March 17, 2025

Proportion of pig herds in Denmark with negative PRRS health status rose to 68% in January this year

The proportion of pig herds in Denmark with negative porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) health status has increased to 68% in January 2025, according to a report.

Remaining herds with positive PRRS health status are not evenly distributed in Denmark. Nationally, the risk of infection for the individual herd has been greatly reduced after a reduction plan came into effect.

On January 2, 2025, 4,334 herds were covered by the PRRS reduction plan, of which 89% were in a decontamination area, compared to 54% in January 2024. Danish pig herds were divided into 68% with negative and 24% with positive PRRS health status, and 6% under decontamination.

Since the publication of the PRRS reduction plan, the proportion of Danish pig herds declared with negative PRRS health status has thus increased from 32% at the end of 2021 to 68% at the end of 2024. The proportion of herds with negative PRRS health status is lowest in herds with growing pigs (67%) and highest in integrated herds (76%).

While the Islands and some regions in Jutland have few positive herds, there is still a high proportion of positive herds in other regions.

New infections with PRRS occurred in 26 sow herds during 2024, which shows that the risk of infection for sow herds has decreased to almost 3% per year - compared to 6.8% in 2020.

Eighty-three PRRS decontaminations in sow herds were completed, of which 86% of the partial decontaminations and all total decontaminations were successful.

- Agriculture & Food, Pig Sector (Denmark)