News

Have a PEDv plan with your vet

With the threat to baby pig numbers from the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, hog producers will be better able to deal with it if they have a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship, a VCPR, in writing ahead of time.

Tim Safranski is a University of Missouri Extension Swine Specialist, “If, when you get it, you have not developed that plan and you have to develop that plan it’s going to add several days to the process. And, so, if you don’t already have a VCPR it’s going to add that many more days because you’ve got to find a veterinarian willing to come work with you and understand your farm and the constraints and limitations and then develop the control plan.”

Jim Kaitschuk, executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association says their members whose farms that have had PEDv or may get it are looking at significant losses given the record markets expected this summer, “For those farmers that don’t have those kind of losses, obviously, the opportunity for significant gains based on those record prices exists for this summer as well. It’s not just a financial loss. But, just the devastation from you and the other folks working on your farm to have to go through this – I tell you what – for them to keep their chin up through all this has been pretty tough.”