structural” modifications which involved “paving” over 50% of the floor and partitioning off the slurry channel beneath the solid floor, 4) UK part–slatted, and 5) novel Dutch partslatted with UK pig stocking density. Groups of 10 pigs (balanced for gender) weighing approximately 40kg were on–test for 10 weeks.

The development of adverse behaviour in group–housed growing/ finishing pigs with intact tails was studied in a straw–flow housing system and in a part–slatted system with a commercial enrichment object. Food intake, body weight and behaviour were monitored over the finishing period, with tail biting outbreaks defined as an occasion where three or more pigs within a group had freshly damaged tails and tail biting behaviour was ongoing. Data from the two systems were analysed to identify tail–biting outbreaks and behavioural changes over time. Levels of pig manipulation were higher in the part–slatted system. Over time, pigs in both systems showed reduced interest in the enrichment provided, but not in each other. Despite the presence of the enrichment device, tail biting occurred in all groups in the part–slatted system, but only 1/12 groups in the straw–flow system. The amount of time occupied by manipulation of the enrichment provided was very significantly higher for straw than for the commercial object. Better design of enrichment strategies is therefore needed and should be based on species–relevant requirements.

A method for monitoring the reproductive status of female pigs, using non–invasive hormone analysis was developed. Plasma and saliva samples were collected from five reproductively active sows, and analysed for oestradiol–17ß and progesterone by immunoassay. The oestradiol–17ß content of the saliva samples was also measured using a novel biosensor–based method to demonstrate, in principle, the potential to develop an automated system for hormone analysis and interpretation. A hand–held saliva sampling device was designed and built for the purpose of this experiment. Plasma and saliva samples were collected for 3.5 months from four of the five sows. The vascular access port implanted into the fifth sow failed; therefore she could only be used for saliva collection. Saliva sampling was 100% successful for the first two weeks of the study. Over the entire sampling period, daily and twice weekly samples could be collected on 86% of the attempts made. Both progesterone and oestradiol–17ß were measured in saliva samples using conventional immunoassay techniques.

The feeding of high fibre diets to sows prior to ovulation has been shown to have beneficial effects on embryo viability, leading to a possible increase in piglet litter size. This trial was conducted to look at the effect of feeding sows a high fibre diet from mid lactation until breeding on subsequent litter size on a commercially run farm. The sows used were either Large White or Large White x Landrace in genotype and ranged from parity 1 to 7. The sows were allocated to receive either a cereal-based control diet (C), or a high fibre diet (HF) of similar specification but containing unmolassed sugar beet pulp (USBP) at a 20% inclusion rate during lactation and 40% from weaning to oestrus. The diets were fed from day 11 of lactation until oestrus. The sows were inseminated at oestrus and then fed a standard gestation diet until farrowing. The trial was conducted over a 3-month period and in total 198 sows received the HF diet with the rest of the sows over the 3-month period acting as controls (496) on the cereal-based diet. The effect of the diet on total litter size and the number of piglets born alive per sow was analysed in a general linear model (Minitab release 12.1). The combined results for both breed types showed that sows fed the HF diet had a significantly higher number of piglets born (12.37 ± 0.27 versus 11.41 ± 0.26, P<0.01) and a higher number of piglets born alive (11.47 ± 0.26 versus 10.85± 0.26, P<0.01) compared to 130 control fed sows matched for farrowing week. The difference in piglet litter size was still apparent when all the control sows farrowing over the 3 month trial period were included in the statistical analysis, with values of 12.47 ± 0.27 versus 11.79 ± 0.15 (P<0.05) for total number of piglets born and 11.77 ± 0.26 versus 11.16 ± 0.14 (P<0.05) for the number of piglets born alive for the HF and control diet respectively. Based on the results from this trial and previous studies, feeding a diet with a high content of USBP during late lactation and prior to insemination can increase the total number of piglets in the litter and the number of piglets born alive. This effect is less marked in crossbred sows with high baseline performance.

The objective of this experiment was to measure the effects of preand postnatal supplementation of sows with an algal source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the pre and post–weaning performance of their piglets. The experiment was of 2 x 2 factorial design, with DHA supplementation of the sow diet (3g DHA/kg feed) during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy and/or 4 weeks of lactation. There was a significant positive effect (P<0.05) of lactation DHA on weaning weight. Piglets from sows which had received DHA supplement in gestation were heavier throughout the post–weaning period than controls (P<0.05), as were piglets whose mothers received DHA in lactation (P<0.05). When age and weight at weaning were used as covariates in the model, the liveweight gain in week 1 and over the whole 26 day post–weaning period were significantly greater (P<0.05) for piglets from sows which had received DHA supplement in gestation. It is concluded that DHA supplementation of sow diets can improve piglet performance.

Post–Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) can result in mortality levels of up to 80% in weaned piglets, and Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been identified as one of the primary causative agents. Neutraceutical products, based on plant and herbal extracts and containing high levels of natural antioxidants may be beneficial in reducing stress on the piglets’ immune system by elevating blood antioxidant levels, and assisting with the piglets defence against PMWS. The aim of this experiment was to assess the effect of supplementation with neutraceutical products on the growth performance and antioxidant activity in liver and plasma of piglets. It was undertaken on a farm positive for PCV2, but where pigs were not showing clinical signs of PMWS. Groups of newly weaned pigs were offered one of three diets ad libitum for a period of 26 days, standard creep and starter/link control rations, or one of two experimental rations (including Neutraceutical–mix, N, or Lycopene, L), chosen for their potential to boost antioxidant activity. Growth performance and feed intake were monitored, and samples of blood and liver collected at slaughter (54 days of age) and analysed for antioxidant activity. Although L pigs ate significantly less feed during the creep period (P<0.05), there were relatively few performance differences between treatments. However total antioxidant activity in liver samples was significantly higher for the N treatment (P<0.001) and activity of plasma superoxide dismutase was significantly higher in the L group. In conclusion, growth performance of weaned piglets following the addition of Neutraceutical supplements was similar to control groups, and there were significant increases in antioxidant activity of these animals. On the basis that increased levels of circulating blood antioxidants reduce stress on the piglets’ immune system, the results of the current study suggest that these supplements may be of benefit to piglets under immune stress, such as in clinical cases of PMWS.

Attention on food safety issues in the European Union has increased the focus on Salmonella control in the pig industry. The UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany are currently introducing Salmonella monitoring programmes, whereas Sweden and Denmark already have extensive Salmonella control programmes in place. Feed manufacturers and farmers have been faced with a dilemma. While pelleted feeds give superior growth rates and feed conversion over meals, ground feeds are known to promote a better gut environment, especially when it comes to reducing the levels of Salmonella in the gut. New Danish research points to a solution. By incorporating a proportion of coarsely ground material in a pellet along with Formi®, it is possible to both reduce Salmonella and optimise gut health and performance.