What are the big trends facing pork producers in 2025?

Key takeaways

• Swine herd health status appears to be relatively stable heading into 2025, but challenges with PRRS and PEDv could cause problems.
• Farm labor, automation and industry economics all provide opportunities.
• Foreign animal diseases, particularly African swine fever, require vigilance to keep them out of the U.S.

What are the trends and issues facing pork producers in 2025? Dr. Dave Pyburn, managing technical services veterinarian, Zoetis, provides his perspective on pig health, farm labor, economics, and farm automation.

1. Status quo in U.S. herd health status
The U.S. swine industry continues to manage significant health challenges including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), increasing sow mortality rates and other diseases impacting welfare and productivity.

We seem to be somewhat static right now as far as the overall health of the swine herd heading into 2025. The industry is in the height of the PRRS season – also known as winter – and increasing cases of PRRS can set up herds for other disease issues like influenza, mycoplasma and other respiratory diseases.

The economic impact continues to rise. A new analysis by Iowa State University found the economic toll of PRRS has soared over the last 10 years to $1.2 billion1.