The Financial Impact of PRRS Virus

• PRRS virus infection can result in financial losses due to increased death loss, poor reproductive performance, an increased significance of other diseases, increased use of vaccines and medications, and increased diagnostic costs. • Acute outbreaks in breeding herds have been estimated to be around $250 per sow with some estimates as high as $302 per sow. • Costs associated with persistent infections in breeding herds or growing pig herds are much more difficult to quantify. Some authors have estimated the costs to range from $6.25 to $15.25 per pig. • An increase in the significance of other swine pathogens on a farm after a PRRS outbreak can represent an enormous cost to the producer. • It is typical for producers to spend more money on diagnostic testing and herd monitoring after their herd becomes infected with PRRS virus. This diagnostic work is often necessary in order to develop comprehensive control or eradication strategies. • Partial budget analysis can provide a simple method for estimating the cost of the disease on a farm and help to justify the amount of money that can be spent to develop control and eradication strategies.