Pig Biosecurity and PRRS Disease Welfare

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically and welfare-costly pig diseases globally, requiring strong biosecurity for control.

Key Facts

PRRS virus causes reproductive failure in sows and severe respiratory disease in piglets and growing pigs
The disease is endemic in most pig-producing countries with massive welfare and economic impacts
Piglet mortality, abortions, and stillbirths represent acute welfare losses at scale
Vaccination reduces severity but does not prevent infection with divergent strains
Air filtration systems in PRRS-positive areas can significantly reduce airborne transmission
PRRS elimination programs in some Scandinavian countries have succeeded through coordinated regional control

Welfare Considerations

PRRS causes significant suffering across all production stages - aborted piglets, stillbirths, respiratory distress in growing pigs, and reproductive failure in sows. The scale of welfare impact makes PRRS control one of the highest-priority welfare issues in global pork production. Biosecurity investment, vaccination programs, and regional elimination strategies represent welfare interventions with enormous cumulative impact.

What You Can Do

Support pork producers investing in PRRS biosecurity and elimination programs
Advocate for government support for PRRS elimination programs modeled on Scandinavian success
Choose pork from PRRS-negative herds where regional certification exists
Support research into more broadly protective PRRS vaccines
Donate to farm animal welfare organizations working on disease prevention in pigs
Learn about PRRS to understand why biosecurity is a welfare issue, not just an economic one