National Hog Farmer January 23, 2025– A study led by Dr. Jim Lowe and Dr. Ben Blair from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, funded by the Swine Health Information Center Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program, has provided valuable insights on controlling the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) through market haul trailers.

The study highlights how different trailer washing protocols, depending on PEDV prevalence and system connectivity, can effectively balance swine health and biosecurity while managing operational costs.

“The study shows that cleaning market haul trailers is crucial for controlling the spread of PEDV, but the extent of washing needed can vary. For interconnected systems or during high PEDV prevalence periods, thorough washing of all trailers is essential. However, in more isolated systems or when PEDV prevalence is low, producers may save costs without compromising biosecurity by washing fewer trailers. These findings offer valuable insights for the swine industry by blending epidemiological and economic analysis techniques.”