DES MOINES, Iowa – Three entities – the Pork Checkoff in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and Iowa State University, plan to launch a campaign in September to encourage pork producers to participate in swine influenza virus (S.I.V.) surveillance when their pigs show signs of respiratory disease.

Offered with a default anonymous option, the results will only be known by state of origin unless a producer asks for a traceable option in writing.

"This approach to S.I.V. surveillance is designed to eliminate any objections producers might have to participate in the program," said Lisa Becton, Checkoff's director of swine health. "It's our hope that with more samples collected for the surveillance system, future vaccines and herd-health protocols can be improved to offer more disease protection at the farm and national level."

Participating producers should not expect any additional cost to participate in this nationwide initiative than they do now when their veterinarian collects similar samples for diagnostic tests.

Producers will be getting more information about S.I.V. surveillance in a Pork Checkoff Newsletter: Special Edition to be mailed in late September.

For more information, contact Lisa Becton at [email protected] or (515) 223-2791.