The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) has accepted ownership of the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) PRRS risk assessment tool.

A BIVI team led by Dale Polson, DVM, senior manager of technical resources, developed the survey and benchmarking tool that evaluates risk factors associated with virus introduction and circulation on hog farms.

In accepting the gift, AASV President-Elect Daryl Olsen, DVM, explains that while the industry has enjoyed success in eliminating the PRRS virus from individual herds, production flows and even local areas, reinfection of those herds has presented a real challenge.

“By working through the PRRS risk assessment questionnaire with the producer, veterinarians can identify potential facility, management and animal factors that may increase the likelihood of virus introduction or the severity of disease,” he adds.

However, the risk factors identified in the risk assessment tool are not limited to the PRRS virus. Many of the lessons covered in the questionnaire can be applied to other disease introductions and reduce the severity of common domestic and newly emerging diseases as well.