'PSEUDORABIK'V HEADLINE UPDATE [ :J \xr.- A column to update hog producers on the Pennsylvania Pseudorabies Eradication Program. PSEUDORABIES SUCCESS STORIES Amy J. Nesselrodt Paul M. Pitcher Federal Veterinarians In this article, we will give case histories for several producers who became quarantined for pseudora bies and who. because of their commitment to the program, suc cessfully eliminated the infection from their herds. Producer A owns a 100-sow IS TOUR SOIL & CROP PROGRAM BALANCED TO BENEFIT YOUR LIVESTOCK? Totally Balanced Programs For: DAIRY, BEEF, SWINE, HORSES, SOIL, CROPS All Programs Are Totally Balanced Around Homegrown Feedstuffs And Soil Tests For Maximum Benefit To Your Livestock. (Qpi Symo-Life, Inc. |V>l Ln 3507 U 8 32 MUlerabarf. Ohio 44684 feeder pig producing herd. He chose not to vaccinate for pseudo rabies, even though several quar antined herds were within two miles of his confinement unit After one of his sows tested posi tive for pseudorabies at slaughter, a herd test showed that his herd had been exposed to pseudorabies vir us and he was quarantined. He began a herd plan, vaccinating his breeding herd three times a year. He increased his culling rate slightly, replacing old sows with purchased gilts. These new addi tions were isolated for 30 days and OPS LIVE STOCK SOIL PROFI TohphoiM (214) 183*2732 Ton Frat 1-800444-7122 (In OMo) ToU Froo 1-400-344-4482 (oubldt OMo) Fax (211) 183-3317 vaccinated twice before entering the breeding herd. A blood test done one year later showed that replacement gilts were holding negative. Two years after the herd was quarantined, a whole herd test was negative. After a second whole herd test two months later was negative, the herd was released from quarantine. Producer B experienced a severe outbreak of pseudorabies in his 80-sow, farrow-to-finish herd in late spring. Sows were off feed, pigs died in the farrowing room and nursery, grower pigs were off feed and several died, and signs of pneumonia were seen in the finish pigs. He began to vaccinate the breeding herd, boostering the sows prior to farrowing and the boars four times a year. He began vacci nating feeder pigs at 12 weeks of age. He continued to raise replace ment gilts in the continuous flow grow/finish building. Three years later, a random sample of the breeding herd tested negative. A few months later, he began testing to qualify for quaran tine removal. After three random herd tests were all negative, the herd was removed from quaran tine, four years after the outbreak. This producer had very little dis- ruption in his normal pig flow and was able to eliminate the infection from the herd using a sound vacci nation program and good manage ment to minimize stress. He recen tly retested his herd for pseudora bies and the results showed that the herd is still clean, one year after coming off quarantine. Producer C experienced an acute outbreak of pscudorabics in his large (450-sow) feeder pig pro ducing herd shortly after receiving new gilts. About 10 percent of the pigs in the farrowing rooms, sever al lambs, and a dog died from symptoms suggestive of pseudora bies. The lab confirmed this diag nosis in pigs showing signs of pseudorabies. Vaccination of the breeding stock was done two weeks after the first signs of pscudorabies were noticed. Vacci nation was repeated two weeks later and then every four months. Culling and replacement rates were increased to allow the herd to be completely turned over within a 12-month period of time. At the same time, farrowing rooms operated as all-in/all-out. Steps were taken to segregate older infected sows from young sows in “Efficiency is the Key To Profit” Lancaster Farmlrig, Saterdiy, M«y t, TW3-C9 the gestation bam. Several months after the out break, testing began to show that vaccination and management changes were preventing virus cir culation. Young sows were hold ing negative. A whole herd test done 17 months after the outbreak showed that only a few positive animals remained in the herd. After follow-up testing was nega tive, the herd was released from quarantine just 20 months after the original outbreak. These cases illustrate that it is possible to eliminate pseudorabics from a herd without interrupting production. Two of these produc ers chose to renew their genetics and rapidly roll their herds over, allowing them to eliminate pseudorabies within two years of the original outbreak. In the next installment of this series, we will report on the prog ress of several producers currently under quarantine and following herd plans for pseudorabies cleanup. MILK. IT DOES A BODY good: Hearth Products • Gas Grills • Casual Furniture 906 E Main St. (Rt. 322) Ephrata, PA 1 Block East of Rt. 222 (717) 733-4973 ___ H 1-800-642-0310 WlgP Mon., Tum., WM. 10 to 6 Thun., Fri. 10 to 8; Sat. 10 to 4 CUSTOM MADE FEED BINS FOR FARMS FEED MILLS • Made of 13 gauge Steel • All welded seams • Gravity Flow or Auger Free Estimates Also - Steel Roof Trusses for Buildings - Portable Hog Buildings - Bucket Elevators • Grain Augers Distributors - Flow Pipes & Accessories We Sell, Service & Install Ph: 717-345-3724 Fax: 717-345-2294 STOLIZFUS WELDING SHOP Owner - Samuel P. SfoKzfus RO 3, Box 331 Pine Grove, PA 17963
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