Resumption of production operations during the silent disposal period of African swine fever outbreaks: a case study

BACKGROUND: Batch production, a widely implemented production model in large-scale pig farms, was characterized by its long-term duration, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. Nevertheless, the recent occurrence of African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in China has necessitated the implementation of discreet mating operations within this model, leading to disruptions in production cycles and substantial indirect losses. CASE PRESENTATION: This study implemented a novel operational procedure, which involved the division of risk areas for zone management and allowed mating operations, in 12 farms experiencing ASF outbreaks. Another 12 farms were used as a control group, employing the old procedure. Subsequently, the prognoses of both the old and new procedures were calculated and analyzed. The findings indicate that the new method resulted in an enhanced retention rate and reduced non-productive days (NPD), without impacting the positive detection rate and disposal time. Consequently, this approach significantly mitigated economic losses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of the novel procedure in mitigating the indirect economic losses stemming from ASF outbreaks, through the reduction of NPD while maintaining retention rates and disposition days, has been substantiated. This methodology has demonstrated feasibility in extensive pig farming operations and exhibits promise for broader application.