Retailers setting their sights on pain management in pig production
May 01, 2018Susan Spiegel
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...
Dietary alternatives to antibiotics show mixed results in ISU research review
May 01, 2018Susan Spiegel
Given the task to find and review research on dietary alternatives for sub-therapeutic antibiotic growth promotants, Wes Schweer and a team of pork-industry experts didn’t know what to expect.
What’s driving the surge in sow mortality?
Apr 13, 2018Susan Spiegel
Sow mortality in US herds has trended upward in recent years, and identifying the reasons has frustrated producers and veterinarians alike.
Breeding sows without CD163 gene might ultimately eliminate PRRS virus
Apr 12, 2018Susan Spiegel
Sows without the CD163 gene are not only resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, they also give birth to healthy, normal piglets — a finding that could...
The cost of being wrong: Why cost-benefit analyses are replacing guesswork on swine farms
Mar 21, 2018Susan Spiegel
By Derald Holtkamp, MS, DVM
Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Ames, Iowa
Swift identification key to keeping emerging diseases at bay
Mar 16, 2018Susan Spiegel
Encouraging farm staff to identify changes in pig behavior and health is key to spotting signs of disease before it takes hold in a herd, according one of Canada’s top pig veterinarians.
‘Don’t blame antibiotics use on production systems,’ says UK pig sector
Mar 16, 2018Susan Spiegel
The UK pig sector has warned campaigners against oversimplifying the link between production systems and antibiotics use.
Is colostrum the ‘golden ticket’ to driving down antibiotic use?
Mar 16, 2018Susan Spiegel
UK swine farmers are being urged to recognize the value of giving newborn pigs good-quality colostrum as part of industry efforts to drive down antibiotics use.
Pig feed reminder over African Swine Fever concerns
Mar 05, 2018Susan Spiegel
UK pig keepers are being reminded to avoid feeding animals food waste and check their biosecurity measures to help prevent outbreaks of diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF).
Antibiotic-free production: What lessons can pork learn from poultry?
Feb 22, 2018Susan Spiegel
A rapid increase in the use of vaccines for respiratory and enteric diseases in swine over the past year will ultimately allow a reduction in antibiotic use, predicted Joe Connor, DVM, swine...
