Province launches dedicated body to prevent pig diseases and boost productivity
Field, analysis, and policy task force begins operations on February 26
System established to support customized vaccines based on genotype analysis
Gyeonggi Province announced on February 26 that it will establish a proactive response system to improve productivity at pig farms in the province by launching a dedicated task force (TF) to respond to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a major wasting disease in pigs.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a representative wasting disease that causes reproductive disorders and respiratory illness in pigs. Because the virus mutates easily and various genotypes exist, it is important to provide customized responses for each farm.
The nationwide damage to farms caused by PRRS outbreaks is estimated at about 300 billion won. Since Gyeonggi Province accounts for 20% of the country's pig breeding scale, measures are needed to prevent farm losses from wasting diseases and to improve productivity.
Accordingly, the province explained that it has decided to organize the task force (TF) to strengthen the competitiveness of the pig industry.
The TF team consists of a total of nine members in three groups (coordination group, testing and analysis group, and administration group), centered on departments in charge of on-site work, analysis, and policy related to pig diseases in Gyeonggi Province. It also plans to strengthen cooperation with external experts, including the Korea Pork Producers Association and the Korean Association of Swine Veterinarians.
The TF team will focus on: analyzing nationwide and provincial PRRS incidence and detection status; conducting genotype analyses for PRRS-positive farms and investigating prevailing strains in the province; supporting farms in selecting appropriate vaccines; and preparing measures to improve pig farm productivity through strengthened public-private cooperation.
In particular, for PRRS-positive pig farms, the team plans to conduct genotype analyses to support the selection of suitable vaccines, and to analyze the prevailing strains in the province to establish a disease control system based on scientific evidence.
Lee Kangyoung, Director General of the Livestock and Animal Welfare Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "PRRS cannot be fully controlled through simple vaccination alone, so customized management based on accurate diagnosis and genotype analysis is crucial," adding, "Through the operation of the TF team, we will do our best to improve productivity indices at pig farms in the province and to create a stable breeding environment."
Gyeonggi Province plans to strengthen its field-oriented disease control system and to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the livestock industry through data-based disease control policies.
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