For the second year in a row, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) held an educational meeting for members at World Pork Expo to assess progress in the fight against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), reports Tom Burkgren, DVM, AASV executive director.
More than 100 attendees listened to updates on several research projects funded by the National Pork Board and the Agriculture Department on herd biosecurity, viral spread, diagnostics/monitoring and regional elimination.
A presentation on PRRS virus planned exposure provided insight into needed documentation, quality control issues and legal precautions, he says. Practitioners were urged to take precautions to inform and educate clients on the benefits and risks of planned exposure.
Attendees were challenged to consider PRRS eradication on a regional and eventually a national basis, due to the cost of living with the virus, notes Burkgren.
Successful regional eradication will depend on location and environment of production sites, producer cooperation, adequate tools and funding.
Many AASV members at the meeting expressed confidence that swine veterinarians have the knowledge and experience to start a PRRS regional eradication program.
Consensus was that sustainability is a key element to any PRRS eradication effort whether on a farm, regionally or nationally, says Burkgren.