Financial impact of transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs

The financial impact of an outbreak of transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs which occurred in February 1986, was evaluated in a California sow herd (320 sows, 15 boars) through estimating the effects on growth, feed, and profit. Two groups of pigs were studied: pigs born before and surviving the outbreak (epizootic [E] pigs), and pigs born after the outbreak (postepizootic [PE] pigs). Short-term profits were maximized at 165 days for both groups of pigs, ranging from $47.14 for female E pigs to $60.32 for male PE pigs. It is concluded that pigs surviving or born shortly after a transmissible gastroenteritis outbreak are profitable to rear, if reared under management conditions similar to those in the study herd.