University of Calgary releases new findings on ‘most abundant pig virus’

May 02, 2017

Researchers test to determine best age for vaccination

Students at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) found that producers can vaccinate piglets at a younger age than the industry standard for Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), according to a May 2 release.

Piglets infected with PCV-2 can suffer multiple porcine circovirus-related diseases, such as post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome or porcine dermatitis, according to the UCVM research paper published January 2017.

Some producers feel it is best to vaccinate early but there was little research to back this decision up, says Dr. Markus Czub, professor of virology and emerging infectious disease at UCVM.

“PCV-2 is the most abundant pig virus globally and a major concern for the pig industry,” he said in the May 2 release. “The approach (to vaccinating pigs against the virus) was the-earlier-the-better but there was no data.”

Some common vaccines for PCV2 are registered in Canada for piglets aged starting at three weeks.

Researchers – veterinary students – vaccinated piglets of various ages to determine vaccine efficacy.

After collecting various samples from the pigs, such as saliva and weight, researchers found similar immune responses between piglets vaccinated at less than six days old and at older ages. As a result, researchers found earlier vaccinations could be beneficial in areas such as salivary shedding (spreading the virus through saliva).

Video: WARNING! Rough Start To Breeding Season!!

WARNING! Sheep Breeding Season Begins With A Bang! Breeding season is officially underway at Ewetopia Farms, but it didn’t exactly start the way we planned!

This vlog begins with us sorting through our rams to find the perfect match for a customer’s breeding program. What should have been routine quickly turned dangerous when one of our more nervous rams panicked. In seconds, Arnie’s knee was injured, and then I was slammed hard onto the concrete floor — both of us taken down by one ram!

Thankfully, it was just bruises, but it’s a reminder of how unpredictable and powerful mature rams can be. Once we recovered, it was time to get back to the real work — the start of breeding season.

We sorted the ewes into four breeding groups (two Suffolk and two Dorset), checking parentage as they ran through the chute, deworming those that needed it, and setting aside thinner ewes for session two of breeding season in a month’s time.This staggered approach keeps lambing organized and prevents overcrowding in the barns.

From rogue rams to the excitement of new breeding groups, this episode is full of action. Stay tuned for the next vlog, where we’ll share how we chose the rams for each group!