MSD Animal Health has developed a new app intended to help vets deliver comprehensive PRRS control on pig farms.
The MSD Integrated PRRS Solutions app, available for free from online app stores, allows vets to assess internal and external biosecurity levels and obtain a score denoting individual units’ PRRS risk.
This score can be used as a benchmark for future visits to gauge whether improvement has been made and compared with other farms under the vet’s care.
“The tool allows best practice to be identified and pinpoints risk practices that may compromise PRRS control,” said the company’s technical manager Ricardo Neto.
“It advises vets on what samples should be taken to ensure a correct PRRS status is identified for each farm. Vets can input diagnostic results into the app, which will then give the status of the farm.
“The tool also allows you to explore different options for control, as not all options may suit your unit.”
A key part of PRRS control is making sure that the interventions implemented provide a return on investment, he added.
“To assess this, the tool also has an economic simulator that allows vets to work with producers to look at different options to achieve your objectives and asses the economic return.
“It can be used with pre-filled values, but the real potential is unleashed when you use your own figures.”
All the data is kept in the mobile device, but PDFs of the generated reports with results, recommendations and best practice advice can be saved or emailed and printed.