From rising production costs to animal care, there are constant challenges the pork industry has to overcome. This includes mitigating the presence of Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS), which can have devastating effects on production costs and animal health.
Over the last decade, there has been a strong push to eliminate PRRS in North America because the disease is costly, even in perceived mild viral strains. However, control and elimination is often difficult, especially in hog-dense areas, as proximity to neighbours increases the threat of reintroduction.
To break the disease cycle, the producer has to physically separate the animals from the infected barn. This requires considerable time and financial investment by each producer wanting to achieve PRRS-free status.
Dr. Frank Marshall recently led a project that worked with hog farms in three adjoining counties (Westlock, Barrhead and Sturgeon) to attain PRRS eradication without depopulating the sow herd, therefore demonstrating that eradication is possible regionally. The project also provides the framework towards potentially achieving provincial PRRS-free status. Although there is a lot of work in achieving and maintaining that status, there are premium market opportunities for PRRS-free pig production.
Among other reasons, that potential inspired the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) to partner with Dr. Marshall to help ease the off-site costs associated with this project. For Dr. Susan Novak, ALMA’s Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, one of the project’s biggest strengths is that it required full participation from the counties versus a voluntary procedure.
After a risk assessment and herd seroprofiling was conducted on each participating farm, Dr. Marshall’s team found there were 13 PRRS-positive farms in these counties. From there, the team helped the producers implement the necessary strategies to improve overall herd health.
The team also considered other swine diseases, including monitoring the presence and effects of multiple strains of swine influenza to assist an ALMA-supported project led by Dr. Susan Detmer. They found that the PRRS eradication process helped to eliminate endemic swine influenza in affected herds. The Detmer project also demonstrates that western Canadian strains of swine influenza are unique to our region of North America. That discovery will help to streamline treatment, as the research team noted that autogenous vaccines provided better results than any available commercial vaccines.
“We are thrilled with our results and that our work can be used to further the research of others,” said Dr. Marshall. “This project enhanced our knowledge of PRRS and other notable swine diseases and resulted in on-farm elimination. Thanks to their co-operation, the producers have a PRRS-free farm and they are starting to realize the benefits.”
That sentiment is echoed by Dan Majeau, one of the producers involved with the project. During his time working with Dr. Marshall’s team, Majeau’s farm became PRRS-free and eliminated the presence of two other diseases. “It is a big boost to our farm to have this kind of support, as operations are running smoother than before,” he said. “This project provided us with economic promise and opens our farm to new market opportunities. We can’t thank Dr. Marshall’s team enough.” •
