Economic impact of porcine epidemic diarrhea in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: The number of pre- and post- outbreak weaned piglets was evaluated, as well as return to productive normality, cost of weaned piglets, and economic impact (implications) of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED). Design/Methodology/Approximation: The data were obtained from 24,597 farrows of weaned piglets from Mexican pork farms under conditions of technification. A mixed effects design was used with the time variable as class variable to determine the return to productive normality. The costs were determined with the general cost formula with emphasis on the number of weaned piglets (NWP). The economic impact was estimated using data from the Input-Product Matrix in Mexico. Results: The average NWP before the outbreak was 9.75 per sow and birth, and from weeks 1 to 6 post- outbreak it was 2.43, 2.07, 2.87, 4.42, 6.22 and 8.07, respectively, with a weekly production cost of $114, $134, $97, $64, $46, $36 and $33 USD. The farms returned to normality in terms of NWP during week 7 post-outbreak. Study Limitations/Implications: For every $77 thousand USD that cease to be invested in the demand, the amount that will cease to be generated is $96 thousand USD; therefore, an effect in the offer would be equivalent to a loss of 12,675 USD. Conclusions: The statistical model allowed establishing the return time to normality of the farms being studied. Likewise, the methodology of costs with emphasis in the weaned piglet allowed to determine the cost of the piglet from the farms affected regardless of the physiological state of the other sows in production.