'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