Balancing good and bad bacteria key to effective gut health, nutrient absorption
Dec 28, 2017Susan Spiegel
Developing techniques and tools to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut is key to producing healthier pigs that require fewer antibiotics over the long term, according to swine...
Boar stud requires high health status, zero tolerance for biosecurity errors
Dec 21, 2017Susan Spiegel
A boar stud producing semen for thousands of sows needs to maintain excellent health with the highest level of biosecurity possible.
Pork producers gain ground against PRRS with reduced production losses
Dec 08, 2017Susan Spiegel
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) remains one of the most costly viruses infecting US herds. But an Iowa State University study showed the annual cost of PRRS dropped nearly $100...
Pig care: If there’s something off, don’t try to ‘look him well’
Dec 07, 2017Susan Spiegel
Watching pigs may not be glamorous or stimulating, but it’s a responsibility that Bob Blomme, DVM, takes very seriously.
Yeske: Provide better pig care — one animal at a time
Nov 26, 2017Susan Spiegel
Taking time to walk the pens, make eye contact with each pig and pull the sick ones for individual care seems to conflict with inherent efficiencies associated with population medicine.
Getting pigs off to a good start with better gut health
Nov 06, 2017Susan Spiegel
Improved education of caretakers is one way pork producers can help ensure their pigs have a healthy gut and get off to a good start, Noel Garbes, DVM, technical services veterinarian, Zoetis, told...
Is your hog farm prepared to navigate quarantines in a FAD outbreak?
Nov 02, 2017Susan Spiegel
Each year, approximately 25% of all the pork produced in the US is exported to other countries. Imagine if access to those markets closed abruptly. That’s the scenario pork producers would face if...
What PED taught us about handling future disease outbreaks
Oct 19, 2017Susan Spiegel
The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreak that devastated many US hog farms over the past 4 years served as a wake-up call for the pork industry to be more vigilant against foreign animal...
What you need to know about CSI auditors
Oct 12, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Virtual clinic drives better understanding of disease outbreaks
Oct 12, 2017Susan Spiegel
A virtual veterinary clinic that monitors pig-disease trends and provides an early alert system for diagnostic laboratories and swine practitioners is helping the US pork industry stay head of...
