Pork (Continued from Pago D 2) • Step 2. Stabilize the breeding herd. The objective is to get all ani mals to the same level of immuni ty. That means introduction of gilt and boar replacements must stop for 4-S months. Plan ahead and bring in all replacements that are needed to cover the 4-S month interval. During that time, monitor the blood titers of specific sows each month. (Dr. Graybill believes that vaccination of the sows will enhance the stabilization of immunity.) • Step 3. Determine the herd profile. Test 30 sows (be sure to include replacement gilts) and 10 animals from each of the following groups: recently weaned (4 weeks), late nursery (8 weeks), and late finishing (S-6 months). If the herd profile matches the guideline below, you’re ready for nursery depopulation: Breeding herd: negative* 4-week-old pigs: nega tive* 8-10 week-old pigs: 60-100% positive* 5-6 month-old pigs: 25-50 percent positive. • Step 4. Depopulate the nursery. Once you’re certain there is no virus shedding in the breed ing herd, the nursery is ready for At Our Loaders!! Models 145 • 155 • 165 • 195 p.. AND FAMILY OF BACKHOES Model 1015 Digging Depth 7'6" Cat. I 3 Pt. Tractors 1000# Plus SKidstei Model 1025 Digging Depth 9'6" Cat. I, II Tractors 1200# Plus Skidstei Model 1035 Digging Depth 11’3" Cat. II Tractors 1700# Skidsteers R.S. BOLLINGER & SON. INC. Mounfvllle, PA 717-285-4538 BANGOR IMPLEMENT Bangor, PA 215-588-5924 ECKROTH BROS. FARM EQUIPMENT New Ringgold, PA 717-943-2131 Prose depopulation. Move all pigs off site to be finished. • Step 5. Clean up. Pump the pits and clean nursery with hot water (180 to 200 degrees F). Dis infect with formaldehyde-based product. Allow the wash and disin fectant water to remain in pits overnight. On day 2, pump the pits and repeat the washing and disin fection (this time with phenol based products). Allow the facility to sit empty from day 3 to 11. On day 12. pump the pits a third time, repeat washing and disinfection (with formaldehyde products). The nursery can be re-filled on day 14. For producers who can’t tol erate the 14-day down time, shor ter layovers have worked. In a field study on 34 farms involving 16,000 sows. Dr. Dee has documented improvements in both average daily gain and mor tality in the nursery stage. Of the 31 farms with weight gain records, only four showed no improvement in growth rate. Mortality was recorded on all 34 farms, and only two showed no improvement. Other suggestions, with or with out cleanup, that are important when dealing with PRRS: LOOK! -i > v WOODS - Dual mh'MtxmALLomYA WOODS - GANNON ... come in for a demonstration THOMAS POWER EQUIPMENT Avondale, PA 215-268-2181 • Fits Tractors Ranging from 11-60 Horsepower • Quik-D-Tach - Attaches to Tractor In Minutes PIPERSVILLE GARDEN CENTER Plpersvills, PA 215-766*0414 * Move no pigs between farrow ing or nursery rooms. Maintain all in-all-out at all costs. > During an outbreak, euthanize all weak newborn pigs and any poor-doing pigs that appear in the farrowing house or nursery. After the outbreak has passed, this prac tice is questionable. • Periodically evaluate antibio tic therapy for secondary infec tions. These treatments may be ineffective. Vaccine • Overview RespPRRS (Trademark) is currently the only commercial vaccine marketed in the U.S. It is produced by NOBL Labs and protects pigs up to 18 weeks of age against the respirat ory form of the disease. While the vaccine is used extralabel on sows in some farms, such use must be under veterinary supervision. Dr. Scott Dee also emphasizes that because diseases such as swine influenza mimic PRRS, a positive diagnosis should be made before vaccine is used. Also, it is not known how well the vaccine will protect pigs against various strains of the virus. • Safety Company Tests The vaccine has been demon strated safe at vaccine doses far • Perfect lor Light Duty Agricultural 6 Commercial Use • Available in Tractor Matching Colors For More Information Please Call Today! JUjT Quality, performance & versatility describe the Woodi-Du-AI family of backhoet. Multi function Control Valve design provides for a smooth operation. These backhocs are a proven leader In the agricultur al & commercial Indus tries. For more Informa tion, sec your Woods- Du-AI dealer. Ban NESLEY EQUIPMENT CO. .Pottstown, PA 215-469-6391 D.W. OGG EQUIPMENT CO. Frederick, MD 301-473-4250 Westminster, MD 410-848-34585 LincMttf Fjrrnlnfl, Saturday, Saptambf 9. 1995*1)3 exceeding those listed on the label In tests conducted by NOBL, pre viously unexposed pigs that are vaccinated did not transmit the vir us to n on-infected, non-vaccinated pigs in the same pen. Also, the vac cine virus did not revert to viru lence in either colostrum-deprived pigs, or pregnant sows in their third trimester. However, the com pany states that pregnant gilts and sows should not be vaccinated. • Effectiveness Company Tests—ln preliminary tests of the product, it was shown that vacci nation reduces the level and dura tion of viremia (virus in the blood) following challenge with field vir us. All test-pigs showed an immune response against PRRS within 21 days following vaccina tion, with most pigs developing antibodies between 8 and 14 days post vaccination. The same tests demonstrated that vaccinated pigs, after challenged with the virus, maintained normal weight gains, body temperatures and white blood counts. In contrast, non vaccinated pigs had fevers exceed ing 104 degrees F for several days, experienced a decrease in white blood count, and had weight gains that were slower than either vacci- w FISHER’S PAINTING & Ij FISHER’S PAINT OUTLET STORE QUALITY PAINTS @ REASONABLE PRICES tf*nuTl ■ ALL types of interior & EXTERIOR up J PAINTING ■ SANDBLASTING ■ ROOF COATING ■ RESTORATION & WATERPROOFING ON STONE & BRICK BUILDINGS HOUSES? - BARNS - FENCES - FACTORIES - ETC. Specialists In Sand Blastlng/Spray Painting Farm Buildings, Feed Mills, Pools, Tanks, Etc. With Aerial Equipment WE NOW REPAIR SPRA Y GUNS AND PUMPS ~1 4056 A Newport Rd., Kinzers, PA 17535 717-768-3239 - On Rt. 772 Across From Pequea Valley School •Brush, (Rpd Or Spray - WeU (Do It •Either •Way Small • Our (Men •Will (Do It M * >j; nates or non-challenged controls. • Effectiveness Field Study Results—Two hundred pigs from a 500-sow farm were included in the study. Half the pigs were vacci nated (2 ml IM in die neck at 4 weeks of age, following weaning at 3 weeks of age), while the other half were injected with a sterile diluent Average daily gain was improved in vaccinated pigs (.73 vs .63 Ib/day) as was mortality (0 percent vs 5 percent). Summary 1. PRRS is a viral disease that causes reproductive problems in sows and respiratory disease in growing pigs. 2. The best strategy for reducing losses associated with PRRS is to stop the transmission from positive to negative pigs. 3. The first step is to be sure that replacement gilts are immunized against the disease before entering the herd so that the immune status is stabilized in the breeding ani mals. This will improve the likeli hood of negative animals entering the farrowing house and improve the chances of producing negative pigs. Once that is accomplished, (Turn to Page D 4)