Connor: ASF fears prompting broader view of biosecurity
Jun 24, 2019Susan Spiegel
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...
Is it time to eliminate PED from US herds?
Mar 04, 2019Susan Spiegel
By Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd., Carthage, Illinois
Connor: No clear winner in pen- versus crate-gestation debate
Jan 22, 2019Susan Spiegel
Sow housing during gestation continues to draw debate as some hog operations make a switch from crates to pens for gestation. The results are mixed.
ASF threat: Three US swine vets share insights from the frontline
Nov 15, 2018Susan Spiegel
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...
Strep suis resurfacing to challenge high-health herds
Oct 11, 2018Susan Spiegel
What’s old is new again — or at least that’s what some high-health herds are finding with Streptococcus suis (Strep suis).
Connor: Managing mycoplasma requires integrated approach with vaccines, feed medications, injectables
Sep 12, 2018Susan Spiegel
Mycoplasma pneumonia continues to trouble the swine industry. Around for years, the respiratory disease caused by the bacterium M. hyo reduces pig performance, especially when mixed with other...
Antibiotic-free production: What lessons can pork learn from poultry?
Feb 22, 2018Susan Spiegel
A rapid increase in the use of vaccines for respiratory and enteric diseases in swine over the past year will ultimately allow a reduction in antibiotic use, predicted Joe Connor, DVM, swine...
IAV-S elimination in breed-to-wean herds is challenging — but possible
Jul 21, 2017Susan Spiegel
Influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) continues to present an ever-changing health challenge in breed-to-wean populations.
New VFD rules affecting disease management for swine
May 30, 2017Susan Spiegel
The updated VFD rules that took effect in January 2017 haven’t required a big adjustment for the swine industry, but they have furthered the trend toward reduced antibiotic use — and the result...
