The spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus will change how swine are shown at South Dakota county fairs and the State Fair.

SDSU Extension Swine Specialist Dr. Bob Thaler says because the virus has spread rapidly,causing a lot of death loss in young pigs, fair officials have decided to change swine show rules.

Thaler says to show swine at the South Dakota State Fair exhibitors won’t have to receive a purple ribbon at the county fair. He says another change is elimination of swine weigh in at the county level.

Thaler says any nursing animal has an 80 to 100 percent mortality rate with PED virus. He says once the pig is weaned and on dried feed the high level of mortality drops. He says that’s especially true when swine are in the grow to finish stage.