Producers Encouraged to Respond as Swine 2012 Study Conducted

Next month – USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System – in collaboration with the National Agricultural Statistics Service – will begin the Swine 2012 study. This study will take an in-depth look at swine operations to update the information collected during the last NAHMS study in 2006. Important health management and productivity information will be obtained from small and large swine operations to characterize industry management practices. Producers who take part in the study can help contribute to the production of current estimates on management practices, health status and productivity and describe trends of the last two decades. The information will also help industry researchers update the economic impact of PRRS. The data will also help determine the prevalence of pathogens other countries use as trade barriers and help guide future research and education efforts.

National Pork Board Swine Health Committee Chair Jim Niewold – an Illinois pork producer – says Swine 2012 will provide the industry with valuable information on levels of disease, farrow-to-finish producers, all-in and all-out management, biosecurity practices and more. He encourages any producer who can participate in the study to do so.

NASS will phone or visit random swine operations with 100 pigs or more in 13 states during the month of July. A random sample of swine operations with fewer than 100 pigs in 31 states will receive questionnaires in the mail. To assure that participating operations cannot be identified when the results of the study are reported – all individual responses will be kept confidential and used only in combination with other responses to report regional and U.S. estimates.