Section 105.130  Requirements for Establishing and Maintaining a Herd Under the Voluntary Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Disease (PRRS) Monitored Herd Program

a)         The following definitions shall be applicable to this Section:

"Accredited laboratory" means a laboratory operated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture  or the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, or a laboratory approved by the Director (on the basis that it is using USDA approved methods).

"Herd" or "premises" means all animals under common ownership or supervision on a specific geographic area. The herd or premises is defined by the owner and veterinarian, and may include all or a portion of pork production under their control.  A premises describes a physical space that is dedicated for use by the producer when entering the PRRS monitored herd program.  For an entire production system to be monitored, all phases of production must be sampled and participate in the program. Producers can select the production group they wish to monitor.  All phases of production up to and including the "selected" group must participate in the program.  If multiple locations input swine into the proposed PRRS monitored production herd or premises, all sites must be sampled separately to validate the final PRRS monitoring herd defined premises.

"PRRS" means porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.

b)         Criteria for herd to enter into or to remain in the voluntary monitoring herd program:

1)         Participation in this program is voluntary and the producer/owner is responsible for the cost of testing.

2)         All breeding swine that have been tested must have permanent identification such as registry association approved individual tattoo, ear notch, registration number or approved ear tags.  "Approved ear tags" means any ear tag that is tamper resistant and has been approved for use by the USDA.  Information concerning manufacturers of approved ear tags may be obtained from the Department.

3)         The owner annually signs a producer agreement form verifying that the producer or manager:

A)        understands the clinical signs of PRRS;

B)        identifies a herd veterinarian;

C)        agrees to work with that veterinarian in the event clinical signs of PRRS develop;

D)        identifies the premises and animal production groups that will be monitored and the average number of animals per premises or production group; and

E)        outlines the testing procedure employed to verify PRRS testing qualifications.

4)         Quarter sample size for initial monitoring for all production systems and for monitoring phase for farrow-weaning sites (Table A):

5)         Quarter sample size for monitoring phase for farrow-finish and farrow-feeder pig herds (Table B):

6)         Upon completion of the four qualifying tests, the Director shall issue a certificate of PRRS monitoring for the herd. A new certificate will be issued annually upon completion of the required monitoring test and the receipt of the annual producer agreement form.

c)         Procedure for monitoring farrow-finish and seedstock producer herds:

1)         Initial herd monitoring:

A)        Test the required number of swine (Table A) in the grow-finisher herd at 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days) for a period of 12 months (4 tests total).

B)        Blood test the required number of breeding stock (Table A) at 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days) for a period of 12 months (4 tests total).  No sow shall be sampled twice with 101 sows or more in the breeding herd.  Individual identification is required.

C)        External additions must be held in isolation and either tested prior to or within 10 days after arrival and identified and tested 40-60 days after arrival. Only after the retest can the animal be released from isolation.  If a positive animal is detected, all co-mingled animals must be retested 30-40 days after the positive is disclosed.  Any PRRS positive animal must be promptly removed from the monitored premises.

D)        All internal replacements (gilts, boars, teaser boars) must be PRRS test negative prior to entry into the breeding herd.

2)         Maintenance of monitored herd status:

A)        Test animals in the grow-finisher according to Table B on 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days).  Pigs must weigh at least 90 pounds.

B)        Test breeding herd according to Table B on 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days).  Sows must be of all parities and from each production phase (gestation, post-weaning, lactation, and off-premises gestation). Individual identification is required.

C)        Additions to the herd shall be as prescribed in subsection (c)(1)(C).

d)         Procedure for monitoring farrow-feeder pig premises:

1)         Initial herd monitoring:

A)        Test the required number of feeder pigs (Table A) at 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days) for a period of 12 months (4 tests).  The sample should represent the oldest pigs in the nursery.  Pigs must be present in the nursery at least two weeks prior to the sampling to be eligible for testing.  No identification is required.  Multiple pens and litters must be sampled.

B)        Test the required number of breeding swine (Table A) at 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days) for a period of 12 months (4 tests).  No sow will be sampled twice in herds of 101 or more sows during the year. Individual identification is required.

C)        External additions must be held in isolation and either tested prior to or within 10 days after arrival and identified and tested 40-60 days after arrival. Only after the test can the animal be released from isolation.  If a positive animal is detected, all in-contact animals must be retested 30-40 days after the positive is disclosed.  Any PRRS positive animal must be promptly removed from the monitored premises.

D)        All internal replacements (gilts, boars, teaser boars) must be PRRS test negative prior to entry into the breeding herd.

2)         Maintenance of monitored herd status:

A)        Test the feeder pigs according to Table B on 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days).  The sample should represent the oldest pigs in the nursery.  Pigs must be present in the nursery at least two weeks prior to the sampling to be eligible for testing.  No identification is required.  Multiple pens and litters must be sampled.

B)        Test breeding herd according to Table B on 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days).  Sows must be of all parities and from each production phase (gestation, post-weaning, lactation, and off-premises gestation). Individual identification is required.

C)        Additions to the herd shall be as prescribed in subsection (d)(1)(C).

e)         Procedure for monitoring farrow-weaning pig premises:

1)         Initial herd monitoring:

A)        No piglet sampling is required.

B)        Test the required number of breeding swine (Table A) at 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days) for a period of 12 months (4 tests).  No sow will be sampled twice in herds of 101 or more sows during the year. Individual identification is required.

C)        External additions must be held in isolation and either tested prior to or within 10 days after arrival and identified and tested 40-60 days after arrival. Only after the retest can the animal be released from isolation.  If a positive animal is detected, all in-contact animals must be retested 30-40 days after the positive is disclosed.  Any PRRS positive animal must be promptly removed from the monitored premises.

D)        All internal replacements (gilts, boars, teaser boars) must be PRRS test negative prior to entry into the breeding herd.

2)         Maintenance of monitored herd status:

A)        No piglet sampling is required.

B)        Test breeding herd according to Table B on 90-day intervals (+ or - 15 days).  Sows must be of all parities and from each production phase (gestation, post-weaning, lactation and off-premises gestation). Individual identification is required.

C)        Additions to the herd shall be as prescribed in subsection (e)(1)(C).

f)         Procedure for monitoring boar stud premises where only seronegative boars can reside:

1)         Initial herd monitoring:

A)        All boars must be tested every six months (+ or - 15 days) for a period of 12 months (two tests).

B)        All incoming boars must be tested prior to arrival or within 10 days after arrival and again 40-60 days after arrival.  Boars must originate from a farm where there has been no evidence of PRRS for at least one year.  The herd of origin must not be using PRRS vaccine.

2)         Maintenance of monitored herd status:

A)        Test the required number of boars (Table B) every 90 days (+ or - 15 days).

B)        All incoming boars must be tested prior to arrival or within 10 days after arrival and again 40-60 days after arrival.  Boars must originate from a farm where there has been no evidence of PRRS for at least one year.  The herd of origin must not be using PRRS vaccine.

g)         Suspension or revocation of monitored herd status:

1)         If a positive animal is detected during a monitoring test, the monitored herd status shall be suspended until all in-contact animals have been retested 30-40 days after the positive is disclosed.  Any PRRS positive animals must be promptly removed from the monitored premises.  If subsequent positives are revealed, the monitored herd status shall be revoked.

2)         Failure to conduct the required testing shall result in the revocation of the monitored herd status.

(Source:  Amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 13604, effective September 1, 2012)