With over 20 years of research into PRRS, Dr. PH Rathjen with Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI), is no stranger to the virus. As one of the speakers at the BIVI sponsored session at the North American PRRS Symposium he shared his experiences dealing with PRRS from his home in Denmark and how utilizing both Area Regional Control (ARC) and vaccines can work together to combat the virus.

“All the participants need to come together and agree on the goals. I think if you are not in line with all you won’t succeed. Both the communication between vets and farmers has to be good. Everyone has to help each other.”

One key phrase Dr. Rathjen said he wanted everyone to remember was the importance of sticking to your management rules. “We can see that if we fail it’s not do to the program. The program was perfect. It comes down to the basic rules in the management. If you don’t follow the rules on optimum flow or other management rules, it will be the small things on a single farm that can put the project at risk.”

Dr. Rathjen continues to share insights into their PRRS project in Denmark along with results and challenges looking back one year later in my complete interview with him. Interview with Dr. PH Rathjen, Boehringer Ingelheim

Find all the photos from the event here: 2014 BIVI PRRS Seminar Photo Album