Anna Rumer

COSHOCTON — In the past two years, Coshocton County pig farmers have been charged with a task other than feeding and housing their herds: They have had protect them from a deadly virus that has already killed upward of 7 million pigs in the U.S.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PEDv, was first detected in the U.S. in 2013 and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has since affected 8,500 farms, 362 of which have been in Ohio.

Exact county numbers are unavailable, but Mark Mechling, an educator for agriculture and natural resources with the county Ohio State University Extension office, said he has seen the virus affect many of the 10 to 12 commercial pig farms operating at any time in the county, each of which raises anywhere from 15 to 1,000 sows.

PEDv is characterized by rapidly spreading viral diarrhea and a lack of appetite among pigs. Spread through fecal contamination, the disease is most frequently transmitted from pig to pig or from contaminated items such as boots or trucks to the pig. Although the virus cannot be transmitted between species and doesn't affect food safety, it is devastating to the pigs' health.

Piglets less than 7 days old have a 50 to 60 percent mortality rate if infected, the USDA reports. Mature pigs often survive the ordeal, which can last for weeks, but have lost weight or can become frail once they recover.

Wenmar Farms, one of the largest hog-raising operations in Coshocton County, hasn't had a big problem with PEDv, which farm representatives think is due to the relatively sparse population of the county.

Some farms haven't been so lucky.

For Bell Farms, an operation raising about 950 sows in Muskingum County, this winter was a harsh introduction to PEDv. Despite all efforts to treat the pigs, for almost a month, 70 percent of their farrowed pigs died. Most of those were piglets.

"We tried all kinds of things, but it was pretty ugly," said Matt Bell, of Bell Farms. "They weren't dreadful losses, but you don't want to lose any. The losses are worse when you can't control them. ...You just do whatever you can to minimize losses."

Although Bell describes the PEDv outbreak as a "very significant financial loss," the exact damage is hard to measure. Largely because of the virus, the USDA has measured a 6 percent drop from 2013 to 2014 in Ohio's hog herd — 1.3 percent greater than the national drop.

That has raised the price of pork and other pig products from an average of $3.42 per pound in the second quarter of 2012 to $4.05 per pound in the same quarter of 2014, according to the USDA. The rise in price and demand has allowed Bell Farms to recoup some of the losses the farm saw this winter.

"There was a loss, but with heavier weights and hogs having a greater market price ... it will help to ease the pain," Bell said.

Bell Farms now has a limited immunity to the virus, as the colostrum from a previously exposed sow can help protect her piglets. That is only a temporary fix, however, as changing strains of PEDv can cause a new outbreak in a herd.

Using the $26.2 million dedicated to deal with PEDv by the USDA, a vaccine for the virus was released in June. Officials hope the vaccine could boost the immunity of herds.

"Preliminary studies have been promising, and they've shown sufficient data that we think the vaccine will be effective," the USDA wrote in a report.

Biosecurity measures also are vital in keeping pigs safe from PEDv. Keeping areas clean, disinfected and dry can help prevent the transmission of the virus, as can making sure dirt and fecal matter from outside the pigs' area doesn't make its way inside.

Bell Farms plans to use the vaccine next month on a trial basis in hopes of avoiding another hard winter, and it is increasing its biosecurity measures, creating a clean lane in which barn boots are prohibited and washing equipment twice as much as before.

To prevent contamination from outside sources, the farm's workers have become more cognizant of truck traffic and have changed the places where deliveries are made.

Bell is unsure whether that will protect the herd, however, as he is still unsure about how the farm's pigs were exposed to the virus in the first place.

"Our biosecurity was extreme and we still got it, so we don't know what's to come," Bell said.

He fears that this winter could be even more difficult, as the cooler summer temperatures have provided the virus a more friendly environment, but he hopes increased awareness and protection will continue to keep the hogs healthy.

"There's always disease, there's always a drought, there's always things that we have to manage through, and this has been just one more," Bell said. "Not to say that it's been easy, but it's just something you don't have a choice but to deal with."

arumer@coshoctontribune.com

740-450-6758

Twitter: @AnnaRumerZTR