Whole Herd Approach maximizes immunity, minimizes transmission
The cornerstone of WHA is addressing subpopulations, such as new gilts and piglets and the older piglets in the farrowing house.
If we want to understand influenza A virus in swine, the industry really needs to get back to the simple side of complex, says Christa Goodell, technical manager for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.
“We actually have a much better appreciation for what it takes to report and to measure IAV-S. It’s been very hard to assess and say, ‘IAV-S causes this, it has this impact in my production system,’” Goodell says. “But we really need to do a better job helping producers, as well as ourselves as veterinarians, better understand the true cost of IAV-S, not only on its own but in the context of co-infections and the overall health of a herd.”
While better methods to measure IAV-S’s impact are needed, not just at closeouts but also in real time, one technique that has been successful in controlling IAV-S is the Whole Herd Approach. During Boehringer Ingelheim’s Pre-AASV Symposium, Goodell shared why WHA has worked so well during her presentation “IAV-S Control: Reminders of What Made Whole-Herd Approach a Success.”
Goodell says with high flu numbers and many different strains present, even on the same farm, IAV-S can be difficult to manage.