Pig Respiratory Disease: Welfare and Prevention Strategies

An in-depth guide to respiratory disease in pigs, covering the major pathogens, welfare impacts, and prevention strategies.

Key Facts

Porcine respiratory disease complex involves multiple interacting pathogens
Key pathogens include PRRS virus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Clinical signs range from mild coughing to acute death in severe APP outbreaks
Poor ventilation, high stocking density, and mixing increase disease risk
Respiratory disease causes significant pain, difficulty breathing, and reduced growth
Vaccination, biosecurity, and management are the cornerstones of prevention

Welfare Considerations and Management

Comprehensive pig respiratory disease management requires integrating vaccination, biosecurity, management, and monitoring. Mycoplasma pneumonia vaccination reduces severity of chronic enzootic pneumonia. PRRS vaccination and PRRS-stabilisation programmes reduce the impact of this important immunosuppressive virus. Barn design optimising ventilation, temperature, and air quality reduces pathogen load. Early detection through clinical observation and pen-level respiratory scoring enables prompt treatment.

What You Can Do

Implement appropriate vaccination programmes for your herd's disease profile
Prioritise ventilation design and management in pig buildings
Develop clinical scoring protocols to enable early disease detection
Work with your vet to develop an integrated respiratory disease control plan