People play a key role in influenza control
Oct 14, 2021Susan Spiegel
Farm staff should be mindful of the role they play in controlling influenza. A University of Minnesota study showed that more than a quarter of farm staff tested influenza-positive at work during...
3 steps to prepare your herd for influenza season
Oct 01, 2021Susan Spiegel
Pigs can contract influenza anytime during the year but more influenza circulates in the fall and winter months. That’s why producers should prepare ahead of the traditional flu season.
Techniques to curtail rising sow-lameness problems
Sep 07, 2021Susan Spiegel
Sow-lameness issues are on the rise, especially for sows in group housing, according to Michael Pierdon, VMD, Four Star Veterinary Service.
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Early identification critical in preventing sow lameness
Aug 19, 2021Susan Spiegel
Sow lameness continues to trouble hog operations in the US, causing high numbers of involuntary removals from herds.
Caregivers play a leading role in individual sow care and longevity
Aug 10, 2021Susan Spiegel
Caregiver management and training are top priorities on swine farms as productivity hinges on the outcome. Yet few things are more challenging.
Sow mortality trends: Experts dissect the current state of affairs
Aug 05, 2021Susan Spiegel
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.
Advances in sampling offer greater success in enteric disease control
Jul 08, 2021Susan Spiegel
Producers and veterinarians should “begin with the end in mind” when it comes to diagnosing disease and planning control strategies, according to Eric Burrough, DVM, PhD, associate professor and...
Testing feed-storage time and temperature to reduce virus survival risk
Jul 02, 2021Susan Spiegel
Swine viruses have been shown to hitch a ride in feed and feed ingredients, thereby increasing the infection risk. To address this, the swine industry has applied a range of mitigation techniques.
Managing Mycoplasma’s persistence in finishing
Jul 01, 2021Susan Spiegel
A dry cough heard in a finishing unit usually indicates M. hyo is causing respiratory distress and reducing growth in pigs almost ready for market.
Why it pays to conduct regular water-quality checkups
Jun 25, 2021Susan Spiegel
Water is as important for the growth and health of pigs as feed. As such, it makes sense to test a hog unit’s water just as frequently as the feed, according to Jim Kober, DVM, water...
Swine vaccine management requires continuous attention
Jun 23, 2021Susan Spiegel
The COVID-19 pandemic holds important lessons for swine health professionals not only about the nature of viruses, but also the importance of vaccines and the need to manage them carefully.
Free farrowing: More answers needed to serve animals and producers
Jun 23, 2021Susan Spiegel
Denmark’s hog farmers and veterinarians look to research to weigh trade-offs of free-farrowing design systems.
When swine medicine crossed over to human medicine
Jun 16, 2021Susan Spiegel
The tools used countless times to eradicate disease in sow herds and on hog farms became the tools to help pork packing plants reopen last spring after shutting down due to COVID-19.
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Combat seasonal infertility with strong husbandry
Jun 02, 2021Susan Spiegel
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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Three ways to assess your herd’s ‘positive welfare state’
Oct 30, 2020Susan Spiegel
The “Five Freedoms” have been the foundation for establishing sound animal welfare practices since they were developed in 1965. Now, more than 50 years later, researchers have additional tools...
Can’t we just let boars be boars?
Mar 28, 2019Susan Spiegel
By Larry Rueff, DVM
Swine Veterinary Services
Greensburg, Indiana
Managing pain, Strep suis infection in baby pigs critical for welfare
Jan 30, 2019Susan Spiegel
The US pork industry has demonstrated high standards for animal welfare, but there is still much to learn about mitigating pain — not only during processing, but also pain resulting from Strep...
ISU scientists pinpoint indicators of acute pain in neonatal pigs
Oct 25, 2017Susan Spiegel
Indicators of acute pain in piglets have been identified by researchers from Iowa State University (ISU).
Piglet pain control during castration still needs answers
May 17, 2017Susan Spiegel
Castrating male piglets to prevent boar taint at market age is a common occurrence on US hog farms. However, as consumer interest in on-farm practices and animal welfare grows, producers will need...
