Husbandry management, worm control practices and gastro-intestinal parasite infections of sows in pig-breeding farms in Münsterland, Germany.

A cross-sectional survey was performed on 144 farms randomly selected from 3 breeding organisations in Münsterland, Germany, to obtain representative data on husbandry management, worm control practices and their possible associations with gastro-intestinal parasite infections in sows. Straw bedding was provided in the majority of gestation units; lactating sows were frequently kept strawless. Pasturing of gilts and non-lactating sows were performed in 37% of the farms. Sows were treated with anthelmintics (mainly benzimidazoles, ivermectin or levamisole) in 98% of the farms. The proportions of farmers performing the 'targeted' (mainly prefarrowing) or 'non-targeted' treatment strategy (treatment of all animals several times per year) were similar. Piglets were anthelmintically dosed in only 19% of the farms. Patent infections of sows with Oesophagostomum spp., Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis and Eimeria spp. were detected in 79%, 7%, 8% and 29% of all the farms, respectively. Hyostrongylus rubidus infections were only found in farms with pasturing. The within-farm prevalences of both the strongylid and Eimeria infections were negatively correlated with the herd size but positively with the weaning age. Risk factors for strongylid infections were straw bedding in pens and pasturing. Pasturing was a risk factor for Eimeria infections too. There was a positive association between the time interval to last deworming of sows and strongylid egg counts. However, neither the treatment strategy nor the anthelmintic class used was associated with nematode infections. No relations were found between different cleaning methods in stables and endoparasite infections.