
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has announced renewed funding for the University of Minnesota’s Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP)—a key initiative tracking swine health across more than 3.5 million sows in 28 U.S. states and 35 production systems. The project is the largest voluntary swine health monitoring effort in the country.
Originally launched in 2011, the MSHMP was created in response to swine veterinarians and producers seeking data-driven strategies to manage and potentially eliminate Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). The project has since expanded to track a broader range of diseases including PEDV, Porcine Delta Coronavirus, Seneca Virus A, and central nervous system-associated viruses.
“It was determined at that time there needed to be a way to monitor and track herd health status over time, not just on one farm but in multiple areas of the country,” said Dr. Lisa Becton, Associate Director at SHIC.
The project’s goals include:
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Monitoring disease trends and pathogen prevalence nationally
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Tracking PRRS sequence evolution and its potential impact
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Expanding participation among producers to broaden surveillance and impact
Dr. Becton emphasized the value of ongoing baseline data to guide farm-specific health strategies, adding that the insights gained help producers and veterinarians proactively manage herd health risks.
For more information, producers can access details in SHIC’s May eNewsletter at swinehealth.org.