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Sow mortality records need an overhaul
The upward trendline of sow mortality needs to be addressed. But until farms have a clearer understanding of why a gilt or sow leaves the breeding herd, progress will be limited.
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Revised herd classifications expand the PRRS road map
The system used to classify breeding herds according to their PRRSV status has long helped swine veterinarians around the world to track the pathogen’s progress.
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Measuring the direct and indirect costs of sow mortality
When breeding animals die, are culled prematurely, or need to be humanely euthanized, there are direct costs involved with the outcome, but the indirect costs are less obvious.
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Strep suis continuously challenges US herds
It’s not unrealistic to say that if you checked the nasal cavities or tonsils of any group of pigs, you would find Strep suis. It is on virtually every hog farm.
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Gilt selection: Too often overlooked in the sow mortality equation
One way to advance sow productivity and longevity is to select the right replacement-gilt candidates and prepare them properly for the job ahead.
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How to minimize summer’s impact on sow fertility
Sow reproductive performance drops off in the summer, and this year will be no different. To minimize seasonal infertility issues, Paul Yeske, DVM, Swine Vet Center, recommends producers take steps...
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Caregivers play a leading role in individual sow care and longevity
Caregiver management and training are top priorities on swine farms as productivity hinges on the outcome. Yet few things are more challenging.
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Swine experts discuss sow-care challenges, solutions and future needs
The sow herd is the engine that drives a hog farm’s downstream productivity. But since the 1990s, sow mortality has been on the rise across the country.
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Sow mortality trends: Experts dissect the current state of affairs
Keeping sow mortality rates in check is critical to a farm’s productivity and cost structure. Yet in recent years, the US pork industry has seen sow mortality rise.
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Don’t forget the sow in post-farrowing management plans
The first several hours post-farrowing is a critical time not just for newborn piglets but also for the sow.
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Free farrowing: More answers needed to serve animals and producers
Denmark’s hog farmers and veterinarians look to research to weigh trade-offs of free-farrowing design systems.
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Combat seasonal infertility with strong husbandry
Seasonal infertility continues to be a widespread problem for sow herds across the US. And if you don’t have a problem with seasonal infertility, it may mean you are not recognizing it.
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Rethinking colostrum management and piglet survivability
Colostrum is vital to piglet survival but managing intake may benefit from some fresh thinking, according to Kara Stewart, associate professor of animal science at Purdue University.
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Processing fluids provide an option to monitor PCV2 and PCVAD
Effective PCV2 control relies on vaccination of healthy pigs before they become infected. This goal cannot be accomplished in unstable herds whose sows give birth to viremic pigs.
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Rapid scours diagnosis key to limiting piglet mortality
Prevention, early identification and immediate initiation of supportive care and treatment of neonatal scours are critical, says Deb Murray, DVM, veterinary services manager for New Fashion Pork.
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Virus persistence challenges PRRS management strategies
Eliminating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from pigs might not yet be possible, but monitoring tools could help refine a herd's PRRSV stability.
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Better manage your sow herd with uniform body-condition technique
Feed budgets are based on sow condition and if the herd isn’t uniform, it can lead to higher feed costs.
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Johnson: Batch farrowing shows benefits
Disease challenges eat into time and profits, and are all too common on US pig farms. That is one reason some producers are switching to batch farrowing as a way to break the disease cycle.
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Deen: Batch farrowing requires ‘different mindset’
It appears batch farrowing is making a comeback, according to John Deen, DVM, PhD, distinguished global professor at the University of Minnesota.
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Pork industry makes progress on pain management
Pain management for pigs has always been a challenge, partly because it’s difficult to measure levels of pain and partly because there are no FDA-approved drugs labeled for pain management in pigs.
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Take a process-driven approach to influenza control
US pork producers should strive to produce influenza-negative pigs if they want to see the benefits of increased productivity, reduced secondary infections and antibiotic use, reduced influenza...
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Pen-side diagnostic comparisons for nursed-off sows and fallback pigs
For both the sow and piglet, an animal that does not perform to its potential or falls behind its counterparts will negatively impact the sow farm’s productivity and profitability.
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Comparing diagnostic sampling prospects from M. hyo-positive-source boar studs
Many sow farms have undergone M. hyo elimination within their breeding herd, which makes it critical to understand the potential transmission risk from boar studs.
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Comparing PCV2 gilt vaccination protocols and progeny status
Porcine circovirus type 2 is the principal etiological agent of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), which can cost producers an estimated $3 to $4 per pig.
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Rotavirus infections lower weaned-pig weights by a pound
Rotavirus infections in pigs have been around for decades. But in the last several years, the virus has re-appeared, causing diarrhea in neonatal and post-weaned pigs that impedes their growth for...
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Study compares PRRSV antibody-sampling options for sows
When it comes to porcine reproductive and respiratory virus it’s important for the veterinarian and farm personnel to know the health status of a herd or barn.
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Batch farrowing makes a comeback on small- to medium-sized sow farms
The practice of farrowing sows in groups and not continuously is making a reappearance as small- to medium-sized sow farms seek ways to stay competitive.
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Five ways to maintain pig growth in summer without ractopamine
The summer months can be difficult for pigs — and producers. Pigs typically don’t grow as fast and feed efficiency often takes a hit. Much of the downturn is linked to heat stress, which costs US...
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Tips for transitioning to ractopamine-free hog feed
TOOLBOX, Issue 18: An interview with Daniel Nelson, PhD, Senior Swine Nutritionist, Zoetis
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Tips to improve pen gestation for sows
Many pork producers successfully manage sows in group gestation pens after completing breeding and pregnancy checks in crates. Here are suggestions to help maximize sow productivity in pen gestation.
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Lowering pre-wean mortality starts at day 1
Pre-wean mortality continues to be a challenge to producers across the industry as genetic improvements allow sows to be more prolific and achieve higher total born.
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Michigan switches to pen gestation; Ohio is next
Hog operations in Michigan faced an April 1, 2020, deadline for switching from individual stalls to pens for sow gestation.
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Strategies to move more pigs from birth to harvest
Litter sizes on US hog farms have steadily increased, but that’s a good-news/bad-news development as those large litters often come at a price, which is more low-birthweight piglets.
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Researchers tackle survivability issues head-on
One in three pigs born on US farms fail to reach market, according to Jason Ross, PhD, a professor of animal physiology at Iowa State University and director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center.
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Mycoplasma elimination possible, but more difficult on farrow-to-finish sites
With the right program in place, eliminating mycoplasma pneumonia is possible on many hog farms.
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Sow pads show promise for reducing shoulder sores, related infections
During farrowing and lactation, sows can easily develop shoulder sores, which in turn become infected. Could a little padding help?
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Positive interactions with sows reduce piglet crushing
Encouraging staff to have more direct involvement with managing and handling sows can have positive impacts on herd welfare and mortality rates, say scientists.
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Processing fluids hold promise for PCV2 testing on sow farms
Understanding the pathogen status of a sow herd helps determine the prevention, control and treatment options to protect piglets as they grow. For PCV2 there is no treatment; however, vaccination is...
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Optimizing nutrition key to unlocking full benefits of immunocastration
An alternative technique to physical castration could offer US hog producers a host of financial and management benefits.
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Perineal scoring first clue to pelvic-organ prolapse in sow-mortality project
A large research project involving 104 US sow farms and 400,000 sows is expected to identify factors related to the recent increase in sow mortalities caused by pelvic-organ prolapses.
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Why did sow-mortality rates jump to 15%?
The spike in sow-mortality rates over the past decade has prompted the US pork industry to hunt for answers.
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Inflammation, stress put pressure on sow longevity
In recent years, producers have focused on pigs per sow per year and number of pigs weaned to maximize profits, but increased litter size puts pressure on sow longevity.
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Carthage vets focusing on ‘regional’ IAV-S vaccination strategies for breeding herds
As influenza viruses evolve, is there a more effective way to manage vaccinations for influenza A virus in swine?
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Mycoplasma control starts with stabilizing sow herd
Economic losses caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae run between $3 to $10 per finishing hog due to reduced pig performance, according to Elise Toohill, DVM, Carthage Veterinary Service.
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Australia’s experience with castration alternative should give global confidence, producer says
Australian consumer acceptance of a technology that offers an alternative to physical castration should give more pork producers the confidence to use it, says one of Australia’s leading pork...
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Animal welfare key to pork producers’ continuous improvement
Animal well-being is not a new concept and has long been a priority on hog farms. “It’s one of the ethical principles within the industry’s We Care initiative,” said Sherry Webb,...
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Why sows leave the herd: Biological priorities and productivity
When it comes to sow productivity, culling and mortality issues, “the simple answer is there’s no simple answer,” John Deen, DVM, University of Minnesota swine epidemiologist, told Pig Health...
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Connor: No clear winner in pen- versus crate-gestation debate
Sow housing during gestation continues to draw debate as some hog operations make a switch from crates to pens for gestation. The results are mixed.
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Yeske: Multiple factors contributing to rising sow-mortality rates
The spike in sow-mortality rates in recent years has everyone in the US pork industry searching for answers. Don’t expect any simple solutions, however.
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Streptococcus suis leads SHIC’s Swine Bacterial Disease Matrix list
Viruses tend to get first priority when it comes to monitoring swine diseases and herd health, but bacteria can wreak just as much havoc.
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Castration alternative boosting efficiency, quality and welfare in Brazil
Pig producers in Brazil are improving efficiency, quality and welfare standards thanks to a novel alternative to physical castration, says a prominent swine veterinarian and meat scientist.
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Needles & Sins: Sloppy vaccination protocols can jeopardize herd health, welfare, returns
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.
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Strep suis resurfacing to challenge high-health herds
What’s old is new again — or at least that’s what some high-health herds are finding with Streptococcus suis (Strep suis).
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Castration rule change a chance for Europe’s producers to get ‘smarter, faster’
Changes to rules around pig castration in Europe should be viewed as an opportunity to improve welfare and efficiencies rather than a problem producers need to overcome, says a pig health expert.
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Seven tips for fine tuning sow feed efficiency
Want to know what’s really impacting your bottom line? Get down to slat level, says a sow-management specialist. That’s where the less obvious feed-related factors could be stealing your ROI.
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‘We’ve almost forgotten that boars just perform better’
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...
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Immunocastrated pigs eat less, convert more efficiently, so what’s holding them back in the US?
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...
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Two tactics to reduce stillborns and improve piglet survival
Two midwestern sow operations recently discussed how each achieves high piglet-survival rates by using different techniques to attend farrowing.
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Piglets are key subpopulation in keeping IAV-S circulating
When it comes to influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S), the relationship between the sow’s immune status and piglet protection remains perplexing.
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Yeske: Mycoplasma elimination ‘always a good strategy’
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.
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Retailers setting their sights on pain management in pig production
Although antibiotics and sow housing have remained center stage in recent years, retailers are increasingly putting pressure on producers to address pain management as part of their...
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What’s driving the surge in sow mortality?
Sow mortality in US herds has trended upward in recent years, and identifying the reasons has frustrated producers and veterinarians alike.
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IPIC targeting losses from sow mortality
Healthy and productive sows help ensure profitable and efficient herds. So, when the sow mortality rate due to pelvic organ prolapse started to increase throughout the industry for no apparent...
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PRRSV in finishers may contribute to the disease on sow farms
It’s time to consider the role finishing pigs play in the spread of PRRSV to sow farms.
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Batch farrowing offers smaller sow farms improved disease control
Independent sow farms grouped together and using batch farrowing may be able to capture the same health advantages as a 5,000-sow farm with all-in, all-out production.
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Cull-sow market endangers foreign animal-disease prevention
The US cull-sow market could threaten containment plans if a foreign animal-disease (FAD) outbreak occurred in the US, according to Jim Lowe, DVM, associate professor at the University of Illinois.
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Colostrum intake at birth sets up pig for life
How much colostrum a piglet consumes on day 1 impacts the pig’s performance for the rest of its life, according to a North Carolina State University study.
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Future vaccines rely on other pathways for delivery
What developing technologies and products will make vaccine administration and compliance easier in the future?
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Pig vaccination 101
Employees can make a big difference in herd health by properly administering vaccines. But employees don’t always know the correct protocols and why vaccinations are so important.
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How long do mycoplasma-negative herds stay negative?
Most hog farms successfully stamp out mycoplasma pneumonia when they work with their veterinarian to eliminate the disease. The challenge is preventing reinfection.
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Food-chain specialist: Communicate the emotional side of pork production, not the technical
The food supply chain has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. “It’s so much more complex and consumer driven,” said Justin Ransom, supply chain strategist. “Today’s consumer can ask...
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Boar stud requires high health status, zero tolerance for biosecurity errors
A boar stud producing semen for thousands of sows needs to maintain excellent health with the highest level of biosecurity possible.
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What you need to know about CSI auditors
Anyone who owns hogs or hog buildings should expect a visit someday by an auditor who will conduct an animal-welfare and food-safety audit. Usually a packer or processor requests the audit, which is...
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Urine-sampling options make it easier to evaluate gilt and sow health
Urine samples are an effective but underutilized diagnostic tool for evaluating the nutritional, physiological and health status of gilts and sows.
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Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: ‘Fix the gilts, fix Mycoplasma’
There’s a lot we think we know about M. hyo under field conditions, but there’s a paucity of peer-reviewed literature to support much of the conventional wisdom we swine veterinarians apply to...
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Scientists aim to breed out sow aggression
Scientists at Michigan State University (MSU) are hoping to help pig producers improve herd welfare thanks to a $1 million project aimed at finding ways to breed out sow aggression.
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Anti-GnRH vaccine prevents unwanted pregnancies in Iberian gilts
A vaccine that temporarily delays puberty in gilts may help Iberian pork producers avoid unwanted pregnancies in free-range herds.
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IAV-S elimination in breed-to-wean herds is challenging — but possible
Influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) continues to present an ever-changing health challenge in breed-to-wean populations.
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Routes of Senecavirus A transmission identified in breeding herds
A study of the way swine breeding herds were likely infected with Senecavirus A (SVA) underscores the importance of encouraging adherence to biosecurity procedures.
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Colostrum may be best sample for PCV2 on sow farms
Colostrum may be the best sample to test for determining whether porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is present in sow herds, according to researchers at Iowa State University (ISU).
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Boar-taint vaccination associated with less male aggression in Australian study
Boar-taint vaccination improved the welfare of male pigs kept under commercial conditions by inhibiting sexual and aggressive behavior, according to new research from Australia.
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Enriched pens linked to less gestational stress, lower piglet mortality
Housing sows in enriched pens can reduce stress and have a positive impact on the development and survival rate of piglets, according to scientists.
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Benefits of castration alternative presented at global pig-health event
Two world-renowned experts discussed the economic and welfare benefits of using a novel castration alternative at the 2016 International Pig Veterinary Society conference in Dublin.
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