The profitability of commercial swine production largely relies on sow productivity and the number of healthy piglets farrowed each year.^1,2 But maximizing a herd’s potential begins well before farrowing. Prioritizing gilt and sow health by approaching reproductive health holistically and targeting multiple reproductive pathogens at once is essential to not only maximizing a sow’s productivity, but also their offspring as well. This approach helps maximize the potential of each pig and, therefore, the overall health and profitability of your herd.

Reproductive disease robs a herd’s potential

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) is likely the first virus that comes to mind when thinking about reproductive disease, and for good reason, as it is one of the most important causes of reproductive failure in pigs worldwide. But PPV isn’t the only reproductive pathogen to prioritize when it comes to gilt and sow health. Both porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) can also result in reproductive failure, leading to decreased sow reproductive performance, and as a result, decreased profits. In fact, more than 70% of reproductive failures linked to an infectious agent are related to one of these three viruses.^3–5 Sow and gilt health isn’t exclusive to respiratory and reproductive disease either. Staying vigilant against pathogens like Salmonella and Lawsonia intracellularis is as equally important to a breeding herd’s overall health – not to mention the importance for passing along maternal antibodies to susceptible piglets.

Trust the ultimate sow and gilt health portfolio

Gilt management sets the tone for future productivity of the sow farm. Therefore, introducing immunized, non-shedding gilts must be prioritized for disease control as well as the overall health and productivity of a breeding herd. To achieve this, we recommend the following vaccination guidelines for proper immunization:

When it comes to vaccination, the right choice matters. The Boehringer Ingelheim FLEX portfolio offers the most complete solution to control respiratory and reproductive diseases, with a variety of compatible combinations and some of the most-trusted vaccines on the market for PRRS, PPV and PCV2

Photo submitted by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Multiple, effective single-dose vaccines not only lend convenience, but also freedom of choice to find the vaccine (monovalent or combination) that best fits your herd and disease management program.

That convenience extends to our enteric portfolio as well. Our novel, oral gel delivery for Salmonella and Lawsonia vaccines not only allows for vaccinations to be administrated prior to weaning but is significantly faster than traditional methods of vaccination. In a study trial, when a commercial backpack doser was used, gel administration allowed for the vaccination of 48 litters, or approximately 578 piglets, in around three minutes, compared to the estimated hour or more it would take to individually handle and vaccinate the same number of piglet
The impact of gilt and sow health is huge. Turn to one of the most complete portfolios on the market to protect your biggest assets. Visit BigOnGiltSowHealth.com to learn more.

_References

¹ _{Matthews J. S1081: Nutritional systems for swine to increase reproductive efficiency. National Information Management & Support System. 2023. Available at: https://nimss.org/projects/view/mrp/outline/19066#:~:text=All%20segments%20of%20the%20industry,that%20are%20appropriated%20for%20research. Accessed March 17, 2024.}

² _{Pollmann DS. Sow lifetime productivity: Importance of monitoring in commercial pork production. Veterinary Continuing Education (Publ.). Allen D. Leman Swine Conf 2012:39:111–112. Available at: https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/139636/Pollmann.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y#:~:text=Increasing%20lifetime%20sow%20productivity%20spreads,production%20of%20the%20market%20pig. Accessed March 17, 2024.}

³ _{Truyen U, Streck A. Parvoviruses. In: Zimmerman JJ, Karriker LA, Ramirez A, et al., eds. Diseases in swine. Wiley Online Library, 2019.}

⁴ _{Salogni C, Lazzaro M, Giacomini E, et al. Infectious agents identified in aborted swine fetuses in a high-density breeding area: a three-year study. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016;28(5):550–554.}

⁵ _{Mengeling WL, Lager KM, Vorwarld AC. The effect of Porcine parvovirus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus on porcine reproductive performance. Anim Reprod Sci 2000;60–61:199–210.}

⁶ _{Data on file}

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