The Danish research into PRRS at pig farms is almost over. The virus is less spread than feared.
In Denmark, 65% of pig farms test negative for PRRS. That is the score at the beginning of this year of the screening to map the PRRS status, as part of the national control plan. At the beginning of this year, the status of 21.4% of the companies was not yet known. Of that percentage, 7% of the companies are screened. Some of the farms are also most likely empty, says veterinarian Björn Lorenzen of the Danish umbrella organization for Agriculture and Food Production (L&F).
Positively surprised
Denmark wants to have a picture of the PRRS status of all farms with more than ten sows or a hundred pigs. Last May, the status of 53% of the companies was known. This percentage is therefore 79 at the beginning of this year. Lorenzen says he is positively surprised with the outcome that no antibodies against PRRS have been found on two thirds of the farms. This percentage corresponds to the figures of companies participating in it national SPF program to monitor animal health.
Voluntary PRRS Control Plans
The first voluntary PRRS control plans are now underway in Denmark. Lorenzen says that the PRRS map is ready to track pig transport movements per region, including whether they are positive or negative animals. This interactive map is an important tool in the fight. The map indicates where pigs are located that could potentially infect others and where they remain.
At the beginning of this year, a regulation will come into effect requiring any farm with more than ten sows or one hundred pigs to have their PRRS status determined. This rule comes from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. Due to the elections and coalition formation in Denmark at the end of last year, the arrival of the regulation has been delayed, but it will certainly come, argues Lorenzen.
Significantly reduce PRRS infections
The Danish pig sector wants to significantly reduce the number of infections on pig farms. A plan was launched earlier last year to achieve that goal. The initiative for this comes from the pig sector itself, in collaboration with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. The latter organization is comparable to the Dutch NVWA.
