Zoetis has announced that Suvaxyn MH-One, its vaccine against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in pigs, has a revised licence allowing it to be administered from seven days of age with a two-week onset of immunity.

The company says this means that piglets can be protected by three weeks of age when they are commonly already infected with M. hyo. Duration of immunity extends well beyond the average UK pig slaughter age of 176 days.  

 Nigel Lodge, National Veterinary Manager for Zoetis in the UK said: "This is a significant step forward, recognising the full efficacy of the Suvaxyn MH-One vaccine against enzootic pneumonia. Trials have confirmed that use of Suvaxyn MH-One at seven days reduces lung lesions - even in the presence of maternally derived antibodies.

"The vaccine, which adds to our large and growing pig vaccine and product portfolio, also benefits from using adjuvants carbopol and squalane."

According to the company, the performance gains from early protection are shown in a field trial with 240 pigs injected at one week of age which showed significantly higher average daily weight gain, providing nearly 5 kg extra weight over the study period to 166 days.

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