Don’t get complacent with evolving PCV2 virus
May 23, 2018Susan Spiegel
Vaccines for porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) currently do an adequate job of cross protecting against new genotypes of the virus, but swine veterinarians and producers shouldn’t let their guard...
Barn location can impact PRRS exposure risk
May 23, 2018Susan Spiegel
Several factors go into selecting a site for a pork-production unit, but research shows there are a couple more — specifically, terrain and vegetation — that may influence exposure to the porcine...
Immunocastrated pigs eat less, convert more efficiently, so what’s holding them back in the US?
May 21, 2018Susan Spiegel
Imagine a corn field twice the size of Chicago. That’s what the pork industry could potentially save annually if it adopted an alternative to conventional castration. With about 55 million male...
Needles & Sins: Sloppy vaccination protocols can jeopardize herd health, welfare, returns
May 19, 2018Susan Spiegel
Nick Zanger learned a few tough lessons about vaccine protocols shortly after he started managing three 2,500-head nursery-to-finishing buildings near Loraine, Illinois.
Piglets are key subpopulation in keeping IAV-S circulating
May 18, 2018Susan Spiegel
When it comes to influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S), the relationship between the sow’s immune status and piglet protection remains perplexing.
Yeske: Mycoplasma elimination ‘always a good strategy’
May 17, 2018Susan Spiegel
Eliminating mycoplasma from a herd works well with a fast payback, even in hog-dense areas, according to research conducted by Paul Yeske, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, Minnesota.
Early PRRS vaccination helps protect pigs through slaughter
May 16, 2018Susan Spiegel
A new, single-dose vaccine for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has been shown to protect pigs from before weaning to slaughter, helping prevent secondary infections and...
Crossing the line: Biosecurity for employee entry is still a work in progress
May 14, 2018Susan Spiegel
By Derald Holtkamp, MS, DVM
Associate Professor
Iowa State University
Data can help improve PRRS control
May 10, 2018Susan Spiegel
Implementing metrics and utilizing predictive analytics can help pork producers improve their management of PRRS.
Maximizing colostrum intake at birth improves finishing performance
May 07, 2018Susan Spiegel
The amount of colostrum a piglet consumes during its first 24 hours of life impacts its performance through finishing, according to Jeffery Wiegert, swine specialist, North Carolina State University...
