The Staatliche Schweinegesundheitsdienst (SGD) was established, by ministerial decree, in 1961. Its function is to advise and care for its members on questions of animal hygiene and the control of disease on the associated farms. The first thirty years of the activity of the south Hessen SGD, located in Frankfurt, are described and analysed. The occurence and appearance of various new disease required an expansion of the scope of the responsibilities and duties of the SGD and increase the level of care. The occurrence of diseases such as HC, atrophic rhinitis, Aujeszky's disease and SMEDI combined with an increase in mechanization and rate of animal movements required an increased provision of information to herd owners on the prevention and control of disease. The development of a piglet market in Limburg, the increase in owner-marketing, the re-orientation of pig breeding and other factors necessitated additional activities of the SGD.
