The burden of disease in Swiss pork production

Disease negatively affects the health and productivity of animals, reducing the efficiency and profitability of the livestock sector. Quantifying disease burden in livestock is important to allow appropriate prioritization of diseases and resource allocation in animal health. Although previous studies have quantified costs due to single causes of disease, a consistent approach to estimating total disease costs and comparing them across a wide range of livestock species and production systems was lacking. The development of the Animal Health Loss Envelope (AHLE) metric within the Global Burden of Animals Diseases (GBADs) programme aimed to address these gaps. In this study, we estimate the impacts of improved health status on pig demographics, and estimate the burden due to all causes of disease (the AHLE) for Swiss pork production.

Using data from the industry, literature and national databases, a demographic model for Swiss pork production was developed, and gross margin analysis was conducted for production scenarios, including current average conditions in Switzerland, and a simulated, disease-free, Ideal scenario.

We estimated that in absence of disease, 41% fewer sows, 3.5% fewer weaned piglets, and 1.5% fewer reared piglets would be required to produce the same number of slaughter pigs compared to current average production. Gross margins were estimated at CHF 469 per breeding sow and CHF 18 per slaughter pig produced under current average production (CHF1: US$1.25). In the absence of disease, gross margins were predicted to increase by CHF 1,856 per sow and CHF 29 per slaughter pig, compared to current average production. Total population AHLE was valued at CHF 461 million, with CHF 187 million attributable to breeding/rearing and CHF 274 million attributable to fattening.

These results support that disease significantly impacts production efficiency in Swiss pork, with possible environmental knock-on effects (e.g., through increased feed-demand and farm waste production), and animal welfare impacts. The total population burden of disease estimated here, equal to around half of the total production value of Swiss pork, is significant. Further research should focus on attribution of disease burden to individual causes, framed within this overall AHLE estimate, allowing prioritization of diseases for management and control.