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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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Improving welfare leads to higher herd performance
Measures to improve animal welfare on hog farms can improve — rather than jeopardize — economic performance of herds, scientists have discovered.
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3D cameras help limit tail biting in pigs
A high-tech system which uses 3D cameras to spot tail movements in pigs could soon help farmers identify the early signs of tail biting, scientists in the UK have discovered.
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13 tips for rearing healthier, more profitable pigs with fewer antibiotics
Controlling and limiting the amount of antibiotics on a farm doesn’t have to be to the detriment of a herd’s overall health — and can, in fact, lead to a more profitable and sustainable...
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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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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
Third in a series - 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...
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Heat stress: How much does it drain your pigs and profits?
First in a series - 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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Early PRRS vaccination helps protect pigs through slaughter
A new, single-dose vaccine for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has been shown to protect pigs from before weaning to slaughter, helping prevent secondary infections and...
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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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‘Don’t blame antibiotics use on production systems,’ says UK pig sector
The UK pig sector has warned campaigners against oversimplifying the link between production systems and antibiotics use.
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Is colostrum the ‘golden ticket’ to driving down antibiotic use?
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.
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Pig feed reminder over African Swine Fever concerns
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).
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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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Premier issue of Pig Health Today magazine now available
The premier issue of Pig Health Today magazine is off the press and being mailed to some 10,000 pork producers, swine consultants and opinion leaders in the US. The colorful, 36-page magazine can...
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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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On the road again? Download Pig Health Today podcasts before you go
Most of Pig Health Today’s video interviews with leading health experts and other opinion leaders can now be downloaded as podcasts and listened to on mobile devices or through audio systems of...
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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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New antibiotics targets announced for UK pig sector
UK pig produers are working to meet ambitious new targets to further reduce antibiotic use in the industry.
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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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Air-cleaning technology could slash respiratory disease risk
A technology that reduces dust, germs and gasses from the air in pig sheds could help cut the number of pigs that develop lesions associated with respiratory disease.
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Build up winter housing defenses to ward off disease
Optimizing pig sheds is vital for maintaining herd health, but in the winter months, getting the environment right is especially important in warding off illness.
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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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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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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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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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Livestock farming standards to get boost under antimicrobial-resistance plan
The European Commission has unveiled plans to promote better global livestock farming standards in a bid to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals and humans.
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‘Shaking pig syndrome’ identified on Austrian farm
Scientists in Austria have identified a virus that causes a congenital tremor in piglets and can result in heavy losses to infected litters.
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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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Anti-GnRH vaccine prevents unwanted pregnancies in Iberian gilts
A vaccine that temporarily delays puberty in gilts may help Iberian pork producers avoid unwanted pregnancies in free-range herds.
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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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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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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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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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Study piglet behavior to improve chances of early survival
Encouraging farm staff to study piglets’ movement after farrowing could help them better identify weak animals, take action and improve early survival odds, scientists say.
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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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Migrant vet uncertainty raises questions for UK herd health
The health of the UK’s pig herd could be put at risk unless the country’s government moves to protect the status of foreign veterinarians working there, a leading vet says.
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Post-Brexit support vital for UK pig welfare push
UK pig producers should receive government support if they are expected to adopt higher levels of animal welfare when the country leaves the European Union, industry leaders have said.
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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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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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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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Boar taint vaccination: Plus points for an ‘entire’ market
For years, Britain has boasted some of the world’s highest standards of pig welfare. But as continental Europe moves to ban surgical castration, the UK’s “castration-free” status may no...
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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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Four strategies for managing piglet diarrhea
Nutrition, commercial vaccines, good hygiene and immunity of piglets through colostral transfer are four key strategies in managing piglet neonatal and peri-weaning diarrhea.
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Italian meat company balances tradition, quality with need for greater sustainability
A century-old salumi maker says sustainable and welfare-friendly processes are key to keeping its traditional products relevant to today’s consumers.
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Castration alternative credited with improving feed efficiency, carcass quality on Belgian farm
A pig producer in Belgium has reported that making the switch from surgical castration to boar-taint vaccination has resulted in better carcass quality, improved feed conversion and reduced...
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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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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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Be prepared for surgical castration and tail docking ban, EU producers told
Europe’s pig producers should prepare themselves for an eventual ban on surgical castration and tail docking across the continent, according to a leading industry expert.
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Enriched pens linked to less gestational stress, lower piglet mortality
Housing sows in enriched pens can reduce stress and have a positive impact on the development and survival rate of piglets, according to scientists.
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Bigger not always better in quest for sustainable pork
Striving to produce heavier pigs is not necessarily the answer to increasing pig productivity and farm profitability, an expert in pig genetics has warned.
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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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Castration also hurts the bottom line in pig production
A new study from Spain shows that surgical castration leads to higher mortalities and lower weaning weights in male piglets — and as a result, diminished economic returns.
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French pork producer focuses on sustainability to meet evolving consumer demands
In a country world-famous for its food, a small French pig producer’s strategy for meeting consistently high standards of quality, welfare and nutrition has earned it a spot on the map.
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