At the beginning of 2026, Denmark delivered an astonishing report card to the world: nearly 75% of its pig farms had successfully achieved PRRS antigen negativity.
Denmark launched a nationwide PRRS control program in 2022, aiming to eradicate PRRS nationwide by 2030. While the original interim target of 85% PRRS negativity for sow farms and 75% for finishing pig farms was not reached by the end of 2025, the progress from 32% at the program's inception in 2022 to 75% today represents a textbook example of significant progress in just three years.
Failure to precisely meet the original target: The latest data from the Danish Agriculture and Food Council shows that by the end of 2025, 73.1% of Danish pig farms will be PRRS negative, 3.5% will have completed partial herd control and are awaiting verification, 21.3% will still be positive, and 2.2% will have an unknown status (including empty farms). The target of 85% PRRS negativity for sow farms and 75% for finishing pig farms has not been precisely achieved.
When the program launched in 2022, only 53.6% of Danish sow farms and 22.5% of fattening farms had negative PRRS (Specific Pathogen Free) status. By January 2025, the national PRRS negative rate had risen to 68%, the positive rate had dropped to 24%, and another 6% were in the process of eradication. The negative rate for sow farms was approximately 72%, and for fattening farms, it was approximately 67%.
Although not meeting the target, the progress was significant, proving the strategy's effectiveness.
The three key elements of eradication—data transparency + industry collaboration + economic incentives
1. From “voluntary” to “mandatory”: A transparency-driven system
The cornerstone of Denmark's success lies in its highly digitized SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) system.
Mandatory reporting system: Since 2023, the Danish government has issued an administrative order requiring all pig farms with more than 10 sows or a total stock of more than 100 pigs to regularly test and publicly disclose their PRRS status.
CHR database: All health data is entered into the Central Livestock Registry (CHR) system in real time. This means that buyers can understand the health rating of the source farm as clearly as checking a credit record before purchasing piglets. This transparency forces infected farms to accelerate eradication efforts to maintain market competitiveness.
2. “Regional Operations” Strategy: Breaking the Gap in Individual Efforts
PRRS is highly contagious through air and vehicles, and the efforts of a single farm are often offset by infections in neighboring areas. Denmark divides the country into 58 geographically coordinated zones:
Local Grid Management: Each zone is led by a designated consultant and veterinarian, coordinating simultaneous eradication efforts with neighboring farms.
Real-Time Dynamic Maps: Industry associations have developed real-time maps based on GIS (Geographic Information System), allowing farmers to visually see the surrounding epidemic risks.
Synchronous Eradication: When a zone initiates a “eradication week,” all farms act collaboratively, cutting off the virus’s path of local circulation.
3. Economic Leverage: Making “Negative” Tests More Valuable
The promotion of technology cannot be separated from economic incentives. Denmark has established a precise economic feedback mechanism through slaughtering and trading:
Slaughter deduction system: For each kilogram of pig sent from a PRRS-positive farm to the slaughterhouse, approximately 0.20 Danish kroner (about 0.22 yuan) will be deducted.
Premium incentive: Because negative-positive piglets grow faster and are less dependent on antibiotics, their market transaction price is naturally higher than that of positive-positive piglets.
Cost accounting: Studies show that pig farms that have passed the COVID-19 test have a significantly improved return on investment (ROI) due to reduced mortality and lower drug costs.
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Denmark launched a nationwide PRRS control program in 2022, aiming to eradicate PRRS nationwide by 2030. While the original interim target of 85% PRRS negativity for sow farms and 75% for finishing pig farms was not reached by the end of 2025, the progress from 32% at the program's inception in 2022 to 75% today represents a textbook example of significant progress in just three years.
Failure to precisely meet the original target: The latest data from the Danish Agriculture and Food Council shows that by the end of 2025, 73.1% of Danish pig farms will be PRRS negative, 3.5% will have completed partial herd control and are awaiting verification, 21.3% will still be positive, and 2.2% will have an unknown status (including empty farms). The target of 85% PRRS negativity for sow farms and 75% for finishing pig farms has not been precisely achieved.
When the program launched in 2022, only 53.6% of Danish sow farms and 22.5% of fattening farms had negative PRRS (Specific Pathogen Free) status. By January 2025, the national PRRS negative rate had risen to 68%, the positive rate had dropped to 24%, and another 6% were in the process of eradication. The negative rate for sow farms was approximately 72%, and for fattening farms, it was approximately 67%.
Although not meeting the target, the progress was significant, proving the strategy's effectiveness.
The three key elements of eradication—data transparency + industry collaboration + economic incentives
1. From “voluntary” to “mandatory”: A transparency-driven system
The cornerstone of Denmark's success lies in its highly digitized SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) system.
Mandatory reporting system: Since 2023, the Danish government has issued an administrative order requiring all pig farms with more than 10 sows or a total stock of more than 100 pigs to regularly test and publicly disclose their PRRS status.
CHR database: All health data is entered into the Central Livestock Registry (CHR) system in real time. This means that buyers can understand the health rating of the source farm as clearly as checking a credit record before purchasing piglets. This transparency forces infected farms to accelerate eradication efforts to maintain market competitiveness.
2. “Regional Operations” Strategy: Breaking the Gap in Individual Efforts
PRRS is highly contagious through air and vehicles, and the efforts of a single farm are often offset by infections in neighboring areas. Denmark divides the country into 58 geographically coordinated zones:
Local Grid Management: Each zone is led by a designated consultant and veterinarian, coordinating simultaneous eradication efforts with neighboring farms.
Real-Time Dynamic Maps: Industry associations have developed real-time maps based on GIS (Geographic Information System), allowing farmers to visually see the surrounding epidemic risks.
Synchronous Eradication: When a zone initiates a “eradication week,” all farms act collaboratively, cutting off the virus’s path of local circulation.
3. Economic Leverage: Making “Negative” Tests More Valuable
The promotion of technology cannot be separated from economic incentives. Denmark has established a precise economic feedback mechanism through slaughtering and trading:
Slaughter deduction system: For each kilogram of pig sent from a PRRS-positive farm to the slaughterhouse, approximately 0.20 Danish kroner (about 0.22 yuan) will be deducted.
Premium incentive: Because negative-positive piglets grow faster and are less dependent on antibiotics, their market transaction price is naturally higher than that of positive-positive piglets.
Cost accounting: Studies show that pig farms that have passed the COVID-19 test have a significantly improved return on investment (ROI) due to reduced mortality and lower drug costs.
Disclaimer: Some articles and materials are sourced from the internet, and the source has been indicated. Copyright belongs to the original author. The content is for readers' reference only. If it infringes on the rights of the original author, please leave a message to contact us for deletion!