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Podcasts

PIG HEALTH TODAY
PODCAST

Hear today’s leading industry experts discuss the latest ideas,
insights and advice to improve pig health, welfare and performance.

February 2, 2022

Linhares: Digging deeper into PRRS outbreak management

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has challenged producers and swine veterinarians for decades. During that time, outbreak management and ...

Krantz: Prioritize people to improve pre-wean mortality

Today’s sow farms are highly efficient production systems, yet pre-weaning mortality can remain a challenge. A lot of time and ...
February 1, 2022

AgView: Contact tracing for ASF and much more

African swine fever (ASF) has spread like a slow burn across the globe since the 2007 identification in the Republic ...

Canada develops plan to market hogs during ASF outbreak

Efforts are underway in Canada to develop an ASF-Free Compartments strategy allowing farms to market hogs in the event of ...

VanderWaal: Expect to see new PRRS sublineages emerge

US pig producers know that many different strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) exist, and that immunological cross-protection ...
January 20, 2022

Start with the gilt-development unit for Mhp elimination

US pig producers have made a big push to eliminate Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) from their herds as a way to ...
January 14, 2022

Deen: We’re underestimating the cost of sow mortality

When a sow doesn’t reach her full potential, the cost to the farm and the cost to the income stream ...
December 21, 2021

Johnson: Make your farm a biosecurity fortress

From the person doing the power washing to the owner of the farm business, everyone involved in a pork-production system ...
December 10, 2021

Filtration audits help prepare for PRRS season

Regular biosecurity checks with a close look at filtration and ventilation systems will help prevent the spread of airborne pathogens ...

Forecasting swine disease outbreaks

Researchers want to move from monitoring disease in the US pig population to actually forecasting if and when a potential ...
December 3, 2021

Managing Strep suis in commercial pig production

Most, if not all, pigs harbor some strains of Streptococcus suis (Strep suis). Lately, challenges by the bacteria appear to ...
October 19, 2021

Connor: Cautious optimism in future management of ASF

African swine fever (AFS) has not been diagnosed in the US, but many industry experts feel its arrival is inevitable. ...
October 13, 2021

Not making biosecurity improvements can cost more than making them

Biosecurity ranks high on the list of concerns for swine veterinarians who want hog units tightened up to reduce disease. ...
October 12, 2021

Virus persistence challenges PRRS management strategies

Eliminating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a promising achievement for some commercial herds and a goal for ...
September 30, 2021

Johnson: Batch farrowing shows benefits

Disease challenges eat into time and profits, and are all too common on US pig farms. That is one reason ...
September 20, 2021

Rethinking colostrum management and piglet survivability

Colostrum is vital to piglet survival but managing intake may benefit from some fresh thinking, according to Kara Stewart, associate ...
September 11, 2021

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 ...
September 8, 2021

Revised herd classifications expand the PRRS road map

Since its introduction in 2011, the system to classify breeding herds according to their porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus ...
September 1, 2021

Strep suis continuously challenges US herds

It’s not unrealistic to say that if you checked the nasal cavities or tonsils of any group of pigs, you ...
August 19, 2021

Early identification critical in preventing sow lameness

Sow lameness continues to trouble hog operations in the US, causing high numbers of involuntary removals from herds. These expensive ...
August 9, 2021

Water: An often-overlooked factor in pig health

Water doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it is abundant, easy to access and inexpensive, but that will change ...
August 4, 2021

Tools for managing pigs without antibiotics

Raising pigs without antibiotics requires extra management and different tools compared to traditional commercial hog production, reports Laura Carroll, DVM, ...
August 3, 2021

Veterinarians serve as biosecurity champions

Taking care of sick animals is no fun for anybody. For that reason, and so many more, biosecurity is a ...
July 22, 2021

Johnson: Five steps for porcine circovirus control

Evolving strains of porcine circovirus (PCV) mean careful monitoring and updating management strategies are key to controlling disease associated with ...
July 20, 2021

Reducing PRRS outbreaks by using air filtration: What you need to know

Jeff Feder, DVM, with Swine Vet Center (SVC), has spent 15 years fine-tuning filtration systems in client hog barns. Today, ...
June 25, 2021

Sundberg: Ramping up African swine fever preparedness and prevention

US producers have seen the devastating impact of African swine fever (ASF) in other countries. The ultimate goal is to ...

Why it pays to conduct regular water-quality checkups

Water is as important for the growth and health of pigs as feed. As such, it makes sense to test ...
June 2, 2021

Combat seasonal infertility with strong husbandry

Seasonal infertility continues to be a widespread problem for sow herds across the US. And if you don’t have a ...
June 1, 2021

Connor: Innovation driven by necessity and opportunity

The pork industry has had a tremendous number of innovations over the years, said Joe Connor, DVM, in an interview ...
May 22, 2021

More accurate gilt testing needed to detect Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Sow herds seeking negative Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) status should use accurate gilt surveillance methods. Research conducted by Alyssa Betlach, DVM, ...
January 31, 2021

Castration alternative boosting efficiency, quality and welfare in Brazil

Pig producers in Brazil are improving efficiency, quality and welfare standards thanks to a novel alternative to physical castration, says ...
December 16, 2020

Deen: Batch farrowing requires ‘different mindset’

Batch farrowing used to be a common practice, but as farms got bigger, continuous-flow production became the norm. Now it ...
November 20, 2020

From veterinarian to forensic detective: Solving a mysterious swine disease

In fall 2019, a client called into Four Star Veterinary Service clinic in Mexico, Indiana, and reported the loss of ...
November 5, 2020

Inadequate iron supplements lead to subclinical anemia in young pigs

A field trial evaluating iron supplementation for baby pigs found the typical 200 mg iron shot at birth is not ...
November 2, 2020

Client stress key factor in swine health programs

While their schooling focused on pigs, veterinarians on the job spend a lot of time working with clients and members ...
October 30, 2020

Three ways to assess your herd’s ‘positive welfare state’

The “Five Freedoms” have been the foundation for establishing sound animal welfare practices since they were developed by Britain’s Farm ...
October 21, 2020

Pork’s future relies on trust throughout the pork value chain

In the end, raising hogs is about producing pork, and continuous success depends on building customers’ trust, listening to expectations ...
October 16, 2020

Genetic diversity makes swine influenza a challenge for producers

Influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) is one of the primary respiratory pathogens challenging swine production systems in the US ...
October 14, 2020

Raising pigs without antibiotics offers niche market but with limitations

Markets for pork produced without antibiotics continue to grow. But this method of production is not for every farm, cautions ...
October 11, 2020

Decontamination protocols fail to disinfect incoming hog supplies

Biosecurity protocols are critical to keeping the US hog herd healthy, and one of the regular tasks is to disinfect ...
September 30, 2020

What they don’t tell you in veterinary school: Take care of yourself

A romanticized view of the veterinary profession, gleaned from sources like the famous Brit, James Herriot’s novel “All Creatures Great ...
September 20, 2020

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 ...
September 9, 2020

Tracheal sampling for M. hyo may hold new benefits

Tracheal sampling is a good way to determine if Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) is present in a herd, but it’s an ...
September 8, 2020

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.  “It’s ...
September 2, 2020

Eisenmenger: Time to invest in market-transport biosecurity

Grow-finish farms are the last segment of hog production to enact strict biosecurity protocols. That needs to change, reports Mike ...
August 11, 2020

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 ...
August 3, 2020

‘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. Good solutions ...
August 1, 2020

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, ...
July 23, 2020

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 ...
July 17, 2020

Swine Health Information Center: Preparing for emerging diseases

Watch the full interview or each part separately Swine Health Information Center: Preparing for emerging diseases SHIC: PED caught US unprepared SHIC: Preparing ...
July 15, 2020

Veterinarians, mind your mental health

Veterinarians, whether specializing in large or small animals, deal with stress under the best circumstances. But in this time of ...
July 5, 2020

Data show filtered farms break less often with PRRS

Nine years of data from the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP) show farms with air-filtering systems have fewer outbreaks ...
June 28, 2020

Resurgent Mycoplasma hyorhinis causes debilitating arthritis in late finishing

Infectious arthritis caused by Mycoplasma hyorhinis is gaining ground in hog units where it infects neonatal pigs and develops into severe lameness ...
June 18, 2020

Antimicrobial resistance causing few clinical problems in swine

Watch the full interview or each part separately Antimicrobial resistance causing few clinical problems in swine Part 1: Good news for the ...
May 20, 2020

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. ...
April 22, 2020

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 ...
April 18, 2020

Minimal evidence of antibiotic resistance in swine

Watch the full interview or each part separately Minimal evidence of antibiotic resistance in swine Part 1:  Responsible antibiotic use Part 2:  Antibiotic ...
April 10, 2020

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: New strategies for an old ‘bug’

Watch the full interview or each part separately Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: New strategies for an old 'bug' Part 1: Underrated disease Part 2: Understanding ...
April 4, 2020

Chronic PED cases linger, setting the stage for elimination

The wild run of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) striking the pork industry in 2013 has slowed substantially. But chronic versions ...
March 17, 2020

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 ...
March 16, 2020

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. “Grow-finish mortality is one ...
March 2, 2020

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 ...
February 27, 2020

Moving biosecurity from the farm to the feed mill

Watch the full interview or each part separately Moving biosecurity from the farm to the feed mill Part 1: Risk-based approach Part 2: ...
February 20, 2020

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. ...
February 14, 2020

Outmaneuvering PRRSV requires a better understanding of genetic diversity

Among the lessons that the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has taught producers and veterinarians is that it’s ...
February 12, 2020

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 ...
February 5, 2020

Connor: Disease elimination can lower the cost of production

Watch the full interview or each part separately Full interview: Disease elimination can lower the cost of production Part 1: PED, deltacoronavirus, ...
February 3, 2020

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 ...
January 16, 2020

Veterinarian says VFD led to more strategic antibiotic use

The Food and Drug Administration’s revised rules for antibiotic use in hogs, including the veterinary feed directive (VFD), has led ...
January 10, 2020

Strategies to move more pigs from birth to harvest

Watch the full interview or each part separately Full interview: Strategies to move more pigs from birth to harvest Part 1: Low ...
December 30, 2019

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 ...
December 23, 2019

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 ...
December 18, 2019

Maintain mycoplasma-negative herds with laryngeal swab tests from incoming gilts

Sow farms that have eradicated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) must continue surveillance to keep the pathogen out or the results will be ...
November 25, 2019

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. She ...
November 14, 2019

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 ...
November 11, 2019

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. Farrow-to-finish sites are still the ...
November 3, 2019

Sow pads show promise for reducing shoulder sores, related infections

Everyone needs a good bed — and apparently sows are no exception. During farrowing and lactation, sows can easily develop shoulder sores, ...
October 20, 2019

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 ...
September 26, 2019

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 ...
September 16, 2019

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, ...
September 3, 2019

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 ...
August 30, 2019

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 ...
August 29, 2019

Pipestone nutritionist highlights advancements to improve pig health

Producers know that if a pig has good gut health in the nursery, it’s more likely to get off to ...
August 26, 2019

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 ...
August 16, 2019

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 ...
August 14, 2019

Smithfield veterinarian aims to connect dots on animal welfare

Animal welfare can mean different things to different people. For Mary Battrell, DVM, a swine veterinarian for Smithfield Foods, animal ...
July 30, 2019

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, ...
July 16, 2019

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 ...
July 11, 2019

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 ...
June 24, 2019

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 ...
June 17, 2019

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 ...
May 25, 2019

Some aspects of Senecavirus A continue to mystify researchers

While the spikes of Senecavirus A (SVA) have plateaued in recent years, researchers in the pork industry are still confounded ...
May 20, 2019

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 ...
May 13, 2019

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 ...
May 10, 2019

Simpler, less costly monitoring methods helping pork industry get a better read on PRRS

Newer testing methods for the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus are not only simpler and less costly than ...
May 2, 2019

Reducing stress can aid pig health, performance

Pigs can get stressed, just like people, and the impact can be just as serious. Stress is caused by any ...
April 26, 2019

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 ...
April 24, 2019

Why do summer PRRS breaks last longer than winter breaks?

Summer outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) take 15 weeks longer to stabilize than PRRS outbreaks beginning in the winter, ...
April 15, 2019

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. While much information exists on disease epidemiology and ...
Visit Post to listen
April 8, 2019

Multiple infections? It’s important to get to the root cause

Disease management can be challenging. You go through the barns and see pigs coughing, or maybe you see lethargic pigs ...
April 4, 2019

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. “We’ve probably ...

Secure Pork Supply plan updated to meet changing FAD needs

Even though the US hasn’t faced a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak in decades, the threat is always there. With ...
April 3, 2019

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 ...
April 1, 2019

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 — ...
March 27, 2019

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 ...
March 25, 2019

Inflammation, stress put pressure on sow longevity

Sow longevity is no longer a given in US swine herds. In recent years, producers have focused on pigs per ...
March 19, 2019

Are you giving M. hyo the attention it deserves?

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) isn’t a new problem in the pork industry. It’s been around for years, but that’s exactly ...
March 16, 2019

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? ...
March 15, 2019

New technologies may yield new insights on antibiotic use, resistance

The pork industry has a reputation for using antibiotics responsibly, but when veterinarians and producers look at antimicrobial use and ...
March 9, 2019

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 ...
March 7, 2019

Australia’s experience with castration alternative should give global confidence, producer says

Australian consumer acceptance of a technology that offers an alternative to physical castration should give more pork producers the confidence ...
March 3, 2019

Webb: FAD outbreak could be financially crippling for US pork industry

A single reported incident of a trade-limiting foreign animal disease (FAD) would devastate the US pork industry, perhaps causing billions ...
March 2, 2019

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 ...
February 27, 2019

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 ...

‘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 ...

FDA’s antibiotic guidance and VFDs continue a smooth transition

It’s fast approaching 2 years since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented its revised guidance for antibiotic use in ...

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, ...
February 22, 2019

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 ...

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 ...
February 18, 2019

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, ...
February 16, 2019

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 ...
February 6, 2019

Shifting consumer trends require a more open dialogue

Baby boomers have long dominated the retail marketplace — and they’ve been loyal meat customers. But that dynamic is shifting as ...
January 30, 2019

Managing pain, Strep suis infection in baby pigs critical for welfare

The US pork industry has demonstrated high standards for animal welfare, but there is still much to learn about mitigating ...
January 24, 2019

Finding ‘root of the problem’ key in herds with multiple disease challenges

New diagnostic tools have helped the pork industry get a better handle on disease monitoring, but how do you prioritize ...
January 22, 2019

Connor: No clear winner in pen- versus crate-gestation debate

Sow housing during gestation continues to draw debate as some hog operations make a switch from crates to pens for ...
January 16, 2019

Nerem: Shift focus to responsible antibiotic use, not arbitrary reductions

Some retailers and foodservice companies are asking for animals that have never received antibiotics (“no antibiotics ever” or NAE), but ...
January 14, 2019

Yeske: Multiple factors contributing to rising sow-mortality rates

The spike in sow-mortality rates in recent years has everyone in the US pork industry searching for answers. Don’t expect ...
January 10, 2019

Veterinarian says both pigs, caregivers suffered in antibiotic-free study

A study looking at how pigs challenged with PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) performed in an antibiotic-free production setting ...
January 2, 2019

Knock, knock: Swine veterinarian shares experiences from VFD audit

When Peter Schneider, DVM, heard FDA auditors were at the door to see the operation’s veterinary feed directives (VFDs), he ...
December 26, 2018

PED — live with it or eliminate it?

The porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus that devastated the US swine industry several years ago continues to persist, causing fewer ...
December 19, 2018

Tyson VP: ‘Antibiotic issue is far from black and white’

Producer and consumer choice are equally important when it comes to producing quality pork products — and it’s important not ...
December 18, 2018

Veterinarian: ‘Take PED seriously and get it cleaned up’

After a few years of limited activity, porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) — a disease that caused major devastation in the hog ...
December 14, 2018

Parvovirus still poses threat to breeding herd

For as long as anyone can remember, pork producers have vaccinated gilts for parvovirus. Now that outbreaks are rare, is ...
December 12, 2018

Raising pigs without antibiotics? Plan to ‘sweat the small stuff’

Follow this rule if you’re raising pigs without antibiotics: “Sweat the small stuff.” That’s the advice from Doug MacDougald, DVM, Southwest ...
December 10, 2018

SHIC establishes diagnostic strategies to get ahead of disease

If knowledge is power, being prepared is security. Both are drivers behind the Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) program to ...
December 5, 2018

Pork industry needs to balance animal well-being with antibiotic pressures

After 37 years of swine veterinary practice, John Baker, DVM, Boonville, Indiana, sees producers and veterinarians entering a new era ...
December 3, 2018

Brenneman: ‘Have conversations about what’s going on at the farm’

The pork industry needs to do a better job telling its story — particularly about how it is improving, evolving and ...
November 28, 2018

Scientist ‘pops the hood’ on US pork industry’s newest vaccine for PCV2

What is “cell-mediated immunity” and how does it affect vaccine performance? Are two PCV2 genotypes necessarily better than one? And ...
November 26, 2018

Good nutrition, management can’t replace antibiotics, but they can help reduce the need

Producers looking to raise pigs with little or no antibiotics should consider nutritional strategies that help pigs build more immunity, ...
November 19, 2018

Veterinarians in best position to be ‘ambassadors’ for antimicrobials in pork production

Veterinarians can leverage their credibility to help consumers understand the complexity of the decision-making process for antimicrobials used in pork ...
November 15, 2018

ASF threat: Three US swine vets share insights from the frontline

The rapid spread of African swine fever (ASF) throughout China and other regions of the world has raised concerns the ...
November 7, 2018

Ileitis: Is it possible to control in baby pigs without antibiotics?

Ileitis may be a ubiquitous disease in grow-finish pigs, but with changes in on-farm antibiotic use it could become a ...
November 5, 2018

See it, do it, teach it: Veterinarian offers tips for caregiver training

When you give someone something to read, the expressed competency level is about 10%. When you talk to them on the ...
October 11, 2018

Strep suis resurfacing to challenge high-health herds

What’s old is new again — or at least that’s what some high-health herds are finding with Streptococcus suis (Strep suis). ...
October 10, 2018

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 ...
October 3, 2018

African Swine Fever could cost assorted industries billions of dollars

If the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus enters the United States, the repercussions will be felt throughout the agriculture sector ...
October 1, 2018

Locking out PDCOV requires attention to biosecurity detail

Porcine delta coronavirus (PDCOV) may not be as devastating as its relative, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), but the negative ...
September 26, 2018

Five ways to get better returns on your swine-health program

The pork industry uses a wide variety of vaccinations and medications for managing viral and bacterial diseases. In a conversation ...
September 24, 2018

Pavlovic: Today’s PED outbreaks may be mild but still hurt profitability

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus may not be as devastating to hogs today as it was a few years ago, ...
September 14, 2018

Dee: Research shows potential for FAD transmission through some imported feed ingredients

A big step in preventing transmission of foreign animal diseases, or FADs, is to reduce virus-survival rates in imported feed ...
August 23, 2018

‘We’ve almost forgotten that boars just perform better’

Larry Rueff, DVM, is a big believer in immunocastration. Ever since the swine veterinarian from Greensburg, IN, stopped physically castrating ...
Visit Post to listen
August 12, 2018

PCV3: A challenge independent from PCV2

Anyone involved in raising pigs is aware of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), but new on the scene is porcine ...
July 12, 2018

2018 Leman Conference features ‘science-based solutions’ for pork production

Nearly a thousand swine veterinarians, producers and industry leaders from the US and 20 other countries are expected to attend ...
July 10, 2018

Don’t get complacent with evolving PCV2 virus

Vaccines for porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) currently do an adequate job of cross protecting against new genotypes of the ...
June 5, 2018

Rapid Response Corps poised to investigate transboundary swine disease outbreaks

The US pork industry learned a big lesson after the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) outbreak in 2013. “We didn’t have anyone ...
May 25, 2018

‘False alarms’ by Seneca Valley virus trigger costly FMD investigations

A growing number of Seneca Valley virus (SVV) outbreaks wastes the time and money of people who investigate suspected foreign ...
May 23, 2018

Barn location can impact PRRS exposure risk

Several factors go into selecting a site for a pork-production unit, but research shows there are a couple more — ...
May 18, 2018

Piglets are key subpopulation in keeping IAV-S circulating

When it comes to influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S), the relationship between the sow’s immune status and piglet protection ...
May 17, 2018

Yeske: Mycoplasma elimination ‘always a good strategy’

Eliminating mycoplasma from a herd works well with a fast payback, even in hog-dense areas, according to research conducted by ...
May 7, 2018

Maximizing colostrum intake at birth improves finishing performance

The amount of colostrum a piglet consumes during its first 24 hours of life impacts its performance through finishing, according ...
April 23, 2018

Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project underscores value of information sharing

Collaboration among veterinarians working with different pork producers is one of the great benefits emanating from the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring ...
April 21, 2018

What have we learned about antibiotic-resistant genes in groundwater?

Swine manure is a valuable resource for cropland, but understanding its potential impact on groundwater is an ongoing priority. This ...
April 13, 2018

What’s driving the surge in sow mortality?

Sow mortality in US herds has trended upward in recent years, and identifying the reasons has frustrated producers and veterinarians alike.   “We can define ...
April 12, 2018

Iowa Select veterinarian taking a more targeted approach with antibiotics

Iowa Select Farms’ targeted approach to antibiotic use within its production system began well before the FDA’s expanded veterinary feed directive (VFD) rule.    “We ...
April 9, 2018

‘Coopetition’ healthy for pork industry

Teaming up to share ideas and troubleshoot swine-health issues can be good for pork producers and the industry, said Joel ...
April 7, 2018

Antibiotic stewardship: What can the pork industry learn from human medicine?

With so much attention being placed on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, animal agriculture can sometimes feel as if it’s ...
April 4, 2018

Batch farrowing offers smaller sow farms improved disease control

Independent sow farms grouped together and using batch farrowing may be able to capture the same health advantages as a ...
March 26, 2018

How close are we to having a Strep suis vaccine for pigs?

Although antibiotics provide a treatment option for Streptococcus suis — a common, widespread bacterium in swine — long-term management hinges ...
March 19, 2018

More planning required for feed medications in new VFD era

Planning, paperwork and prevention are the priorities on hog farms in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) expanded ...
March 12, 2018

Cull-sow market endangers foreign animal-disease prevention

The US cull-sow market could threaten containment plans if a foreign animal-disease (FAD) outbreak occurred in the US, according to ...
February 22, 2018

Antibiotic-free production: What lessons can pork learn from poultry?

A rapid increase in the use of vaccines for respiratory and enteric diseases in swine over the past year will ...
February 19, 2018

How long do mycoplasma-negative herds stay negative?

Most hog farms successfully stamp out mycoplasma pneumonia when they work with their veterinarian to eliminate the disease. The challenge ...
February 14, 2018

USDA seeks comments on plans to modernize swine inspection

Spokespersons for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made the rounds at the 2018 International Production and Processing Expo ...
February 12, 2018

Healthy, stress-free GI tract is key to pigs’ long-term health

A healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract is inextricably linked to the nervous system and is generally a strong predictor of a ...
February 9, 2018

High-risk viruses survive in feed, threaten US pork

An investigation initiated by the Pipestone System and Scott Dee, DVM, continues to uncover more information about the link between ...
January 15, 2018

Pork producers need to proactively communicate with consumers to change the dialogue

Pork producers and swine veterinarians need to take a more active role in consumers’ food conversations for them to get ...

In-feed antibiotics best addressed on a case-by-case basis

Adjusting to changes in how and when to use in-feed antibiotics is an ongoing effort. While those products are still ...
January 1, 2018

Food-chain specialist: Communicate the emotional side of pork production, not the technical

The food supply chain has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. “It’s so much more complex and consumer driven,” ...
December 28, 2017

Balancing good and bad bacteria key to effective gut health, nutrient absorption

Developing techniques and tools to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut is key to producing healthier pigs ...
December 21, 2017

Boar stud requires high health status, zero tolerance for biosecurity errors

A boar stud producing semen for thousands of sows needs to maintain excellent health with the highest level of biosecurity ...
December 8, 2017

Pork producers gain ground against PRRS with reduced production losses

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) remains one of the most costly viruses infecting US herds. But an Iowa State ...
December 7, 2017

Pig care: If there’s something off, don’t try to ‘look him well’

Watching pigs may not be glamorous or stimulating, but it’s a responsibility that Bob Blomme, DVM, takes very seriously. “We can ...
November 26, 2017

Yeske: Provide better pig care — one animal at a time

Taking time to walk the pens, make eye contact with each pig and pull the sick ones for individual care ...
November 6, 2017

Getting pigs off to a good start with better gut health

Improved education of caretakers is one way pork producers can help ensure their pigs have a healthy gut and get ...
November 2, 2017

Is your hog farm prepared to navigate quarantines in a FAD outbreak?

Each year, approximately 25% of all the pork produced in the US is exported to other countries. Imagine if access ...
October 19, 2017

What PED taught us about handling future disease outbreaks

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption]   The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreak that devastated many US hog farms over ...
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October 12, 2017

What you need to know about CSI auditors

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Anyone who owns hogs or hog buildings should expect a visit someday by an ...
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Virtual clinic drives better understanding of disease outbreaks

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] A virtual veterinary clinic that monitors pig-disease trends and provides an early alert system ...
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September 28, 2017

Greenway: ‘Don’t be afraid to engage’ consumers on antibiotics, welfare

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Pork producers should find more ways to engage with consumers and share their stories ...
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September 21, 2017

PEDV still taking major toll on US sow farms

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is still around and can lead to major losses ...
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September 18, 2017

Taking oral-fluid samples for PRRS: How many and when?

Oral-fluid sampling can provide a simple, reliable way to surveil for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Marisa Rotolo, ...
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September 12, 2017

‘Race to zero’ not the answer in antibiotics debate

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Regulations around the use of antibiotics in feed should not encourage a race to ...
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Can we find the ‘next PED’ before it finds us?

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Paul Sundberg, DVM, recalls sitting around a conference table in San Diego in spring ...
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August 31, 2017

So far, so good: Pork producers adjusting well to new VFD rules

Implementation of the new veterinary feed directive (VFD) in swine has gone smoothly in the field, according to Chris Rademacher, ...
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August 25, 2017

‘Secure Pork’ plan aims to ensure pig flow from uninfected farms during FAD outbreak

If a foreign animal disease (FAD) were to hit the US pork industry, the impact could be dramatic and widespread ...
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August 10, 2017

Pork industry teaming with NAHMS, FDA to score antibiotic use

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] From the public to government agencies to producers, everyone wants a clear assessment of ...
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August 7, 2017

What’s the best PRRS strategy for your herd?

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Every year, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) infects an estimated 25% to 45% ...
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August 3, 2017

Understanding swine flu’s diversity key to better control programs

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] The number of swine influenza cases as well as the diversity of circulating flu ...
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July 27, 2017

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 ...
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July 17, 2017

Veterinarian offers tips for surviving a CSI audit

While audits are part of doing business, many pork producers still worry about going through the process. Amber Stricker, DVM, ...
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June 8, 2017

PEDV outbreaks prompt a ‘CSI Pipestone’ investigation

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] When the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) devastated the US hog industry in 2013, ...
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June 5, 2017

M. hyo: Control or elimination?

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Effective control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) has to start in the breeding herd ...
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May 30, 2017

New VFD rules affecting disease management for swine

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] The updated veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules that took effect in January 2017 haven’t ...
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Iowa veterinarian sees benefits to early PRRS vaccination

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] It takes 3 to 4 weeks for pigs to develop immunity against porcine reproductive ...
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Opportunistic pathogens prey on newly weaned pigs infected with a primary virus

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] Around 50% of pigs weaned today likely are infected with a primary viral pathogen, ...
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Positive-pressure ventilation makes a comeback to reduce PRRS transmissions

[caption id="attachment_5765" align="alignright" width="37"] Watch the interview[/caption] A ventilation system that fell out of favor when it caused deterioration in swine ...
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