Endemic diseases continue to be a significant challenge to pig production across the United States, impacting herd health, production efficiency, and overall profitability. To effectively manage these threats, animal health interventions rely heavily on diagnostic testing and timely access to accurate results. These insights are essential not only for individual farm decision-making but also for broader regional and national disease control efforts.
That is where the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) plays a vital role. SDRS aggregates anonymized diagnostic data from six major swine-focused veterinary diagnostic laboratories — representing more than 97% of all porcine samples tested within the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. This level of data coverage delivers one of the most comprehensive, real-time views of disease activity in the U.S. swine herd.
The SDRS tracks nine endemic and emerging swine pathogens, providing continuous updates on diagnostic submissions and results. This information is delivered to stakeholders through user-friendly dashboards and monthly reports, offering valuable insights to support rapid response and informed disease management strategies.
By organizing and centralizing diagnostic data, SDRS empowers producers, veterinarians, and industry leaders to make better decisions that can help mitigate outbreaks, protect herd health, and sustain productivity. The system is currently funded through competitive grants from the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, underscoring its importance to national animal health infrastructure.
Stakeholders can access real-time information and sign up for monthly reports through the SDRS website to stay ahead of disease trends and emerging health threats.
In today’s production environment, where disease threats are constant, tools like SDRS are not just helpful — they are essential to the future resilience of our industry.
