The Value of the SPF Production

SPF farms are free of the most significant pathogens that negatively impact pig performance. These pathogens can lead to both clinical and subclinical symptoms. In some cases symptoms are subclinical, making it difficult to identify clear signs of disease. However, in this case, this can result in reduced performance indicators such as lower daily weight gain, poorer feed conversion efficiency, decreased batch uniformity, etc.

Specific pathogens and diseases excluded from SPF farms are depicted in Figure 1 and include:

• Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae
• Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae (APP)
• Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
• Progressive Atrophic Rhinitis, caused by Pasteurella Multocida type D that produces Dermonecrotoxin
• Dysentery, caused by Brachyspira Hyodystenteriae
• Mange, caused by Sarcoptes Scabiei
• Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED)

SPF farm production has notable differences and advantages compared to a Standard Health Status (SHS) farm, particularly in areas such as Animal Welfare, Antibiotic Consumption, Performance, Sustainability Standards, Breeding Selection and, of course, Costs, as described in Figure 2.

• Animal welfare : SPF farms ensure higher animal welfare by significantly reducing disease prevalence, comparing with SHS farms. This aligns with the World Organization for Animal Health’s (WOAH) “Five Freedoms” for animals under human control¹: Freedom from malnutrition, discomfort, disease, and distress while enabling natural behaviors.

• Antibiotics consumption : Lower disease incidence drastically reduces antibiotic consumption, mitigating the global health challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest global health challenges of our time, becoming the main cause of death by 2050². This also positions SPF farms as leaders in sustainable and responsible farming practice.

• Productive performance : Many diseases lead to decreased productivity due to clinical symptoms such as pain, fever, loss of appetite, or physical discomfort. In some instances, such as with Mycoplasma^3,4, performance declines are mainly a result of reduced daily gain (DG) and feed conversion (FC) in growing animals. In other cases, like with APP⁵ or Dysentery⁶, there is not only a drop in FC and DG but also an increase in mortality rates (Figure 3). For farms affected by PRRS, you will have the previous issues and also additional reproductive challenges, including abortions, repeated services, and lower farrowing rates.

• Sustainability : Improved feed conversion and growth rates significantly contribute to environmental sustainability. This means that less input, such as feed and water, is required to raise the same number of pigs. Additionally, the overall emissions —including nitrogen, phosphorus, ammonia, and other greenhouse gases — will be reduced, as illustrated in Figure 4.

• Breeding selection : One of the key aspects of breeding selection is identifying the best parents to achieve further genetic progress. By eliminating health-related limitations, SPF conditions enhance the correlation between genotype and phenotype. This improvement increases the accuracy of genetic selection and leads to better breeding outcomes.

• Production costs : The reduction of production costs is directly linked to improved productivity and the absence of diseases. Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) farms experience lower mortality rates, reduced reliance on medicines and vaccines (since they do not need to vaccinate against diseases they do not have), and better feed conversion rates, as well as higher daily weight gain compared to farms with standard health status. The direct costs associated with various diseases depend on factors such as the type of disease, the severity of clinical symptoms, and the impact on productivity. Some estimates of disease-related costs are presented in Figure 5.

The value of the SPF production is measured against a baseline of standard health status (SHS) farms. The value (in terms of profit) of the SPF production will depend on:

• Previous health status
• Previous productive performance
• Number of pathogens involved
• Presence of subclinical or clinical symptoms
• Performance improvement due to the new SPF status

There are some direct savings associated with not needing vaccines for PRRS, Mycoplasma, and APP due to SPF status. However, most of the savings and profits will come from variable factors. These include reductions in medicine consumption, improvements in feed conversion and daily weight gain, and decreases in mortality or culling rates. Ultimately, these factors contribute to a reduction in production costs, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Let’s estimate the value of SPF production based on the performance of growing farms in Spain⁷ (Figure 7): The key performance indicators include a feed conversion ratio of 2.48, a daily weight gain of 711 grams, a mortality rate of 5.9%, and a culling rate of 2%. The animals delivered to the slaughterhouse have an average weight of 70 kg.

With this performance, the average production cost is €1.51 per kilogram. However, if the SPF condition improves by 5%, the production cost decreases to €1.46, resulting in an additional profit of €5.60 per pig⁸. A 10% improvement would lower the cost further to €1.41 per kilogram and increase profits by €11.57 per pig compared to the average.

As highlighted in Figure 8, by examining the value of improvements in various parameters while keeping other factors constant, we can estimate the following direct profits per pig: a 100-gram improvement in feed conversion would yield an additional €3.55, a 100-gram increase in daily gain would bring €1.60, a 1% reduction in mortality would add €1.56, and a 1% decrease in culling and lights would generate around €0.26.

Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) swine farming marks a major advancement in achieving higher health standards, productivity, and profitability. SPF farms enhance animal welfare, reduce the use of antibiotics, and improve overall performance and sustainability. These advantages lead to concrete economic benefits, highlighting the importance of maintaining a high health status.

Achieving and maintaining SPF status requires strong and consistent biosecurity measures. This is where Hypor's biosecurity protocols play a key role. By implementing these protocols, producers can effectively prevent the introduction of pathogens, ensuring the long-term health and productivity of their herds. Hypor's comprehensive biosecurity approach includes implementing sanitary zones, controlling access, and establishing robust hygiene and disinfection protocols, along with rigorous health monitoring.

As demonstrated, SPF production is not merely a health standard, it is a pathway to a more resilient, productive, and sustainable future in swine farming.

1. World Organization of Animal Health. 1965. Animal Welfare Standards. The “Five Freedoms”.

2. UN high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance, Report of 2016.

3. Gayán, Sánchez, Lasa, Hernández and Casal. 2024. Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae Erradication: Analysis of Productive Parameters.

4. Marco et al. 2008. Reduction in Production Costs After an Eradication of Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae with Tylvalosin from a Sow Farm.

5. Vetoquinol. 2012. Control of Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae with Marbocyl, Field Trials.

6. Font. 2006. Economic Impact of Swine Dysentery on Spanish Farms.

7. SIP Consultors. Spanish Growing Results 2023.

8. MSD Animal Health-SIP. 2024. ROI Simulator of improvements in performance.