[Inclusion of veterinarians in the structure of swine production]

German pig production is for the most part characterised by very differentiated structures. Features of these structures are, inter alia, herd size (a great number of small farms, especially in piglet production) as well as specialisation on piglet production on the one hand and pig fattening on the other, both with regional concentrations. In addition, contractually certified integrated systems in the form of animal hygienic units are not widely distributed. The particular structures of German pig production require a special animal health management as well as special measures of hygiene. The veterinarian are requested to develop adequate conceptions in co-operation with pig holding farms and breeding/production organizations and to apply them in practice: for an effective animal health provision, for a systematic supervision of the herds by veterinarians, for an effective system of controlling and warning. Special attention must be paid to animal transportation. Effective animal health care ist a component of quality production and must be taken into account as a factor of competitive trade in the future.