Baker offered guidelines about dealing with Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases/Porcine Circovirus Type 2 and other health issues in pork facilities. While economics encourage producers to get rid of the diseases, the rapidly changing nature of the RNA viruses can make that difficult.

"Functional biosecurity must be based on science," said Baker. "Included in that is knowing the status of replacements and health status of boars. Control of all segments of production is necessary. Co-mingling is never ever an option."

Parity segregation can add as much profit as $3 to $6 per pig.

Disinfecting, washing and drying trucks are important to prevent disease. One viable virus is all it takes to infect a sow with PRRS.

The virus can hide in floor cracks and hinges.

The PCV-2 virus is difficult to reproduce because it acts as though the virus requires a co-agent to trigger its existence. The mortality of the virus is high. Outbreaks generally begin the second or third week after placement and last four to six weeks. It is a systemic disease with multiple organs affected.

"Clinical signs of PCVAD are respiratory 68 percent of the time with wasting the next sign," Baker said. "Pigs just appear to quit eating."

Source: Agri News