Further Evidence That Science-Based Biosecurity Provides Sustainable Prevention of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Infection and Improved Productivity in Swine Breeding Herds.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a globally significant pathogen of pigs. Preventing the entry of PRRSV into swine breeding herds enhances animal health and welfare. A recently published retrospective cohort study reported significant differences in PRRSV incidence risk between breeding herds that practiced Next Generation Biosecurity (NGB) COMPLETE, versus herds that practiced a partial approach (NGB INCOMPLETE) over a 2-year period.

Improvements in swine herd biosecurity reduce the incidence risk of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in breeding herds in the Midwestern United States.

Objective: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a significant disease of swine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether application of a comprehensive, science-based approach to breeding herd biosecurity, known as next-generation biosecurity (NGB), could reduce PRRS incidence risk across a large commercial production company.

Animals: Pigs (381,404 sows across 76 breeding herds).

An assessment of enhanced biosecurity interventions and their impact on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus outbreaks within a managed group of farrow-to-wean farms, 2020-2021.

Introduction: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been a challenge for the U.S. swine industry for over 30 years, costing producers more than $600 million annually through reproductive disease in sows and respiratory disease in growing pigs.

Will swine veterinarians lead by meeting the next-generation needs of our industry?

The US swine industry is currently challenged by the potential of transboundary animal disease (eg, African swine fever) entry to the national herd and the relentless pressures of domestic diseases (eg, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome). The task of the swine veterinarian is to biosecure both the national herd and their customers' local farms to mitigate these risks. This Viewpoint raises 4 questions that swine veterinarians, including practicing (private and corporate), industry, research, academic, and regulatory (state and federal) veterinarians who spend a portion of their time controlling, treating, preventing, or eradicating diseases of swine, must answer to meet the needs of their farms to compete globally and survive.