Another wave of PRRS is sweeping across North America. A new and more infectious strain of the virus is leading to high sow and piglet mortality across the US. There are reports that this 1-4-4 strain type is causing 20 to 35% of the growing pigs dying off and at an increasing rate.

Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS) is a viral disease in pigs costing pig producers in the EU and US only, an estimated $2.5 billion annually. PRSS negatively impacts reproduction in breeding animals and is a respiratory disease in pigs of any age. This can lead to breathing problems and deaths in young pigs and abortion in sows. First recognised in the USA in the mid 1980’s, it was then first identified in Europe in the early 90’s. Initially called “mystery swine disease”, it was subsequently named blue ear disease and then Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS).

Like many other viruses, new variants come along and are more devastating than the last. Vaccines to date have predominantly failed to provide full immunity and prevent the spread of the disease.

Tonisity has undertaken trials to test the impact of its solutions on PRRS exposed pigs. In a 2017 trial, on a 14,000-sow farrowing farm in southern USA, pre-weaning and post-weaning supplementation with Tonisity Px to PRRS-exposed pigs reduced overall mortality by 50% compared with an electrolyte supplement. By helping to reduce death losses, strategic Tonisity Px supplementation allowed producers to preserve productivity and recoup profit potential under challenging conditions involving PRRS infection.

In a more recent trial from last year, testing water intake post-weaning, Tonisity PxW helped reducing mortality on a PRRS active farm by 33.8%, and the number of fall behinds by 13.3%.

While both Tonisity products cannot prevent PRRS, they can help support gut health, improve water and feed intake, thereby reducing mortality and the number of fall behinds. This leads to more pigs produced, which are also healthier and heavier.

For more information, contact info@tonisity.com.