In order to improve the virulence test standard of swine erysipelas vaccine，the growth rule of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae（E. rhusiopathiae）C43-5 strain in meat-liver-stomach digestion decoction was analyzed，the minimum lethal dose of the strain to pigs was determined，and the virulence and immunogenicity of 4 freeze-dried subcultures identified in 1986，1996，2006 and 2015 were tested. The results showed that the number of viable bacteria of C43-5 strain reached its maximum value when it was cultured for 16 hours in the decoction，then remained stable，but decreased rapidly after 19 hours，and a large number of bacteria died. Healthy susceptible pigs at 56~63 days old were intravenously injected with 3.5×1010 CFU live bacteria，2 experimented pigs died within 4 days；and the virulence and immunogenicity test results of C43-5 strain of the 4 freeze-dried subcultures were all qualified. Meanwhile，a recommendation on revision to the virulence test standard of E. rhusiopathiae C43-5 strain was put forward，supporting the extension of storage time of the strain.