Factors involved include, according to a Dr. Paul Anderson of the
Minnesota Board of Animal Health, significant reduction in vaccinations
starting last summer with the drop in hog prices; reduced natural immunity
from the near-successful eradication of PRV; spread is occurring from
movement of pigs within multi-facility farms.
It is possible that the current structure and organization of the
hog industry may be contributing to both the spread and the virulence of
this disease. Many have predicted that large scale confinement hog
operations would be more dependent on aggressive medical treatments; could
undermine antibiotic and other drug efficacy through overuse; and would be,
for a variety of interactive reasons, periodically more vulnerable to major,
rapid losses.
The State of Indiana is now subsidizing mandatory PRV vaccination;
Minnesota is considering it, in part because of the financial bind hog
farmers are in. This is a significant public policy development since it
would constitute a possible transfer of responsibility for vaccinations from
farmers to the government, and for a disease that might be related to the
structure of the industry. If this is established as a precedent it would
lead to some interesting political decisions re where to draw the line. Why
stop at animal disease? Is dealing with white flies or a new strain of late
blight that much different?
Government has/does play a variety of roles in other pest and
disease detection, prevention and eradication programs, but this seems like
something new. I would be interested in further updates from those closer
to the action in the livestock industry.
chuck benbrook
Charles Benbrook 208-263-5236 (voice)
Benbrook Consulting Services 208-263-7342 (fax)
5085 Upper Pack River Road benbrook@hillnet.com [e-mail]
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 http://www.pmac.net
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