After more than 30 years, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) remains one of the most complex health challenges in the swine industry. With annual costs now estimated at $1.2 billion,1 it’s clear that PRRSV is not going away quietly. In fact, recent trends suggest the virus is spreading into isolated areas and more quickly evolving.
At Pharmgate Animal Health, we’re focused on solutions that work. Here’s the latest updates on PRRSV and practical recommendations from Dr. Nicholas Lauterbach, DVM:
Know your herd health history
“The right protocol is going to be herd specific, region specific and farm specific,” said Dr. Lauterbach.
The recommendations for a sow farm that hasn’t broken in 15 years is going to look very different from that of a grower that breaks every 12-18 months, he points out. For either situation, Pharmgate veterinarians and field reps are available to talk through protocols and options.
Changing seasonality
“One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen since my early days in the field is the loss of seasonality,” Dr. Lauterbach observed. “We used to count on quiet summer months to reset, plan and focus on prevention. That window keeps shrinking.”
Last year, PRRSV didn’t let up until July and started creeping back in by August. That means producers and veterinarians need to be reviewing protocols constantly. There’s no longer a reliable “off-season.”
For producers, this means proven management strategies, including biosecurity and vaccination, are more important than ever.
Biosecurity protocols
Beefing up biosecurity is the first step. Between growing awareness of pathogen entry points and improvements in testing and filtrations systems, the industry has come a long way in preventing disease.
This includes:
- Monitoring people and supplies coming into the farm
- Establishing a robust testing plan for animals before entry or movement
- Cleaning and disinfecting trucks and trailers transporting animals and feed
- Disinfecting nursery and finishing barns between turns
- Investing in air filtration systems on sow farms to reduce aerosol spread of pathogens
It’s also important to explain the why behind biosecurity protocols. For staff to take it seriously, they need to understand the purpose and reasons behind practices and not just a checklist to complete.
Role of vaccination
PRRSV vaccination still holds a critical place as a frontline management tool, especially in hog-dense areas like the Midwest and North Carolina.
Most producers see real value in utilizing PRRSV vaccines, especially as part of a broader control strategy. That said, vaccine protocols don’t always look the same on paper as they do in the barn.
“One of the biggest takeaways from my time in production is that a full dose of PRRSV vaccine, delivered at the right time, makes a big difference,”says Dr. Lauterbach. “That might sound simple, but I’ve seen firsthand how often partial dosing happens. I get it, economics matter. But from a protection standpoint, partial dosing isn’t giving you the same return.”
What is the right time? For growing pigs, it’s as soon as they enter the nursery or wean-to-finish barn. This allows the pigs to develop immunity prior to a potential lateral PRRSV exposure. Proper vaccination is also more likely to happen when labor is available.
Consider this: If you’re vaccinating pigs three weeks post-placement, it typically takes an additional two to four weeks to develop that immune response. In hog dense areas, it is possible that in that five-to-seven-week window your pigs have already been exposed to lateral PRRSV pressure before the vaccine can protect them.
A look to the future
Predicting the future of PRRSV is challenging for many reasons, namely due to the persistent challenge, wide prevalence and emerging strains.
“This virus has made a lot of smart people look foolish,” Dr. Lauterbach said. “I have a lot of confidence in the future of the swine industry. We’re a group of proactive, motivated, forward-thinking people. There’s a lot of smart people working on PRRSV to understand how we manage it better, so we don’t just live with the impact that it has all the time, all year round. That gives me a lot of optimism.”
The team at Pharmgate continues to work on it. In addition to offering PRRSGard, a proven and reliable vaccine, Pharmgate conducts research projects to better understand management of the virus in different production scenarios.
Dr. Lauterbach also points to industry health monitoring programs like POMP through Iowa State University, as well as other industry programs such as the Swine Health Improvement Program, as other sources of optimism for the future of PRRSV management.
For more information on PRRSV or to evaluate your current protocols, contact the Pharmgate team to discuss options.
1 Holtkamp, D. Growing losses from PRRSV cost pork producers $1.2 billion per year, new study shows. Iowa State University News Service. https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2024/07/29/prrscost.
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