It is no surprise to learn that PRRS has a measurable long-term impact on pork production and economics. A study by Pablo Valdes-Donoso and Andres Perez, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, shows that although the number of farms has decreased, and the number of animals and the level of specialization has increased within production premises; PRRS still has a lingering negative effect on weaned pig production for an unexpected long period of time.
Source: National Hog Farmer, January 15, 2017.
The swine industry has moved progressively into a vertical integration by concentrating several operations into single owners or by contractual relationships between producers. Those changes have contributed toward high productivity and control over production variables, but have also resulted in an increase in long-distance animal movements which may facilitate the spread of diseases, such as the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.
INSIGHTS: No different than transporting weaned cattle cross country for miles and hours, piglets weaned around 21 days of age suffer from the stresses of weaning, changes in environments and transport.
Tonisity Px, introduced last June at World Pork Expo, is showing excellent results in support of young piglets in the farrowing pen, as well as during weaning and transportation stresses, said Bill Barr, Tonisity’s director of sales, North America, during a discussion at the Iowa Pork Congress this week in Des Moines.