‘We’ve almost forgotten that boars just perform better’
Aug 17, 2018Susan Spiegel
Ever since Larry Rueff, DVM, a swine veterinarian from Greensburg, IN, stopped physically castrating some of his pigs 4 years ago, and started using a protein compound that works like an immunization...
‘Nuts n’ tails’ fluid testing is promising, practical method of PRRSV monitoring
Aug 15, 2018Susan Spiegel
Testing fluids obtained from routine castration and tail-docking procedures looks to be a promising, practical and affordable way to improve monitoring for PRRSV.
Feed duration biggest issue under new swine VFD rule
Aug 15, 2018Susan Spiegel
More than a year into FDA’s new veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules, pork producers and veterinarians are finding the potential problem spots.
PCV3: A challenge independent from PCV2
Aug 12, 2018Susan Spiegel
Anyone involved in raising pigs is aware of PCV2, but new on the scene is porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3). Although the two viruses are both circular DNA viruses in the same family, they are...
Tips for successful oral-fluid sampling for PRRSV
Aug 08, 2018Susan Spiegel
Oral-fluid sampling is an easy way to detect PRRSV or track changes in PRRSV infections in populations — and it can optimize your survey efforts by keeping a few simple tips in mind.
What’s in season? How swine veterinarians are managing seasonal spikes in bacterial disease in the new VFD era
Aug 05, 2018Susan Spiegel
Seasonal changes traditionally bring fickle weather, dramatic swings in day-night temperatures and, of course, flare-ups of respiratory and enteric disease in swine herds. But how does the VFD era...
Building a better understanding of biosecurity and PRRS risks
Aug 01, 2018Susan Spiegel
At the center of any biosecurity program is the goal of preventing pathogens or diseases from entering and infecting a swine herd. Perhaps no disease has challenged producers and veterinarians as...
Scientists genetically engineer PRRS-resistant pigs
Jul 30, 2018Susan Spiegel
Scientists in Scotland have discovered a way to genetically engineer pigs to be resistant to one of the mostly costly livestock diseases in the world.
Maximizing housing rates has no welfare impact, scientists find
Jul 30, 2018Susan Spiegel
Housing pigs at Europe’s maximum stocking rates has no impact on their welfare or performance, scientists in the UK have discovered.
Modified-live vaccines ‘by far’ most effective tool for combatting PRRS
Jul 30, 2018Susan Spiegel
Modified-live vaccines are “by far” the most effective tool the industry currently has to control PRRSV, said Jay Calvert, PhD, research director, Global Biologicals Research, Zoetis.
