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Researchers ‘look beyond the normal’ to identify emerging disease
The first case of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Strep. zoo) was identified in the US pig population last fall, and it’s not an organism to be taken lightly.
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New approaches to influenza control look promising
Influenza-A virus of swine (IAV-S) is a thorn in the side of US pork producers, and it’s a difficult thorn to remove. If the virus were more pathogenic, veterinarians and producers would probably...
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‘Controlled colonization’ builds immune response to bacterial pathogens
Bacterial pathogens like Streptococcus suis and Haemophilus parasuis continue to cause major issues for growing and adult pigs. Dr. Brad Leuwerke offers some good solutions.
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Addressing ‘unknown factors’ in sow mortality
Sow mortality has been on the rise in the US pork industry, reaching upwards of 15% in many sow-production systems, said Ashley Johnson, DVM, technical services veterinarian with Zoetis.
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Rate of PCV2 recombination not widely recognized
TOOLBOX, Issue 16: An interview with Meggan Bandrick, DVM, PhD Associate Director, Global Biologics Research, Zoetis
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Feed mitigants offer positive production and virus protection results
For the past 18 months Scott Dee, DVM, director of research at Pipestone Veterinary Services, has been investigating whether feed mitigants can protect against the transmission of certain swine...
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Swine Health Information Center: Preparing for emerging diseases
Whether the issue is an emerging disease such as porcine epidemic diarrhea or the threat of African swine fever, being prepared is key to minimizing the potential impact on the US swine herd and...
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Veterinarians, mind your mental health
Veterinarians deal with stress under the best circumstances. But in this time of difficult decisions for pork producers and those who service them due to COVID-19, maintaining mental health is even...
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Tools for managing pigs without antibiotics
Raising pigs without antibiotics requires extra management and different tools compared to traditional commercial hog production.
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Maintaining welfare standards in the face of a pandemic
By Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd.
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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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Vaccine trial data versus lineage: What’s the best way to predict PRRS vaccine performance?
TOOLBOX, Issue 20: An interview with Eva Jablonski, DVM, PRRS Specialist, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis
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More accurate gilt testing needed to detect Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Sow herds seeking negative M. hyo status should use accurate gilt surveillance methods.
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What we learned from PED applies to COVID-19
Swine veterinarians and producers may feel déjà vu when they hear about the COVID-19 epidemic in the US.
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Managing pig flows when harvest capacity is restricted
By Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd
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Neonatal pigs with low levels of viremia may benefit from PRRS vaccination
TOOLBOX, Issue 9: An interview with Jose Angulo, DVM, PRRS Specialist, Managing Veterinarian, Zoetis
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Watch your Strep: Keep your guard up for this evolving bacterium
Few things remain the same for long on a hog farm. By the very nature of today’s production system, pigs are continuously moving on or off a site. One thing that remains constant is Strep suis.
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Inadequate iron supplements cause subclinical anemia in weaned pigs
The standard 200 mg iron shot for baby pigs at processing may not be enough iron to last until weaning.
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Free booklet offers insights on responsible, effective antimicrobial use in swine
Antibiotics remain essential tools for maintaining high levels of herd health and welfare, but veterinarians and producers must use them responsibly.
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Gebhart: Cracking the Strep suis code
Streptococcus suis (Strep suis) is becoming more prevalent and more complex in US swine herds. The coccoid-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium is also a zoonotic disease, capable of transmission from...
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Moving pig health to the back burner — if only for a moment
By Larry Rueff, DVM, Swine Vet Services, Greensburg, Indiana
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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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German researchers: Pigs, poultry not susceptible to COVID-19
Scientists in Germany have confirmed that pigs and chickens are not susceptible to COVID-19.
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Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: New strategies for an old ‘bug’
Managing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) is nothing new for US pig veterinarians and producers, but there are a number of new tools available to deal with the bacterium.
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Chronic PED cases linger, setting the stage for elimination
The wild run of porcine epidemic diarrhea striking the pork industry in 2013 has slowed substantially, but chronic versions continue to plague some farms.
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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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Diagnostic experts: PCV3 is common in US swine herds
PCV3 was first reported in 2016, but appears to have been present in swine populations decades prior to that time. PCV3 strains are similar to one another but are very different from PCV2.
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Moving parts: Integrated, holistic approach needed for effective mycoplasma control
Renewed interest in M. hyo and its impact on herd health and performance has prompted producers and veterinarians to re-evaluate control strategies for the costly bacterial disease.
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Deadly swine-disease outbreak at buying station triggers search for mystery pathogen
When a call came in last September reporting very high, unexplained sow mortalities, Daniel Gascho, DVM, didn’t expect it to be anything unusual, but he found quite the opposite.
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Swine dysentery makes an unwelcome comeback
Just when US pork producers thought swine dysentery was a problem of the past, it has re-emerged for an unwelcome encore in a slightly different form.
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Grow-finish mortalities require fast action followed by prevention plan
Nothing grabs the attention of a grow-finish unit and its veterinarian faster than an uptick in mortalities.
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Four Star Veterinary Service Pork Industry Conference postponed until July 21; same place, same speakers
Registration is now open for the 2020 Pork Industry Conference organized by Four Star Veterinary Service, a business with locations in five states and 17 veterinarians focused on pig health.
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Lessons from the barn: Avoiding gremlins
By Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd., Carthage, Illinois
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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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Prepare for African swine fever outbreak with Secure Pork Supply plan
A growing threat of African swine fever (ASF) has convinced US pork producers to prepare for the worst with a Secure Pork Supply plan.
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Moving biosecurity from the farm to the feed mill
An effective biosecurity strategy is not a stagnant process. It is continuously influenced by changes in pig-flows, disease pressures, virus evolution, emerging health issues and more.
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Do’s and don’ts of cephalosporin use in swine
TOOLBOX, Issue 15: An interview with John W. Hallberg, DVM, PhD, Director, US Regulatory Affairs, Zoetis
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MetaStim®: The best balance of humoral, cellular immunity
TOOLBOX, Issue 17: An interview with Dennis Foss, DVM, PhD, Research Director, Zoetis Global Biologicals Swine
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Ellis: No magic bullet to reduce pre-wean mortality
Pre-wean mortality has increased over the last 15 years, and it’s a major concern for US pork producers and veterinarians.
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8 key factors drive success when raising pigs without antibiotics
Producers need to recognize there will always be health challenges when raising pigs without antibiotics. The goal is to resolve those challenges as they arise.
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Outmaneuvering PRRSV requires a better understanding of genetic diversity
PRRSV is constantly evolving, resulting in an extremely diverse virus with multiple lineages, but building a better understanding of that genetic diversity is the next step to making real progress...
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Deen: Apply old lessons to new technologies
Classical education emphasizes the need for industries to adopt new technologies to keep up with external demands and constantly changing economic environments.
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Pollmann: Make the most of your human capital
The US pork industry is challenging under the best of circumstances, with enough variables to make even astute, savvy businesspeople cautious. However, one of the biggest components of a successful,...
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Connor: Disease elimination can lower the cost of production
US producers have robust export markets and a lower cost of production than many other countries, but Joe Connor, DVM, says cost of production could be even lower.
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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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Aureomix S finding its niche, and then some, in VFD era
TOOLBOX, Issue 4: An interview with Thomas Painter, DVM, US Pork Technical Services, Zoetis
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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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Lessons learned: How a modern hog farm in Russia recovered from ASF
China’s African swine fever epidemic may offer a grim view of life with the disease. But its neighbor Russia has proven recovery from ASF is possible.
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New Individual Sow Care program from Zoetis aims to reduce losses, optimize performance and well-being
Looking to help the U.S. pork industry raise the bar for performance and reverse the surge in sow mortality rates, Zoetis has introduced Individual Sow Care.
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Pig Health Today launches Zoetis News Center
Pig Health Today has introduced the Zoetis News Center — a special section of the popular news website that features insights from Zoetis’ pig-health experts, plus updates on company-sponsored...
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Veterinarian says VFD led to more strategic antibiotic use
The Food and Drug Administration’s revised rules for antibiotic use in hogs, including the VFD, has led to a reduction in and more strategic use of antibiotics in swine.
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PCV3 is ‘absolutely’ a pathogen but proceed with caution
Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is “absolutely” a pathogen but merely finding the virus isn’t enough to conclude it’s the cause of disease.
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Comprehensive, data-driven approach to lower wean-finish mortality
Identifying the source of wean-to-finish mortality can be a challenge, since factors affecting that stage of production may have originated earlier — on the sow farm, in the farrowing barn or at...
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Maintain mycoplasma-negative herds with laryngeal swab tests from incoming gilts
Sow farms that have eradicated M. hyo must continue surveillance to keep the pathogen out or the results will be devastating.
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No. 1 biosecurity lesson: Never stop improving
The first lesson of biosecurity, according to Andrea Pitkin, DVM, health assurance veterinarian for PIC, is to learn, modify and adapt because new threats can surface at any time.
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The Maschhoffs combine technology and coaching to build a biosecurity culture
Biosecurity on hog farms is serious business, and it’s no secret that success hinges on how well protocols are carried out. For years, emphasis has been on building a “biosecurity culture,” and...
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Fogging helps establish Day 0 for M. hyo elimination
Maintaining a healthy herd takes time, energy and constant emphasis on biosecurity, Amy Maschhoff, DVM, told Pig Health Today.
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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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Hit delete: Vet says you don’t have to live with mycoplasma
M. hyo is a bacterium that US producers don’t have to live with. Elimination can be successful and cost-effective.
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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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Population-based diagnostics pinpoint the power in numbers
The world of diagnostics is expanding. Instead of focusing on individual animals, population-based diagnostics help veterinarians and producers identify the health status of their barns more quickly...
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Biosecurity: A practical approach
By Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd.. Carthage, Illinois
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Foreign animal diseases and the line of last resort
By Larry Rueff, DVM, Swine Veterinary Services, Greensburg, Indiana
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Researchers expand understanding of virus transmission in feed
As African swine fever virus continues to march across the globe, the US pork sector is laser focused on keeping it from reaching the homeland.
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Is fogging an M. hyo-elimination option for your swine herd?
Paul Yeske, DVM, with the Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minn., has seen repeatable success with M. hyo elimination, along with the downstream effect of lower cost of production, better average daily...
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Feed, water, air and comfort: Keys to prevent tail biting
Tail biting in pigs remains something of a mystery. What triggers a pig or pigs to bite tails? Why do some express this vice and others do not?
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It’s back: Clinical outbreak of PCV2 in genetic herds reported
A clinical outbreak of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) occurred this past winter in otherwise healthy, well-vaccinated herds, Clayton Johnson, DVM, of Carthage Veterinary Service, told Pig Health...
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Processing fluids’ effectiveness in monitoring PCV2 in sow herds
Vaccines have provided effective control options for PCV2, but vertical transmission remains a challenge for some farms.
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Steps to mitigate cross-contamination of piglet processing fluids with PRRS MLV
As piglets move from the sow farm to the growing stage, it’s important to know their porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) status.
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Survey says: RWA production adversely affects pig health and welfare
Swine producers and veterinarians responding to a national survey said pressure to maintain the raised without antibiotics (RWA) label sometimes compromises animal health and welfare.
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Carthage swine veterinarian: Focus on individual pig care can benefit entire production system
Taking care of every single pig seems like a daunting task when producers have hundreds or thousands of pigs under their care. Still, the rewards are well worth the effort.
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Pipestone nutritionist highlights advancements to improve pig health
Producers know if a pig has good gut health in the nursery, it’s more likely to get off to a good start in the grow-finish barn. But with increased pressure on antibiotic use, nutritionists are...
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Phase I of pelvic organ prolapse study offers new insights
A pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a dramatic, easy-to-identify event within the farrowing room. The difficult part is figuring out the cause and applying a solution.
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On the road again? Be careful not to pig out
Swine veterinarians putting in long days on the road caring for pigs should be just as cognizant of their own health and nutritional needs.
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Smithfield veterinarian aims to connect dots on animal welfare
For Mary Battrell, DVM, a swine veterinarian for Smithfield Foods, animal welfare is the connection between animal health, well-being and performance; and optimizing that connection improves...
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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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Impact of control options for Streptococcus suis and Haemophilus parasuis
Helping piglets make a smooth transition at weaning is always a priority, but bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus suis and Haemophilus parasuis can make that goal particularly challenging.
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Debriefing: Retrospective on the VFD experience
By Clayton Johnson, DVM Carthage Veterinary Service Integrated Veterinary Network
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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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PRRS in growing pigs linked to sow outbreaks
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in growing pigs may play an important role in PRRS outbreaks among sow herds.
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Does PRRS influence weaned pigs’ nutritional response?
In the past 30 years, the growth and body composition of US market hogs has changed dramatically, but the same cannot be said for dietary vitamin and mineral levels.
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A simple scoring system can provide insights into tail biting and lameness
Tail biting and lameness directly impact the well-being of growing pigs, which in turn impacts their productivity and the farm’s economics.
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Resurgence of ‘old’ bacterial diseases in pigs: Why?
Three bacterial diseases considered under control recently flared up creating new challenges in hog operations. The older diseases include Haemophilus parasuis (parasuis), Streptococcus suis (strep)...
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Know the feed risk factors for African swine fever
As African swine fever (ASF) continues its insidious spread through China and surrounding countries, the need to keep it out of US herds becomes more imperative.
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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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National ASF-surveillance plan: What you need to know
The pork industry leans heavily on diagnostics to minimize the impact of disease, but they’re especially critical for monitoring African swine fever (ASF) and other trade-limiting foreign animal...
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Data show filtered farms break less often with PRRS
Nine years of data from the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project show farms with air-filtering systems have fewer outbreaks of PRRS than farms without filters.
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African swine fever, Strep suis hot topics at 2019 Leman Conference
The threat of African swine fever and its impact on the global protein market will be among several keynote lectures planned during the upcoming 2019 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul,...
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Connor: ASF fears prompting broader view of biosecurity
Maintaining good biosecurity has long been key to advancing the health, well-being and productivity of hog farms, but the threat of African swine fever has raised the bar and prompted veterinarians...
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Adequate gilt acclimation helps minimize the PRRSV ‘tax’
By Clayton Johnson, DVM Carthage Veterinary Service Integrated Veterinary Network
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Summer Solstice Special: Managing Heat Stress in Pigs
Behold the Summer Solstice, a good time to think about the hot, steamy days ahead and how they'll affect swine health, welfare and performance. Pig Health Today talked with experts about helping pigs...
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Davies: Focus on optimizing antibiotic use, not volume
The US pork industry has a good track record for using antibiotics responsibly, but how should it be graded for its efforts? By volume? Types of antibiotics used? Resistance trends?
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Ractopamine has little influence on iodine value in pig fat carcass
TOOLBOX, Issue 14: An interview with Daniel Nelson, PhD, PAS, Senior Swine Nutritionist, Zoetis
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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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On the road again? Don’t forget Pig Health Today podcasts
Most of Pig Health Today’s video interviews with leading health experts and other opinion leaders can be downloaded as podcasts and listened to on mobile devices or through audio systems of most...
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Five challenges facing swine veterinarians — and how to address them
Today’s swine veterinarians are great multitaskers by necessity, said Deborah Murray, DVM, veterinary services manager, with New Fashion Pork, Jackson, Minnesota, at the 2019 AASV meeting.
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Early identification key to managing lameness in sow herds
By Claire LeFevre, DVM, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd., Carthage, Illinois
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Feed-mill biosecurity critical to reducing disease transmission
Feed and feed ingredients are generating a lot of interest as possible vectors in transmitting swine diseases.
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Some aspects of Senecavirus A continue to mystify researchers
While the spikes of Senecavirus A have plateaued in recent years, researchers in the pork industry are still confounded by the elusive virus and what triggers outbreaks.
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Emerging technologies at AASV: Four new tools to boost efficiency
Between tight margins and constant herd-health challenges, pork producers are always looking for new ways to increase efficiencies and profits while also increasing transparency.
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Senecavirus A: Several questions remain unanswered
Senecavirus A (SVA) is detected in a pig’s tonsils about 40 days after infection with the virus — a finding that raises some interesting questions.
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Emerging technologies at AASV: Three cool tools headed to hog farms
The so-called Internet of Things — that emerging world in which everyday tools like thermostats and doorbells suddenly become indispensable smart devices — is not lost on the pork industry.
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Aureomix S provides effective replacement for Mecadox
TOOLBOX, Issue 12: An interview with Thomas Painter, DVM, Senior Technical Service Veterinarian,Zoetis
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Picking your battles is key to biosecurity success
Biosecurity is one of those on-farm topics that gets a lot of time and attention, but it can easily fall apart in the day-to-day reality of managing pigs.
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Today’s forecast: Scattered PRRS outbreaks with isolated sprinkles of PED
Forecasting swine-disease outbreaks might become a lot like predicting the weather as scientists combine monitoring disease data with computer models.
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What to do when emotions run high in a disease break
Any way you look at it, going through a disease break on a farm is difficult. “The pigs are easy; it’s the people that make things difficult.”
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Reducing stress can aid pig health, performance
Pigs can get stressed, just like people, and the impact can be just as serious.
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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 do summer PRRS breaks last longer than winter breaks?
Summer outbreaks of PRRS take 15 weeks longer to stabilize than PRRS outbreaks beginning in the winter, according to data from the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP).
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Imported feed ingredients: Supplier’s sourcing, biosecurity, shipping vital to product integrity, safety
Brian Payne, DVM, technical services veterinarian at Zoetis, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about African swine fever (ASF) and the possible risks of importing the virus through...
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Lincomix offers flexible dose rate for M. hyo
TOOLBOX, Issue 7: An interview with Thomas Painter, DVM, US Pork Technical Services, Zoetis
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What’s your ‘risk attitude’? The role of human behavior in biosecurity
How human behavior impacts biosecurity decisions is a new frontier that’s critical to producers.
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AVMA releases first-ever guidelines for depopulation of animals
The AVMA has published its first ever Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals to help veterinarians support animal welfare in situations where the difficult decision to depopulate has been made.
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Multiple infections? It’s important to get to the root cause
Disease management can be challenging. You have a list of possible causes, but unless you get to the root cause, those symptoms are likely to recur.
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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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Secure Pork Supply plan updated to meet changing FAD needs
With African swine fever (ASF) well established in China and parts of Europe, US pork producers need to take steps now to protect their interests in the face of an outbreak.
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Dee: Mitigants combined with extended storage time help guard against virus transmission
Feed additives that mitigate viruses, combined with extended storage times, could help protect the US pork industry from African swine fever and other foreign animal diseases.
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Understanding feed flow, biosecurity critical in ASF battle
The US pork industry is nervous about African swine fever (ASF) and other foreign animal diseases entering the country — and for good reason.
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Can’t we just let boars be boars?
By Larry Rueff, DVM Swine Veterinary Services Greensburg, Indiana
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Action plan, training keys to humane euthanasia of pigs
A critical part of humane animal care on pig farms is responsible and timely euthanasia. However, identifying individuals for the job, training them and having a plan to carry out the process can...
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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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USDA expands ASF awareness tools to keep the virus out of the US
USDA has committed new resources to raising the awareness of African swine fever (ASF) and the importance of keeping the virus from entering the US.
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Are you giving M. hyo the attention it deserves?
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) isn’t a new problem in the pork industry. I’s been around for years, but that’s exactly the point: Why is the industry still wrestling with it?
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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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New technologies may yield new insights on antibiotic use, resistance
The pork industry has a reputation for using antibiotics responsibly, but when the industry looks at antimicrobial use and tries to understand how products either mitigate or promote resistance,...
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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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Roundtable: Industry structure, culture, wild boars team up to intensify ASF threat in China
The discovery of African swine fever (ASF) in China’s wild boar population in late 2018 adds a new dimension to the already ominous disease threat — one that could possibly leave the Chinese to...
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USDA steps up measures to prevent ASF spread to the US
As the spread of African swine fever (ASF) across Asia shows no signs of slowing, US pork producers have watched with a nervous eye toward international commerce and travel.
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Is it time to eliminate PED from US herds?
By Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd., Carthage, Illinois
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Gene editing offers future options to address swine diseases
Whether the focus is human or animal medicine, gene editing has created a buzz today about its potential for addressing numerous health issues.
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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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‘One Health’ approach needed to balance antibiotic usage, animal welfare
When it comes to responsible antibiotic management, there are wide-ranging views and interpretations on usage, impact, future direction and even terminology.
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FDA’s antibiotic guidance and VFDs continue a smooth transition
It’s fast approaching 2 years since the FDA implemented its revised guidance for antibiotic use in food animals. At the center of the effort is the veterinary feed directive (VFD).
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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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Keep guard up for strep, parasuis in newly weaned pigs
Newly weaned pigs face many challenges — new environment, feed, pen mates. They also face the challenge of bacterial infections like strep and parasuis, the two most common systemic bacterial...
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Strategies to weaken PRRS’ grip on US herds
After more than three decades, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) remains a serious disease threat to swine units in the US.
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Producer priorities drive NPB swine-health research
There’s no shortage of swine-health issues that would benefit from research investment, but when it comes to allocating Pork Checkoff funds, producers make the decisions.
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New council to direct swine-disease response
For years, the USDA and US pork industry have had plans in place to address a foreign animal disease, but PED and ASF developments raised the priority status to a new level.
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Rapid Response Plan offers CSI team for emerging diseases
Determining the cause of a peculiar health condition in pigs is not unlike a crime scene investigation (CSI). The veterinarian, producer and diagnosticians search for clues into what, how and why the...
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Tale of two viruses: PCV3 impact unknown while PCV2 continues to evolve
Genetic sequencing demonstrates that porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is significantly different from PCV2, but otherwise little is known about the virus.
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A question of when: How the US pork industry is preparing for a possible FAD outbreak
This is the second in a two-part series on foreign animal diseases. Part 1 looks at the economic impact of a FAD outbreak.
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Special report: FAD outbreak could cost US agriculture $200 billion over 10 years
This is the first in a two-part series on foreign animal diseases. Part 2 looks at what the US pork industry is doing to head off an FAD outbreak and to prepare for one.
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How FADs have affected foreign markets
Since the middle of the 20th century, numerous foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreaks involving the pork industry have been recorded throughout the world.
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Veterinarian sees changes to three high-risk swine diseases
Three diseases affecting finishing hogs — Senecavirus A, porcine sapelovirus and erysipelas — have undergone changes over the past year that warrant the pork industry’s attention.
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BMD®: What is its future in pork production?
TOOLBOX, Issue 5: An interview with Daniel Nelson, PhD, PAS, Senior Swine Nutritionist, Zoetis
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Don’t lose sight of M. hyo while battling other swine pathogens
TOOLBOX, Issue 1: An interview with Lucina Galina Pantoja, DVM, PhD, Director, Swine Technical Services, Zoetis
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Researchers create algorithm to predict PEDV outbreaks
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an algorithm that could give pig farms advance notice of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreaks.
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Tails or testicles: Which are better for PRRSV monitoring?
Pooled serum samples are a common method to monitor PPRSV in piglets. But this typically involves a limited number of samples, which reduces the sensitivity and makes detection especially challenging...
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ASF threat: Three US swine vets share insights from the frontline
The rapid spread of ASF throughout China and other regions of the world has raised concerns the disease will ultimately make its way to the US — a development that could cripple the nation’s pork...
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Z-CAS helping feed mills, producers get the most from medicated feed additives
TOOLBOX, Issue 6: An interview with Marc Howerton, Customer Analytical Services Supervisor, Zoetis
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Herd performance best measure of PRRS vaccine efficacy
TOOLBOX, Issue 9: An interview with Jose Angulo, DVM, PRRS Specialist, Managing Veterinarian, Zoetis
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Quarantine window for feed ingredients may reduce hog disease risk
Foreign animal diseases (FAD) are top of mind as the ongoing outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in China, Belgium and elsewhere, have raised the stakes to implement new practices designed to...
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Processing fluids helping to fine tune diagnostics in swine herds thought to be PRRS-negative
Collecting aggregate samples of processing fluids during tail docking and castration is proving to be an excellent way to monitor herds for porcine reproductive and respiratory disease (PRRS) virus,...
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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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Dee: African swine fever outbreak in China major threat to US pork
News that China broke with African swine fever generated great concern for many in the US swine industry, including Scott Dee, DVM, Pipestone Veterinary Services.
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Dipsticks offer early warning of sow urinary-tract infections
Minimizing urinary-tract infections is an important step — not only in securing a sow’s overall health but also its productivity and, ultimately, its longevity.
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Tips for proper selection of cleaning, disinfection products
By Neal Benjamin, DVM Carthage Veterinary Service Carthage, Illinois
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‘Immune-mediated protection’ key to managing Group C rotavirus
Rotavirus is not a new disease facing the swine industry, but it’s also not going away. There are various groups of rotaviruses that impact piglets differently.
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Non-thermal plasma reactors can inactivate PRRSV
Hog-farm biosecurity measures have largely focused on minimizing the transmission of infectious agents on various surfaces. However, it’s been shown that PRRSV — and possibly other respiratory...
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Feed duration biggest issue under new swine VFD rule
More than a year into FDA’s new veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules, pork producers and veterinarians are finding the potential problem spots.
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Employee training improves piglet-survival rates
An employee-training program focused on online training followed by tracked, in-barn verification experiences helped a start-up farm achieve top piglet-survival rates, according to a study.
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Training staff to spot sick pigs early leads to higher performance, lower mortality
Pig health is critical for maintaining animal welfare and ensuring a steady supply of safe and affordable pork.
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PCR falls short in monitoring PRRSV transport biosecurity
Transport biosecurity is a growing priority as evidence shows that contaminated livestock trailers are a significant risk in spreading viruses between herds.
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Antibiotic use at weaning can reduce acute illness in pigs
The transition into the nursery phase for just-weaned pigs presents many challenges as they adapt to a new diet, a new environment and increased competition. Young pigs often need some extra help.
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The big imposter: Senecavirus A prompts frequent false alarms at Minnesota pork plant
Employees at the Hormel pork-processing plant in Austin, Minn., well understand the drill for a foreign animal disease (FAD) investigation.
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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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PCV2: Future considerations for an evolving virus
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) may not be a new virus challenge for pork producers and swine veterinarians, but it remains a constant challenge.
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Three simple, effective ways to help hogs beat the heat this summer
For many reasons, including historically warmer weather and the fact that sows now produce bigger litters, pigs are more susceptible to heat stress, which could potentially affect their performance...
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Heat stress: How much does it drain your pigs and profits?
Each year, heat stress costs US pig farmers about $900 million in revenues — about twice the amount lost as a result of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
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Pig Health Today lines up video interviews with top experts at WPX
At least 30 swine-health experts and trend watchers will be interviewed on camera over the next three days as part of Pig Health Today’s news coverage of the 2018 World Pork Expo.
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ALL HEALTH, ALL THE TIME
Pig Health Today, the world’s only news website and magazine focused exclusively on swine health, will mark its first anniversary this week at World Pork Expo.
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Crossing the line: Biosecurity for employee entry is still a work in progress
By Derald Holtkamp, MS, DVM Associate Professor Iowa State University
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Special edition of Pig Health Today captures presentations from 2-day PRRS conference
Pig Health Today has published a free, 32-page special report, “Framing the Future of PRRS,” with news summaries of eight presentations by veterinarians and scientists specializing in porcine...
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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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Dietary alternatives to antibiotics show mixed results in ISU research review
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.
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ESPHM 2018 to focus on global issues in swine health
Swine veterinarians, researchers and industry leaders from around the world will gather at the European Symposium of Porcine Health Management (ESPHM), to be held May 9-11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.
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Cull sow market breeding ground for disease transmission
Many sows sold into the cull sow market become “frequent travelers” and pose a serious risk of disease transmission if a foreign animal-disease (FAD) outbreak occurs.
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Breeding sows without CD163 gene might ultimately eliminate PRRS virus
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...
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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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SPECIAL REPORT, Day 3: News reports and interviews from AASV
The 2018 American Association of Swine Veterinarians is under way. Our editors are onsite, covering sessions and capturing interviews for future posts. Here's a look back at our 2017 coverage (Part 3...
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SPECIAL REPORT, Day 2: News reports and interviews from AASV
The 2018 American Association of Swine Veterinarians is under way. Our editors are onsite, covering sessions and capturing interviews for future posts. Here's a look back at our 2017 coverage (Part 2...
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US pork industry’s first vaccine with two PCV2 genotypes announced at AASV
The US pork industry’s first vaccine to include two genotypes of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) — 2a and 2b — was announced on the first day of the American Association of Swine...
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SPECIAL REPORT, Day 1: News reports and interviews from AASV
The 2018 American Association of Swine Veterinarians is under way. Our editors are onsite, covering sessions and capturing interviews for future posts. Here's a look back at our 2017 coverage (Part 1...
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Production specialists urged to share insights on no-antibiotics programs, animal welfare
Antibiotics are important for maintaining animal health, but their use has come under scrutiny in recent years due to the rise of antibiotic resistance globally.
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Steps to keep the incidence of stillborns at bay
by Megan Schnur, DVM Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd. Carthage, Illinois
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New forms of swine influenza pose tough but manageable challenges
New strains of the swine influenza virus continue to emerge, making it difficult for pork producers to manage, two experts who specialize in the disease of food animals said at a recent webinar...
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Individual pig care offers path to better health, uniformity
Making pig uniformity part of the management strategy from birth can maximize profitability throughout the growth cycle.
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New claim provides flexible dosing for M. hyo medication
Pork producers battling swine respiratory disease associated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) now have more flexibility when using Lincomix® (lincomycin hydrochloride) Type A medicated...
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Calls to cut antibiotics could hurt pig health, vet warns
Calls to ban antibiotics for disease protection in pig and other livestock systems could damage animal welfare and compromise the United States’ food system, industry leaders say.
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What to expect during an on-farm CSI audit
An on-farm visit by an auditor will likely be routine for pork producers in the future. Knowing what an auditor expects and what pork producers can do during the audit will help prepare for a...
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Pig Health Today launches mobile app
Pig Health Today, the world’s only news website focused entirely on swine health, welfare and sustainability, has partnered with sponsor Zoetis to launch a mobile app for Apple and Android devices.
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Secure Pork Supply plan: Beginning steps to safeguard your herd
According to an Iowa State University study, the potential revenue losses to US pork and beef industries from an FMD outbreak would run $12.8 billion annually with associated losses to corn and...
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Urine sampling can reliably detect penicillin residues in sows
Urine sampling is a reliable way to detect procaine penicillin G (PPG) residues prior to processing and may help producers avoid processing-plant violations, according to Locke A. Karriker, DVM, a...
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USDA, industry groups take issue with WHO’s latest statement on poultry, livestock antibiotics
The USDA’s chief scientist and several scientific and industry organizations took issue with the World Health Organization’s recent news release recommending that poultry and livestock...
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Accurate Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae diagnosis challenging but essential
The diagnosis of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) infection remains challenging but can be made with confidence when a systematic approach is applied and the clinical picture aligns with laboratory...
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ISU scientists pinpoint indicators of acute pain in neonatal pigs
Indicators of acute pain in piglets have been identified by researchers from Iowa State University (ISU).
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SHIC matrix weighs the impact of emerging swine diseases
As porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and Seneca Valley virus surfaced within the US swine herd in recent years, it underscored the threat posed by emerging and foreign animal diseases.
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How 50 swine vets plan to manage seasonal respiratory disease in the new VFD era
For as long as any pork producer can remember, fall’s arrival traditionally was a signal to add a respiratory antibiotic to the grower-finisher rations or, at the very least, pulse feed a...
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PCV MH vaccines provide equal protection in study, but lung lesions, ADG, final weight differ
Three porcine circovirus (PCV) vaccines compared in a recent study equally protected pigs against PCV type 2d and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, but there were some significant differences in gross...
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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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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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More than 900 swine-health professionals from 20 countries expected at 2017 Leman conference
More than 900 swine veterinarians, producers and industry leaders from at least 20 countries will attend the annual Allen D. Leman Swine Conference...
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Biosecurity must-haves for swine veterinarians
No one wants to introduce a harmful pathogen into a herd, but the reality is the more pig exposure that a person has, the riskier that visitor becomes, even if he or she is a veterinarian.
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PEDV and other pathogens survive in feed for weeks
In 2013-2014, infection of pig farms with PEDV was a frequent event, even in farms using the highest level of biosecurity. In an effort to determine how this could happen, Scott Dee, DVM, began...
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Gut bacteria deserve renewed focus
With the FDA’s new veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules changing the way some feed-grade antimicrobials are used on the farm, other options are gaining more attention.
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Understanding risks for M. hyo disease can help protect US swine herds
By Maria Jose Clavijo, DVM, PhD Research Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary Diagnostics and Production Animal Medicine College of Veterinary Medicine Iowa State University, Ames,...
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Survey identifies gaps in employee biosecurity practices
For biosecurity to be effective, everyone working within the farm needs to understand and comply with the defined protocols. In reality, a person’s attitude can make or break the outcome, so it’s...
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Want better biosecurity? Start with your pig trailers
Improving transportation biosecurity may be the last frontier the swine industry needs to conquer to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. According to Butch Baker, DVM, the spread of...
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Feed biosecurity must address risk of PEDV transmission
The biosecurity of swine feed is important for producing healthy animals and safe pork. But until 2013, feed was considered a low-risk vehicle for transmitting viral pathogens to swine.
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Solve biosecurity overload by focusing on the basics
Keeping a hog farm free of pathogens can be a daunting task for producers. The process to evaluate potential risks and then undertake biosecurity measures to manage the risks has become complex. In...
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Can soluble dietary fiber reduce the need for antimicrobials in nursery diets?
Increased soluble fiber in pig diets shows promise as an alternative for growth-promoting antimicrobials in nursery diets, according to Eric Burrough, DVM, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Iowa State...
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Prevent the spread of disease by properly cleaning water lines
One of the most basic — yet often overlooked — elements of pork production is water. A clean, safe palatable water supply ensures adequate hydration, encourages feed consumption and helps prevent...
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Keep opportunistic bacterial challenges in pigs at bay
Bacterial challenges facing pigs can be traced back to other shortfalls that weaken their immune system.
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Sow parity has no effect on incidence and timing of influenza in piglets
Sow parity appears to have no effect on the incidence and timing of influenza infection in piglets, indicates a study presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Association of Swine...
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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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Formula sheds light on disease risk
Understanding the transmission route of a disease pathogen, how long it’s infective, its survivability in the environment and routes of infection all build the foundation for creating effective...
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Secure Pork Supply plan seeks to minimize disruption from foreign animal diseases
The National Pork Board, with major support from USDA, is creating a Secure Pork Supply plan to help America’s pig farmers respond quickly and successfully to a major threat, such as a foreign...
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PEDV outbreaks prompt a ‘CSI Pipestone’ investigation
When PEDV devastated the US hog industry in 2013, the Pipestone System remained fairly unscathed, with only a couple of farms experiencing outbreaks. Their luck changed in January 2014.
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Pig Health Today website now online, offering ‘all health, all the time’
Pig Health Today, a new website focused solely on news and information related to swine health, was launched today to help the US and global pork industries stay on top of the latest on disease...
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Fine-tune ventilation, evaporation to combat heat stress in pigs
Without the ability to sweat, pigs must rely on conduction, convection, radiation, and respiration/evaporation to remove body heat. Forcing air across a wet pig — the process of convection and...
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Disease-prevention considerations for people and supplies
“The success of any biosecurity program rests with compliance,” said Anna Romagosa, DVM, with PIC Europe.
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Neurological disease in pigs linked to Sapelovirus
An outbreak of a severe, atypical neurologic disease in 11-week-old pigs has been linked to a novel sapelovirus and may be the first case of its kind in the US, according to a recently published...
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Flushing feed mill with treated rice hulls reduces PEDV risk
The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) taught swine veterinarians and producers many hard lessons about feed management. Not only can the deadly virus be transported by feed ingredients, PEDV...
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Unloading docks at processing plants appear to be source of PRRSV
Unloading docks at processing plants may be one way that livestock trailers become contaminated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).
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Effective biosecurity requires multiple layers
Most hog farms have some level of biosecurity in place today, but simply outlining protocols doesn’t mean they’re effective.
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Disinfectant effective against PEDV in freezing conditions
Contaminated hog trailers are now known to be partially responsible for spreading the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in 2013 as it emerged in the US.
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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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Oropharyngeal swabs offer alternative for PRRSV diagnosis in wean-age pigs
Taking oropharyngeal swabs — that is, samples from the tonsils — appears to be an effective alternative means for detecting PRRSV in wean-age pigs, especially when the prevalence of infection is...
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Losing family swine herd to disease turned this farmhand into a veterinarian
As a child, when the swine disease pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s disease) forced his father to sell all the family’s pigs and start over, Andrew Bents got the calling to become a swine veterinarian.
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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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Commonly used disinfectants can vary widely in efficacy
Commonly used disinfectants can have substantially different efficacy and should be tested against the pathogen of concern — and under the conditions of use — before they’re used on swine...
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Snout wipes shown to be practical, efficient method for detecting swine influenza A
Snout wipes are a practical and efficient method of detecting influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S), according to a study presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Association of Swine...
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Piglet pain control during castration still needs answers
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...
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Demonstration farm helping pork industry see benefits of pig-castration alternative
A group of 250 intact male piglets arrives at the demonstration farm ready to be the face of a new type of pork production.
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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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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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