Division 2.1 The delineation of the population

The survey shall be carried out on holdings harbouring at least 80 % of the breeding pig population in a Member State. Preferentially holdings having 50 breeding pigs or more shall be sampled. However, if those holdings having 50 breeding pigs or more do not contain 80 % of the national herd of breeding pigs, then smaller holdings with less than 50 breeding pigs shall also be sampled.

Holdings with breeding pigs shall be classified either as ‘breeding holdings’ or as ‘production holdings’. Breeding holdings sell gilts and/or boars for breeding purposes. Typically, they sell 40 % or more of the gilts that they rear for breeding whilst the remainder are sold for slaughter. In contrast, production holdings mainly sell pigs for fattening or slaughter.

The Salmonella and MRSA prevalence must be measured separately in breeding holdings (Part 1 of the Salmonella and MRSA surveys) and in production holdings (Part 2 of the Salmonella and MRSA surveys), representing the herds as indicated in Figure 2, but excluding weaner to finisher herds.