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Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Welfare, Podcasts, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Deen: We’re underestimating the cost of sow mortality
Jan 14, 2022Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Deen: We’re underestimating the cost of sow mortality
When a sow doesn’t reach her full potential, the cost to the farm and the income stream of the sow herd is often “grossly underestimated,” said John Deen, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota.
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Fostera® PRRS effective, lasting, safe despite ‘worst-case’ challenges
Dec 08, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Fostera® PRRS effective, lasting, safe despite ‘worst-case’ challenges
DISCOVERIES, Issue 26: It’s well known that modified-live PRRS vaccines help reduce production losses in breeding herds with PRRS. But when the challenge is especially severe, how well and for how...
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Late-weaned, parity-1 sows benefit from skipped cycle
Nov 11, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Late-weaned, parity-1 sows benefit from skipped cycle
Gilts entering a farrowing room face some big demands for animals still maturing while supporting their first litters. Skipping a breeding cycle can let these sows put on weight and become more...
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Breeding Herd, Diagnostics, FSVS, Global TOPICS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, PRRS, SVC, TOPICS, Videos
Virus persistence challenges PRRS management strategies
Oct 12, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Evaluating risk factors for umbilical defects
Oct 08, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Evaluating risk factors for umbilical defects
On the farm, swine caregivers tend to lump umbilical hernias and umbilical abscesses under the single category of umbilical defects. What are the risk factors for these defects?
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Johnson: Batch farrowing shows benefits
Sep 30, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Better manage your sow herd with uniform body-condition technique
Sep 29, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Research continues to dig for POP answers
Sep 20, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Research continues to dig for POP answers
Searching for strategies to alter the course of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in sows has been a long, slow climb with progress coming little by little. At the heart of the effort is the Sow...
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Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Rethinking colostrum management and piglet survivability
Sep 20, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Sow mortality records need an overhaul
Sep 10, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, PRRS, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Revised herd classifications expand the PRRS road map
Sep 08, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Sep 04, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Biosecurity, Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Strep suis continuously challenges US herds
Sep 01, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 25, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 24, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 10, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 05, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Pig Welfare, SVC, TOP NEWS
Sow mortality trends: Experts dissect the current state of affairs
Aug 05, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jul 18, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Pig Welfare, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
Combat seasonal infertility with strong husbandry
Jun 02, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Processing fluids provide an option to monitor PCV2 and PCVAD
May 16, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 30, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Castration alternative boosting efficiency, quality and welfare in Brazil
Jan 31, 2021Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOPICS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, SVC, TOPICS, Videos
Deen: Batch farrowing requires ‘different mindset’
Dec 16, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Sep 20, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 31, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Diagnostics, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Research, SVC, TOP NEWS
Pen-side diagnostic comparisons for nursed-off sows and fallback pigs
Jun 28, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jun 03, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
May 13, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 27, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 24, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 22, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 01, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Mar 10, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Feb 03, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
Lowering pre-wean mortality starts at day 1
Feb 03, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jan 31, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
Strategies to move more pigs from birth to harvest
Jan 10, 2020Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Researchers tackle survivability issues head-on
Nov 14, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, Respiratory Health, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Mycoplasma elimination possible, but more difficult on farrow-to-finish sites
Nov 11, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Podcasts, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Sow pads show promise for reducing shoulder sores, related infections
Nov 03, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 13, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 06, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jun 13, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 26, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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%?
Apr 04, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
Inflammation, stress put pressure on sow longevity
Mar 25, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Mar 16, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Mar 14, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Mar 07, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Feb 27, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
Why sows leave the herd: Biological priorities and productivity
Feb 27, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jan 22, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jan 14, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Antibiotic Management, Breeding Herd, Emerging Diseases, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Respiratory Health, TOP NEWS
Streptococcus suis leads SHIC’s Swine Bacterial Disease Matrix list
Jan 07, 2019Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Needles & Sins: Sloppy vaccination protocols can jeopardize herd health, welfare, returns
Oct 19, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Oct 11, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Seven tips for fine tuning sow feed efficiency
Oct 09, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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’
Aug 23, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on ‘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?
Jul 10, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jun 24, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
May 18, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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’
May 17, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
May 01, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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?
Apr 13, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 11, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Apr 09, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOPICS, Interviews, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, Respiratory Health, TOPICS, Videos
Batch farrowing offers smaller sow farms improved disease control
Apr 04, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Biosecurity, Breeding Herd, Emerging Diseases, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, TOPICS, Videos
Cull-sow market endangers foreign animal-disease prevention
Mar 12, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Feb 25, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Feb 25, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Feb 25, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, Respiratory Health, TOP NEWS, Videos
How long do mycoplasma-negative herds stay negative?
Feb 19, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jan 01, 2018Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Dec 21, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Oct 12, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Sep 26, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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’
Sep 25, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Aug 25, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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IAV-S elimination in breed-to-wean herds is challenging — but possible
Jul 21, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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
Jun 20, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Breeding Herd, Global TOPICS, Growing Pigs, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Porcine Circovirus, Research, TOPICS
Colostrum may be best sample for PCV2 on sow farms
Jun 20, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Time to reboot disease surveillance
May 19, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Time to reboot disease surveillance
US pork production has gone through dramatic changes over recent decades, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the challenge that infectious disease presents. Swine veterinarians, researchers and...
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Oral fluids offer practical on-farm disease surveillance
May 18, 2017Jennifer GrullonComments Off on Oral fluids offer practical on-farm disease surveillance
Monitoring the spread of a pathogen is one part of disease surveillance. But early identification is another part — arguably with growing importance as millions of pigs move across state lines each...
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Boar-taint vaccination associated with less male aggression in Australian study
Dec 15, 2016Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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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Benefits of castration alternative presented at global pig-health event
Sep 13, 2016Jennifer GrullonComments Off on 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.