Pig health is important in protecting the herd and the bottom line. Three threats to pigs include Brachyspira, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv). Brachyspira can be deadly and research is being done on its antibiotic resistnce to look at what drugs are effective against it. This will help veterinarians in choosing the dosage and drug, reduing mortality and it will help producers by reducing costs through lower mortalities and less drug treatments. PRRS costs the Canadian pork industry a large amount every year, but it is a difficult disease to understand as it spreads through the air, pigs, equipment and clothing. Sharing equipment and employees with other pig farms is one of the greatest vectors for this disease, along with truck movement. Biosecurity measures should be in place to prevent this disease from entering more barns. PEDv can be hard to prevent and it should be detected on the barn as soon as possible. A test that works to detect PRRS and porcine circovirus through DNA or RNA in a fecal or blood sample is being modified to detect PEDv as well. This device is currently $5000 and will likely become more affordable in time. It is significantly cheaper than standard lab tests so it is expected to pay itself off fairly quickly. It has results ready in a few hours instead of a few days which can help with disease response as well.
Swine Health Research Just as the Doctor Ordered (full article)
