[The incidence of diseases of the lung and liver in slaughtered pigs as a criterion in the detection of herds in which the disease is a recurrent problem (author's transl)].

Diseases of the lung and liver in swine are two forms of disease which often result in considerable economic losses. They occur in pigs throughout the world. Studies in the Netherlands showed that from 40 to 50 per cent of the lungs and from 60 to 80 per cent of the livers were affected. In the Animal Health Service of the province of North Brabant, it was found to be possible to differentiate between pig-fattening farms and piggeries on these farms (a differentiation based on the severity of the disease) by recording the incidence of diseases of the lung and liver in slaughtered pigs. Ever since April 1, 1975, the number of cases of disease of the lung and liver among all slaughtered pigs (approximately 1,000,000 pigs per annum) are recorded in the slaughter-house of the Meat and Cattle Centre in Boxtel as a routine measure. The method of examination adopted in the slaughter-house is described. The results of investigations during the second, third and fourth quarters of 1975 are discussed. A total number of 653,540 pigs were studied. Severe disease of the lung was observed in 20.2 per cent of the swine. Of the livers, 13 per cent were severely affected and 3.3 per cent were entirely condemned. Pleurisy was found to be present in 3.1 per cent of the pigs.