Are there areas of biosecurity that are more critical than others when fighting PRV spread?
Dr. Loula: Transportation and new animal introduction have to be the top areas of biosecurity. Frequently producers focus on slaughter pig transport and they take other risks with light pig transporter or off-grade pig transport. As veterinarians we really need to re-emphasize that the risk can be quite high and more than offset the cost. Dr. Mechler: We also need to reinforce with our producers that they don’t need to be sending pigs off the farm that can be vectors of contamination. This includes ruptured pigs that the sow barn guys want to keep alive and those poor-doing pigs they just want to keep alive and give to the neighbor down the road. I think those pigs are their biggest risk out there. We need to eliminate that practice and, if they are not a quality pig, euthanize them.
