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Vaccines prove effective in controlling PRRS in nursery pigs, according to studyA recently completed three-year study on vaccinating nursery pigs for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in a large commercial swine system showed that vaccination can significantly reduce mortality and improve pig performance in groups of pigs in PRRS-positive and mixed PRRS status nurseries. According to research study coordinator John Waddell, DVM, with the Sutton Veterinary Clinic, Sutton, Neb., the results help answer one of the major questions producers have about the effectiveness of vaccinating nursery pigs for PRRS. Due to its virulent nature and the number of strains of PRRS virus in the field, Waddell says that some producers have questioned the ability of PRRS vaccines to provide adequate protection in pigs in commercial production systems compared to results seen in the laboratory. In 2005, Waddell and researchers from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) compared the performance of pigs coming from mixed PRRS-status herds. This included PRRS-negative and PRRS-positive stable and unstable sow herds in a large commercial, three-site grow-finish system where average mortality was greater than nine percent. In 2005, Waddell and researchers from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) compared the performance of pigs coming from mixed PRRS-status herds. This included PRRS-negative and PRRS-positive stable and unstable sow herds in a large commercial, three-site grow-finish system where average mortality was greater than nine percent. In the 2005 study involving more than 600,000 pigs, weaned pigs from PRRS-positive herds were vaccinated with a modified-live virus vaccine soon after weaning at approximately 3 weeks of age. Mortality rates were compared to pre-vaccination performance in these PRRS-positive nurseries. Growth performance of vaccinated pigs also was compared to non-vaccinated pigs from PRRS-negative herds. As a result, nursery mortality rates from PRRS-positive/vaccinated nurseries were dramatically reduced and growth rates were improved, resulting in performance equal to the non-vaccinated PRRS-negative pigs. In 2006, all nursery pigs (513,797 from both PRRS-positive and PRRS-negative sow herds) were vaccinated for PRRS and mortality rates, average daily gain and feed efficiency were measured. The results revealed that the performance improvements achieved in 2005 were sustained through 2006. Just as importantly, vaccination of all nursery flows allowed much greater flexibility in pig flow management by permitting commingling of pigs from more sources. According to Waddell, this facilitated shorter nursery filling times and streamlined pig transportation logistics. 7/21/08 Date: 7/22/08 Advertisement
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