Benefit-cost analysis to estimate the payback time and the economic value of two Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae elimination methods in breeding herds

•This study demonstrated in economic terms that the elimination of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is economically viable in a few months.•The Mhyo-elimination protocols described in this paper have great success rate, and economic benefit is a likely outcome.•Even if the farm stayed negative only a year, the economic benefits downstream are worth it.•This information may be helpful for producers and veterinarians on decision-making process to conduct a Mhyo elimination protocol. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo) is generally accepted to be the most common porcine respiratory pathogen worldwide causing big economical losses in swine production by affecting pig’s downstream performance. The objective of this study was to develop a partial budget model to determine the payback period and economic value of two Mhyo elimination protocols. Retrospective data recorded from 2004 to 2017 from 70 breeding herds that implemented herd closure or whole-herd medication protocol targeting Mhyo elimination. Close out data was used to estimate differences in downstream performance between Mhyo-negative and positive flows. Assuming a 5000 sows breed-to-finish operation producing 135,870 weaned pigs and 125,000 finishing pigs/year, the total cost for implementing Mhyo elimination was $112,100 using the herd closure protocol, and $185,700 for the medication protocol. Statistically differences (p