Pig Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex Prevention

PRDC is the most economically and welfare-significant disease complex in pigs. Multifactorial prevention through vaccination, biosecurity and management reduces incidence.

Key Facts

PRDC involves combinations of PRRSV, PCV2, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and others
It causes coughing, respiratory distress, reduced growth and mortality particularly in growers
All-in-all-out pig flow with full cleaning between batches breaks pathogen cycles
PCV2 and Mycoplasma vaccination has dramatically reduced severe PRDC outcomes
Poor ventilation and stocking density directly worsen PRDC severity

Welfare Considerations

Pigs affected by PRDC experience significant respiratory distress, reduced appetite and growth suppression. Severely affected animals may be found dead without prior obvious signs. Subclinical PRDC causes chronic low-grade welfare impacts through persistent respiratory discomfort. Effective prevention requires vaccination, optimal stocking density, well-designed ventilation providing adequate fresh air without draught, and all-in-all-out batch management. Regular lung scoring at slaughter provides herd-level data to guide programme adjustments.

What You Can Do

Implement a vaccination programme targeting PCV2, PRRSV and Mycoplasma with vet guidance
Assess ventilation quality using smoke tests and temperature/humidity monitoring
Adopt all-in-all-out management with thorough cleaning and disinfection between batches
Score lung lesions at slaughter as a key performance indicator for respiratory health
Test gilts and sows for PRRSV before entry to minimise introduction of novel strains