Mitigating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and Related Health Challenges Through Dietary Strategies in Pigs

Published: June 18, 2025

By: Alexia Godbout / Université Laval

Brief project summary

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a virus that greatly affects the swine industry and is the leading cause of economic losses of this industry in Canada (Rosendal et al., 2014; Schweer et al., 2016). This is due to increase mortality and major declines in growth performance of affected animals (Schweer et al., 2017). Thus, strategies to mitigate the impacts of PRRS are necessary to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the swine production.

In order to mimic as effectively as possible the infections encountered on farms, including PRRS, a unique worldwide natural infection model has been developed and has been maintained for several years at the Centre de développement du porc du Québec (CDPQ) in collaboration with PigGen Canada. This project aims to use this model to evaluate the impact of zinc and amino acid supplementation in the drinking water in terms of growth performance, health (morbidity, mortality and viremia) and blood metabolome. To do so, several batches of 60 piglets where the animals will be raised into 4 pens of 15 piglets each receiving a different treatment in the drinking water will be used.

In addition to maintaining growth performance, this strategy could lead to a reduction in antibiotic use due to PRRS co-infections. Mitigating the impacts of PRRS and reducing antibiotic use are major priorities in pork production as they will ensure the sustainability of the industry (Swine Innovation Porc, 2023).

Presented at the 2024 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada. For information on the next edition, click here.

Rosendal, T., Dewey, C., Friendship, R., Wootton, S., Young, B., & Poljak, Z. (2014). Spatial and temporal patterns of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) genotypes in Ontario, Canada, 2004–2007. BMC veterinary research, 10, 1-13.

Schweer, W. P., Schwartz, K., Burrough, E. R., Yoon, K. J., Sparks, J. C., & Gabler, N. K. (2016). The effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus challenge on growing pigs I: growth performance and digestibility. Journal of animal science, 94(2), 514-522.

Schweer, W., Schwartz, K., Patience, J. F., Karriker, L., Sparks, C., Weaver, M., Fitzsimmons, M., Burkey, T. E., & Gabler, N. K. (2017). Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus reduces feed efficiency, digestibility, and lean tissue accretion in grow-finish pigs. Translational Animal Science, 1(4), 480-488.

Swine Innovation Porc. (2023). National Pork Research Priorities 2023-2028. https://www.swineinnovationporc.ca/_files/ugd/667840_5745df6477ab4adaa55249 ec14c67c06.pdf

Content from the event:

Mitigating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and Related Health Challenges Through Dietary Strategies in Pigs

Brief project summary

Easy-immune® farm trial report

TILMIPRO 200