Economic impact of PRRSV infection

The following two examples illustrate the economic impact of an acute PRRS outbreak and the impact on a farm endemically infected with PRRSV.

Economic effect of an acute PRRS - PRDC outbreak

A large pig unit, rearing almost 400,000 pigs a year, experienced a PRRS outbreak followed by PRDC syndrome. The outbreak created serious damage in all the existing pig categories.

The economic effect of this PRRS - PRDC outbreak was calculated as loss of 17.02 US$ / mating sow / year (Gntanu et al. 2002).

Economic effect of endemic PRRSV infection

On a farm endemically infected with PRRSV, the clinical effect of post-weaning PRRS was:

• increased mortality (1.9 to 10.2%)
• reduced average daily gain (0.38 to 0.26 kg)
• increased treatment cost per pig (US$ 1.77 to 1.91)
• reduced feed efficiency (1.77 to 1.91 kg feed per kg gain)

(Dee S. et al. 1997)

More studies

Many studies have been performed to evaluate the costs of a PRRS outbreak; most deal with an acute outbreak in a breeding herd. For further studies, see the links in the left-hand menu.

Vaccination against PRRS protects against economic loss

All of the above studies show that infection with PRRSV can have a significant financial impact on both the sow and the finishing herd.

Rough financial calculations on the results of the field efficacy trials in Greece and Poland show that, in these herds, it pays to vaccinate against PRRS.