In addition to the symptoms of PRRS, the virus suppresses pigs’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to secondary infections that may require more antibiotics.
In fact, a recent Iowa State University study found that antibiotic use for piglets increased 379% during the first 15 weeks after a PRRS outbreak on a farm. For older pigs, the use of antibiotics increased 274%.
By preventing pigs from catching the PRRS virus, PIC could help farmers reduce the overall amount of sickness in their herds and the need to use antibiotics.
That is a win for the entire food system – pigs and the people who raise them, grocery stores and restaurants that pledged to reduce antibiotic use in their supply chains and for consumers, like you.