Farm Animals

Pig Respiratory Disease Prevention

Swine respiratory disease complex involves multiple pathogens and is the leading cause of antibiotic use in pig production, requiring strategic prevention.

Key Facts

PRDC involves PRRSV, Mycoplasma, Pasteurella and other pathogens acting synergistically
Poor ventilation, overcrowding and mixing are primary risk factors
Vaccination against key pathogens combined with biosecurity reduces outbreak risk
All-in-all-out management prevents pathogen accumulation between batches
Monitoring serology helps understand pathogen exposure patterns on farms

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes significant pain and distress, with severely affected pigs showing laboured breathing, fever and reduced feed intake for days to weeks. Prevention through biosecurity, vaccination and environmental management is more effective and welfare-positive than treating established outbreaks.

What You Can Do

Support farm health plans addressing respiratory disease prevention
Advocate for ventilation standards in pig housing regulations
Choose pork from farms demonstrating low antibiotic use through SRDC control