Some aspects of extra iron supply in veal calf fattening

Extra iron (5 ppm) in a normal commercial milk replacer given from the end of the sixth week until the end of the sixteenth week of the fattening period influenced food conversion positively without a loss in meat quality. Even when the extra iron was given to the end of the fattening period there was no perceptible improvement of the haematological status of the calf, though liver iron concentration was increased. During all the experiments no stainable iron could be found in bone marrow smears. Iron and copper concentration measured in liver biopsies appeared to give reliable information about, respectively, iron and copper status of the veal calf. In relation to the colour of the meat at slaughter the blood haemoglobin concentration during the fattening period was found to be the most reliable parameter.     

Effects of different iron contents in the milk replacer on the development of iron deficiency anaemia in veal calves.

The effect of different iron concentrations in the milk replacer on the development of iron deficiency anaemia during a fattening period of 28 weeks was studied in three groups of 14 calves. The iron contents in the milk replacer differed during the first seven weeks: 60, 100 and 150 mg Fe/kg in groups A, B and C, respectively. In all three groups blood haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, plasma iron concentration and saturation decreased during the fattening period, whereas the total iron-binding capacity increased. At week 7, liver iron concentrations were high with a large individual variation [A: 201 (61-706), B: 99 (47-129), C: 296 (77-1572) micrograms/g dry matter]. During the fattening period, liver iron concentrations decreased, with the lowest values at week 25 [A: 54 (34-82), B: 55 (44-83), C: 57 (42-79) micrograms/g dry matter]. Muscle iron concentrations decreased between week 7 and 19. Except plasma iron and saturation in group C, no differences in haematological and tissue iron variables were found throughout the fattening period in spite of different iron contents in the milk replacer during the first seven weeks.     

The provision of solid feeds to veal calves: I. Growth performance, forestomach development, and carcass and meat quality

Growth performance, forestomach development, and carcass and meat quality of veal calves fed a milk replacer diet (Control) were compared to those obtained from calves fed the same liquid diet plus 250 g x calf(-1) x d(-1) of dried beet pulp or wheat straw. Three groups of 46 Polish Friesian calves, balanced according to initial BW, were assigned to the three dietary treatments in a fattening trial, which lasted 160 d. The provision of either solid feed did not affect the milk replacer intake. However, calves' ADG was increased (P < 0.01) only by feeding the beet pulp diet. The administration of both solid feeds improved calves' health status; calves fed solid feeds required fewer iron treatments for low hemoglobin and needed less medical treatments for respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. In comparison to the Control calves, the provision of wheat straw and beet pulp increased iron intake throughout the fattening period by 41 and 130%, respectively. However, only calves fed beet pulp showed higher levels of hemoglobin and plasma iron concentrations (P < 0.05), whereas the same blood parameters were similar between Control calves and those fed wheat straw. At slaughter, both solid feeds led to empty forestomach weights heavier than those of Controls without reducing dressing percentage. The reticulorumen was heaviest in calves fed beet pulp, whereas wheat straw promoted omasal development. The administration of beet pulp resulted in a better carcass conformation than did the Control diet or wheat straw, but it had a detrimental effect on carcass color, which was graded as the darkest (P < 0.001). Consistent with this result, meat color of calves fed beet pulp was darker than that of Control calves and those fed wheat straw, because of the higher hematin concentration measured at the muscle level. No differences in carcass and meat color were observed between Control calves and calves fed wheat straw. The administration of solid feeds for welfare purposes does not always prevent the production of veal meat fulfilling the color standards required by the market. There is not a straight-forward relationship between a solid feed's iron content and the "redness" of veal meat, which should be related to the capability of the calves to use the iron provided by the roughage.     

新疆褐牛舍饲育肥周岁出栏试验

[目的]本试验旨在研究新疆褐牛舍饲育肥周岁出栏的效果。[方法]选择4～5月龄新疆褐牛20头作为试验对象,随机分为2组,在相同日粮、不同舍饲方式条件下进行日增重、屠宰性能效果对比试验。[结果]表明:舍饲育肥新疆褐牛犊牛有较高日增重和较高屠宰率;不同舍饲方式对新疆褐牛犊牛育肥增重效果差异不显著。[结论]说明舍饲育肥新疆褐牛犊牛具有较好的日增重效果,可进行示范推广。     

Risk factors for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica shedding by market-age pigs in French farrow-to-finish herds

Fattening-pigs carriers of Salmonella enterica are believed to be a main source of carcass and pork contamination at the later steps of the meat process. We did a prospective study in 2000-2001 in 105 French farrow-to-finish pig farms. In each farm, a batch of contemporary fattening pigs housed in the same room was followed throughout the fattening period. Salmonella shedding was assessed on environmental samples of faecal material (taken by means of pairs of gauze socks) analysed by classical bacteriological methods. 36.2% of the batches studied had at least one contaminated environmental sample and therefore were classified as Salmonella-shedding batches. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between managerial and hygiene practices and health status and the shedding risk at the end of the finishing period. Emptying the pit below the slatted floor after the previous batch of sows was removed and frequent removal of sow dung during the lactation period were protective. Presence of residual Salmonella contamination of the floor and pen partitions in the fattening rooms before loading the growing pigs also was a risk factor. The risk for Salmonella shedding at the end of the fattening period was increased when dry feed (versus wet feed) was provided during the fattening period. Lastly, Lawsonia intracellularis seroconversion and PRRSV seropositivity during the fattening period also was a risk factor for Salmonella shedding.     

饲粮添加氨基酸锌对育肥羊屠宰性能、肉品质及血液和组织中微量元素含量的影响

本试验旨在研究氨基酸锌对育肥羊屠宰性能、肉品质及血液和组织中微量元素含量的影响.选择4月龄、体重为(29.00±0.61)kg的健康滩湖杂F1代公羊48只,随机分为4组,每组12只.对照组饲粮锌含量为52.80 mg/kg(硫酸锌),其中不含硫酸锌的锌含量为18.02 mg/kg,试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组、试验Ⅲ组试验饲粮锌...     

Vaccination of pigs against Aujeszky's disease by the intradermal route using live attenuated and inactivated virus vaccines.

Inactivated and live Aujeszky's disease virus vaccines were administered intradermally using a special device without a needle. The 88 pigs were vaccinated at the beginning of the fattening period, both under experimental conditions and in commercial herds. All the pigs were challenged at the end of the fattening period in isolation units. The same vaccines were also injected intramuscularly. Vaccination by the intradermal route induced good protection, similar to that conferred with live virus vaccine injected intramuscularly. The inactivated virus vaccine was not as effective when it was injected by the intradermal route. In animals vaccinated intradermally, there were no local lesions in the meat, but very small nodules were found in the dermis; these do not affect carcass quality. The effects of challenge exposure depended on the initial health of the animals, and a synthetic value (delta G) was used to interpret the data. In fattening pigs, intradermal vaccination required less animal constraint than intramuscular injection; administration could be verified by the presence of a papule at the site of inoculation, and pigs could be vaccinated while they were feeding. Injection without a needle also helps avoid bacterial contamination under farm conditions.     

Liver diseases of fattening bulls]

The authors report on occurrence, causes and diagnostics of liver affections observed in fattening bulls in Ukrainia between 1982 and 1988. For this purpose, 2747 bulls in 10 fattening plants had been controlled clinically once during the last month of their final fattening period (lasting, according to the feeding schedule, from the 4th until the 12th, or from the 6th until the 18th month of life), and 1318 of them were controlled for eventual hepatic lesions at slaughter. The authors found an increase in liver affections during the final fattening period. The type of lesion found preferentially in the different fattening plants showed a certain correlation with feeding used in these: The prevalence of liver lesions (i.e. in 87.2% of the animals controlled) were found in fattening bulls fed cereal branstraw-pellets; among these, liver abscesses were most frequent (i.e. 55.2% of all lesions observed in this group). Steatosis of the liver was prevalent in fattening bulls receiving eating offalls (i.e. 82.7% of all lesions found in that group), whereas liver cirrhosis was prevalent in fattening bulls fed with sugar beet chips-silage. In Holstein-bulls, liver lesions were about double as frequent as in Fleckvieh-bulls (i.e. 37.3 and 16.7% of the livers controlled were found involved, respectively). Diagnostical value of several clinical parameters controlled is discussed (i.e. size and sensitivity of liver percussion field, activity of SDH, LDH, AST and ALT in serum, serum concentration of vitamin A, D3-25 and E, concentration of Vitamin A in liver, and concentration of cholic acids and of their glucoconjugates in bile).     

Plasma leptin, feed intake and body fat accumulation in fattening castrated male and female lambs

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between changes in plasma leptin concentration and feed intake or bodyweight in female and castrated male lambs with fattening. Four female and four castrated male lambs were used and were fed roughage and concentrate supplemented with beef tallow ad libitum for 28 weeks. Although the feed intake and bodyweight increased with fattening in both the castrated male and female lambs, they decreased at 24–28 weeks in the female lambs. At the end of fattening, the crude fat content in the muscle (loin) of the female lambs was significantly higher than in the castrated male lambs (P < 0.05), while the crude protein content in the loin and fillet meat was higher in the castrated male than in the female lambs (P < 0.05). The plasma leptin concentration showed high values at a later stage of fattening (P < 0.05). In the female lambs the plasma insulin concentration increased at a later stage of fattening (P < 0.05) and was positively correlated (P < 0.0001, r = 0.78) with plasma leptin. Plasma metabolites (glucose, nonesterified fatty acid, total cholesterol and triglyceride) concentrations were also changed with fattening. Plasma total cholesterol was positively related to plasma leptin, more closely in the female than in the castrated male lambs (in females, r = 0.63, P < 0.001; in males, r = 0.38, P < 0.01). The accumulation of body fat was probably accelerated by the consumption of a lot of concentrate feed supplemented with treated beef tallow and by the stimulation of insulin with fattening. Consequently, the plasma leptin concentration increased, especially toward the end of the fattening period. The decrease in feed intake and bodyweight after the 24th week of fattening was possibly caused by an increase in leptin that is involved in the homeostatic regulation of body energy by regulating appetite.     

Feeding of Ferrets with the Raw Meat and Liver of Chickens Chronically Poisoned with Toxic Groundnut Meal

Chickens were fed a ration containing 30 per cent of toxic groundnut meal for up to six weeks. The concentration of aflatoxin (toxic metabolites of Aspergillus flavus) in the above ration was 3.06 p.p.m. At the end of 2nd, 4th or 6th week the birds were killed. The meat was removed from the bones and put through a meat grinder. The livers of three groups were pooled together. Three control groups of birds kept on commercial pellets were treated similarly.

Female ferrets, two years of age, were used in the present study. They were divided into four groups. The first three groups were given for one month meat from chickens fed the toxic ration for 2, 4, and 6 weeks, respectively. Each of these three groups contained one control ferret that was fed with the meat of chickens fed a commercial ration for a similar period of time. One half of the 4th group was fed pooled liver from intoxicated birds and one half was fed liver from control birds.

No significant changes in the ferret tissues were observed as a consequence of feeding them with the meat or liver from the chickens chronically poisoned with toxic groundnut meal.

     

Risk based meat hygiene--examples on food chain information and visual meat inspection

The Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 refers in particularly to a broad spectrum of official supervision of products of animal origin. The supervision should be based on the most current relevant information which is available. The proposal presented includes forms for implementation of Food Chain Information (FCI) as laid down in the Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 as well as suggestions for the implementation of the visual inspection and criteria for a practical approach to assist the competent authority and the business operator. These suggestions are summarised in two forms including the FCI and practical information from the farm of origin as well as from the slaughterhouse needed for the competent authority to permit the visual meat inspection of fattening pigs. The requested information from the farm level include i.e. an animal loss rate during the fattening period and diagnostic findings of carcasses and respectively on organs of the animals during meat inspection procedure. The evaluation of findings in liver and pleura at the slaughterhouse level indicate a correlation to the general health status of the fattening conditions at farm level. The criteria developed are in principle suited for a "gold standard" of the health status of fattening pigs and the criteria may serve as practical implementation of the term Good Farming Practice in relation to consumer protection. Only for fattening pigs deriving from farms fulfilling this "gold standard" the visual meat inspection shall be permitted. It is proposed to integrate the two forms for FCI and additional information for authorisation of visual meat inspection for fattening pigs in the working document of the DG SANCO titled "Commission regulation of laying down specific rules on official controls for the inspection of meat" (SANCO/2696/2006).     

湖羊与澳湖F1代羔羊短期育肥效果的比较

本研究以湖羊和澳湖F1代羔羊(澳洲白绵羊♂ × 湖羊♀)为研究对象,对其生长性能、屠宰性能、体组成和肌肉品质进行比较分析,综合评估湖羊与澳湖F1代羔羊育肥效果.随机选择湖羊和澳湖杂交F1代羔羊各61只,在相同的饲养环境和日粮下进行育肥和性能测定.饲养试验结束后立即屠宰,对试验羊只的生长性能、屠宰性能、体组成和肌肉品质等指标进行系统测定和比较.结果显示,湖羊和澳湖F1羔羊育肥期初始体重(0 d)、末期体重(60 d)无显著差异(P>0.05),全期平均日增重(ADG)、平均日采食量(ADFI)无显著差异(P>0.05),但在育肥前期(0～20 d)湖羊的ADG极显著高于澳湖F1代羔羊(P<0.01),而在育肥中期(20～40 d)和后期(40～60 d)澳湖F1代羔羊的ADG均显著高于湖羊(P<0.05).澳湖F1代羔羊的胴体胸围、臀围和眼肌面积显著大于湖羊(P<0.05).澳湖F1代羔羊的心脏重、肝脏重、肺脏重及其相对重(宰前活重)均极显著高于湖羊(P<0.01),但皮毛重、肾周脂重、肠系膜重、尾脂重及其相对重(宰前活重)均极显著低于湖羊羔羊(P<0.01).湖羊的熟肉率和屠宰结束后45 min肌肉pH极显著大于澳湖F1代羔羊(P<0.01),但澳湖F1代羔羊肌肉失水率、屠宰结束后24 h肉色b*2值和l*2值极显著优于湖羊(P<0.05).总体上来看,湖羊早期生长发育较快,但澳湖F1代羔羊后期生长潜力较大,且胴体性能优于湖羊,胴体脂肪沉积比湖羊少,肉用性能明显提高.     

Bioavailability to chicks of selenium in barley, oats and meat meal

Day-old White Leghorn chicks deficient in selenium (Se) were fed a low Se basal diet (containing adequate level of vitamin E) for 2 weeks depletion period before they were given the experimental diets containing different levels of Se for 4 weeks. Dietary treatments contained 0.03, 0.06, 0.09 or 0.12 mg Se/kg as sodium selenite, barley, oats, meat meal or their extracted counterparts. Plasma GSH-Px activity was observed at weekly intervals, while the Se concentration of plasma and liver were determined at the end of the study. The biological availability of Se in the test ingredients was measured by the induction of plasma GSH-Px activity. In comparison to sodium selenite (100 %) it was: 77 % for barley, 80 % for extracted barley, 37 % for oats, 62 % for extracted oats, 20 % for meat meal, and 26 % for extracted meat meal. Using the retention of Se in plasma as a criterion, the following biological availability of Se was observed: barley 151 %; extracted barley 102 %; oats 90 %; extracted oats 107 %; meat meal 40 %; and extracted meat meal 47 %. Similarly, the efficiency of the test ingredients in increasing the Se concentration in liver was: barley 82 %; extracted barley 90 %; oats 67 %; extracted oats 98 %; meat meal 26 %; and extracted meat meal 31 %. The greater biopotency of the natural Se sources for increasing the Se concentration of the chick tissues than for inducing the plasma GSH-Px activity in comparison to sodium selenite, indicated that proportionally less amounts of the Se retained in the chick plasma from the natural sources were incorporated into the metabolic active form of Se, i.e., GSH-Px. Therefore, the plasma GSH-Px activity was suggested as the more reliable criterion to be used for the evaluation of the bioavailability of Se.     

Hepatic lipidosis: Liver characteristics and acute phase proteins in affected turkeys

The hepatic lipidosis (HL) in fattening turkeys is a disease has been known for a long time, but the cause and pathogenesis is still not clarified. A recent study reported unexplained high levels of iron in liver tissue of fattening turkeys suffering from HL. In this study, the iron status, possible infectious or inflammatory influences in form of an acute phase reaction and the analysis of fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of turkeys affected by HL were examined. Three cases of HL on three different fattening turkey farms were investigated during the outbreak of the disease. Clinically affected and non-affected animals were subjected to a pathological examination, where the diagnosis HL or non-affected was made. In total, 70 birds were examined (40 with HL, 30 without HL) and blood and liver samples were taken. Additionally, samples from 15 slaughtered birds were taken as a further control group. In liver tissue, the iron content and the content of long-chain fatty acids were determined; in blood samples, ferritin and transferrin were measured. The iron content in liver tissue was more than three times higher for animals with HL than among non-affected animals and the control group. The transferrin levels were lowest for animals with HL, highest in the control group and in between for non-affected animals. The fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of affected animals indicated a shift from polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the control group and the non-affected animals. Overall, the non-affected animals of a flock affected by HL were similar to the healthy animals of the abattoir. The low acute phase protein levels for animals with HL together with high iron contents could indicate a previous malnutrition/starvation period and/or severe liver damage for those animals suffering from HL.     

Effect of catechins on fattening performance,meat quality,some antioxidant and blood parameters and fattening costs in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of green tea (Camellia sinensis) catechins in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

2. Quail were fed with a basal diet, and the treatment groups were fed on the basal diet with 1.25 or 2.50 g/kg catechin supplementation for 30 d.

3. Fattening performance and meat quality of the quail were estimated. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and some serum biochemical parameters were measured.

4. The results showed that catechin supplementation did not affect live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass dressing or the nutrient composition of breast and thigh meats. The water holding capacity (WHC) of breast meat was increased in the 2.50 g/kg catechin treatment. Catechin supplementation increased the serum TAS, but decreased plasma MDA and liver MDA concentration as well as serum glucose and total cholesterol levels. Serum triglyceride and total protein levels were not affected by catechin supplementation.

5. In conclusion, catechins have effective antioxidant hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic properties, as well as having the potential to increase meat quality in fattening quail. On the other hand, catechin supplementation did not have any negative effect on the fattening performance, meat nutrient composition and fattening costs in fattening quail.

     

Behaviour and welfare of fattening lambs supplemented with varying sizes and types of straw

The aim was to evaluate the effect of size (long or chopped wheat straw), type (barley or wheat) and presence/absence (1 week) of straw supplementation on behaviour and welfare of fattening lambs. Sixteen lambs (65 days) were individually housed to be used in two simultaneous experiments (8 lambs each) for 5 weeks of fattening. After a habituation period, they were offered straw that differed either in size (Experiment 1) or type (Experiment 2), which was followed by a week without straw and then reallocation of straw. Maintenance behaviours, play and stereotypies were analysed using video recording. Physiological stress responses were measured using blood samples taken at the end of the week without straw and after the reallocation of the straw. A preference test was performed during the last week. Concentrate and roughage consumption, average daily gain and conversion index were estimated. Lambs provided with long straw spent more time eating forage, playing and performed fewer stereotypies (Experiment 1). Lambs given wheat straw increased their play behaviour compared with those given barley straw, without affecting stereotypies (Experiment 2). When the straw was removed, lambs performed more behaviours associated with stress; however, this was not reflected in blood stress indicators. Lambs clearly preferred long straw over chopped straw, but no clear preference was observed between wheat and barley straw. The amount of forage intake was consistent with the time spent eating forage, but the amount of concentrate intake did not vary with eating concentrate behaviour, since the amount of concentrate intake was higher when the straw was removed, especially in Experiment 2. Our results show that size more than type of straw supplement impact the behaviour of lambs. Long straw reduces the stereotypies and increases play. This may improve the welfare and performance of fattening lambs, adding ethical value to a highly appreciated product.     

Thyroid function, metabolic indices and growth performance in pigs fed 00-rapeseed meal

Thyroid function and morphology, liver morphology, some metabolic indices, haematological parameters and growth performance of fattening pigs fed 00-rapeseed meal (00-RPM) were examined. The control group was fed on a standard diet containing 6% sunflower seed meal (SM) during the growing period and 8% during the finishing period. The first experimental group was fed a diet in which SM was replaced by equal (6% and 8%) amounts of 00-RPM. The second experimental group was fed with a higher (8% and 10%) amount of 00-RPM. There were no significant differences between the control and experimental groups in the serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thyroid gland and liver weights were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in both groups fed 00-RPM than in the group fed SM. The epithelium of the thyroid gland was cuboidal or columnar and the follicular area was moderately enlarged in pigs fed 00-RPM. Marked changes in liver histology were not observed. The 00-RPM diet increased (P < 0.01) the serum values of total proteins in the first fattening period. At the end of fattening both groups fed 00-RPM had higher (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) concentrations of plasma glucose than the control group. The inclusion of 10% of 00-RPM during the finishing period increased (P < 0.05) the serum values of insulin. Daily weight gain during the growing and the finishing period was higher (P < 0.05) in the experimental groups than in the control group. The results suggest that 6-10% 00-RPM can be used as a protein source in the diet of fattening pigs without poisonous side effects.     

The vitamin A requirement of fattening cairina

In two experiments with 420 male cairina (Cairina moschata domestica L.) semisynthetic rations were used with vitamin A supplements between 0 and 10,000IU per kg feed. Clinical deficiency symptoms, such as coordination disturbances or horny growths at the oesophagus glands, could be prevented in the starter period up to 3rd week with 500IU vitamin A and in the fattening period between the 4th and 10th/11th weeks with a 250IU vitamin A supplement per kg feed. Cairina achieved an optimal fattening performance under the conditions tested with 1,000 IU in the starter period and with 500 IU vitamin A supplement in the fattening period. Under consideration of the vitamin A storage in the liver and a safety supplement of 4000 IU vitamin A per kg start feed (0-3 weeks) and 2,000 IU vitamin A per kg fattening feed (4-11 weeks) is suggested as requirement norm and mixed feed supplement.     

The provision of drinking water to veal calves for welfare purposes

Growth performance, behavior, physiology, forestomach development, abomasal lesions, and meat quality of veal calves fed a milk-replacer diet (No Water) were compared to those obtained from calves fed the same diet and provided with increasing amounts of drinking water (Water). Two groups of 69 Polish Friesian calves, balanced according to initial BW, were assigned to two water treatments in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement that provided solid feed in addition to the milk-replacer diet (No solid feed, 250 g x calf(-1) x d(-1) of wheat straw or the same amount of beet pulp), and the adoption of two housing systems (individual stall vs group pen). The fattening trial lasted 160 d, and calves received drinking water starting from the 2nd wk of the study. The amount of drinking water was progressively increased from 3 to 8 L x cal(-1) x d(-1). Although not dehydrated, as shown by hematocrit and Na, K, and total protein hemoconcentration, calves consumed almost all the offered amount of water throughout the fattening period. Therefore, the water provided by the milk replacer alone, which ranged between 6 to 16 L calf d(-1), was not sufficient to satisfy the need of the animal. Drinking water did not affect the calves' growth performance but it reduced nonnutritive oral behavior throughout the fattening period. Based on these results, drinking water did not cover a shortage in the calves' water requirement but it played a role in environmental enrichment. Health status was similar between treatments, although water provision reduced the episodes of feed refusal. The measurement of chronic stress by ACTH challenge showed that the administration of drinking water would be advisable when calves are fed with small amounts of solid feed for well-being. Feces consistency and animal cleanliness were not affected by drinking water. At slaughter, forestomach development was similar between treatments, and drinking water did not affect the number of calves showing rumen hair-balls and abomasal lesions. No differences in color and other meat quality traits were observed between Water and No Water calves. Despite the lack of direct effects on productive traits, when water was available, the calves drank it, and positive effects were noticed on their nonnutritive oral behaviors and chronic stress indicators.     

Usefulness of serological examinations in the analysis of Salmonella infections in pig herds

The development of the antibody concentration against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of S. Typhimurium und S. Choleraesuis in rearing pigs during the fattening period and in breeding sows of the corresponding age was recorded. The studies revealed the following results. Antibodies of isotypes IgG1 and IgG2 revealed a more pronounced specificity against the according Salmonella serovar than IgM antibodies. The calculated "antibody percent value" based on the total amount of Salmonella antibodies is mainly determined by the IgM antibodies in sera and meat juice, respectively. In fattening pigs a significant increase of antibodies against IgM and total Ig was observed between week 3 and 10 after beginning of the rearing period. In breeding pigs this increase was detectable already earlier. In only 3 out of 10 groups an increase of IgG1 and IgG2 was also seen. The detected significant increase of total Ig and IgM in the other groups might be the result of a less intensive exposure to salmonellas or it might be due to an increase of unspecific antibodies induced by other antigens. Serological investigations represent a valuable tool to record the intensity and development in time of the Salmonella exposure in pigs farms. Examination of total Ig is an appropriate method to detect pig herds with a high level of Salmonella exposure, for detailed epidemiological studies in pig farms the examination of antibody isotypes will give more comprehensive information.