USDA steps up measures to prevent ASF spread to the US
Mar 07, 2019Susan Spiegel
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.
Quarantine window for feed ingredients may reduce hog disease risk
Oct 10, 2018Susan Spiegel
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...
Non-thermal plasma reactors can inactivate PRRSV
Aug 29, 2018Susan Spiegel
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...
Tailored biosecurity key to good herd health and profitability
Jul 09, 2018Susan Spiegel
Tailoring biosecurity strategies to the location, facility and labor of individual hog farms is key to maintaining herd health and profitability, according to a leading veterinarian.
Lessons learned from recent Seneca Valley outbreaks
Jun 14, 2018Susan Spiegel
The Seneca Valley virus (SVV) is proving to be something of a test case for swine producers’ and veterinarians’ preparedness for foreign animal diseases.
Barn location can impact PRRS exposure risk
May 23, 2018Susan Spiegel
Several factors go into selecting a site for a pork-production unit, but research shows there are a couple more — specifically, terrain and vegetation — that may influence exposure to the porcine...
New forms of swine influenza pose tough but manageable challenges
Jan 25, 2018Susan Spiegel
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...
Rapid response project aims to limit disease risk to US swine herds
Jan 10, 2018Susan Spiegel
A nationwide project to speed up the response to emerging disease outbreaks hopes to better protect the US swine herd against health threats.
Is your hog farm prepared to navigate quarantines in a FAD outbreak?
Nov 02, 2017Susan Spiegel
Each year, approximately 25% of all the pork produced in the US is exported to other countries. Imagine if access to those markets closed abruptly. That’s the scenario pork producers would face if...
‘Secure Pork’ plan aims to ensure pig flow from uninfected farms during FAD outbreak
Aug 25, 2017Susan Spiegel
If a foreign animal disease (FAD) were to hit the US pork industry, the impact could be dramatic and widespread — most likely resulting in government-mandated quarantines around the affected areas...
PEDV and other pathogens survive in feed for weeks
Aug 14, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Survey identifies gaps in employee biosecurity practices
Aug 03, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Want better biosecurity? Start with your pig trailers
Jul 27, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Feed biosecurity must address risk of PEDV transmission
Jul 24, 2017Susan Spiegel
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.
Solve biosecurity overload by focusing on the basics
Jun 21, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Cross-border scheme aims to limit pig disease risk in US, Canada
Jun 21, 2017Susan Spiegel
A scheme to tackle biosecurity issues in the United States and Canada should help limit the risk of disease transmission in north America’s pig herds, say pig health experts.
Formula sheds light on disease risk
Jun 10, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Disease-prevention considerations for people and supplies
Jun 05, 2017Susan Spiegel
“The success of any biosecurity program rests with compliance,” said Anna Romagosa, DVM, with PIC Europe.
Flushing feed mill with treated rice hulls reduces PEDV risk
May 30, 2017Susan Spiegel
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...
Positive-pressure ventilation makes a comeback to reduce PRRS transmissions
May 30, 2017Susan Spiegel
Producers looking for ways to reduce porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) find positive-pressure ventilation with some modifications works, especially in older building, according to...
Effective biosecurity requires multiple layers
May 22, 2017Susan Spiegel
Most hog farms have some level of biosecurity in place today, but simply outlining protocols doesn’t mean they’re effective.
Losing family swine herd to disease turned this farmhand into a veterinarian
May 19, 2017Susan Spiegel
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.
It’s cold outside. Have you PRRS-proofed your herds?
May 02, 2017PGT Editor
Cold weather means closer confinement and a greater risk of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv). A leading PRRS expert recommends ways to keep this common and costly disease...
Producers eye vaccines, sanitation, biosecurity following new VFD rules
Mar 19, 2017PGT Editor
Increased use of vaccines and better sanitation and biosecurity are the two most common changes livestock and poultry producers are making in response to the loss of shared use antibiotics imposed by...
