You've gotta' watch the video! Addie, an 8-year-old cancer patient from Tulsa, Oklahoma, dreams of being a veterinarian. Thanks to Make-a-Wish Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, she’s one step closer to realizing that dream. Last April, Addie spent a day with faculty, staff and students at OSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. From a … [Read more...]
Global ASF update: China outbreaks continue
Dr. Dave Pyburn, head veterinarian at the National Pork Board, shares that ASF virus is still causing outbreaks in China and cash pig prices have doubled. In Europe, Poland has had an ASF outbreak that puts the virus right on Germany’s border, an important swine producing country in the EU. Learn more about how the U.S. Customs and Border Protection team is working to keep ASF … [Read more...]
Poultry and protein trends covered at IPPE
Global experts spoke at the Poultry Market Intelligence Forum at the 2020 International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta recently, describing trends in the poultry and egg industries. Dr. David Hughes, professor at the Imperial College of London, predicted that during the first two decades of this century, we will see 40 percent growth in protein consumption, which … [Read more...]
Let it go: Stop judging your thoughts and feelings
Learn how to let go of painful emotions Start by becoming more aware of your thoughts and feelings so you can accept and embrace them. Then eliminate judgement by stopping yourself from labeling your feelings as good or bad and accepting them just as they are. Source: Veterinary Practice, Link. “Holding on to distressing and painful emotions disempowers you. Letting go of … [Read more...]
New tech protects piglets from crushing mortality
If one of your swine operator customers has a problem with piglet mortality due to lay-ons, a new AI-based technology may offer a solution. SmartGuard can locate exactly where a piglet is getting crushed and alert the sow to roll over or stand up using vibration. The new technology has reduced the incidence of crushing and mortality of piglets by 35 to 40 percent in commercial … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Alarm bells going off for African swine fever
Dr. Bob Rowland, co-executive director of the North American PRRS Symposium, reveals two big headlines from the recent conference. He also explains how the symposium has evolved to include all emerging diseases and offers an update on diagnosing challenging diseases. Source: The Pig Site, November 26, 2019. Link. “You can almost see the alarm bells going off in terms of … [Read more...]
Creating an AI strategy for your practice
If your veterinary practice believes an artificial intelligence (AI) strategy isn’t necessary, you might want to reconsider. Digital experts warn that the public expects providers of goods and services to know what they want, when they want it and how they want it. Learn how AI is being used in human health and what clients will expect from you and your practice. Source: Vet … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Ready to advance PRRS control? Time to target grow-finish
Montse Torremorell, with University of Minnesota, spoke to attendees at the North American PRRS Symposium about the need for research in grow-finish. She set the stage for the next speakers about why it’s the next step to advance PRRS control. Source: The Pig Site, November 4, 2019. Link. “We have evidence from other diseases, and even from PRRS itself, that what happens in … [Read more...]
Marketing? Why bother?
Being a really good veterinarian isn’t always enough in today’s competitive market. To grow your business, it’s important to get your story in front of new customers. Learn the difference between marketing and branding and how to get started. Source: Vet Practice, October 2, 2019. Link. At its core, marketing boils down to identifying your practice’s ideal customers and … [Read more...]
African swine fever decimates 20 percent of Vietnam herd
Ted McKinney, USDA undersecretary, reported from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during an agricultural trade mission that the country’s swine herd death toll is estimated at 20 percent. Vietnam’s officials said the outbreak appears to be slowing. However, McKinney is unsure of outbreak containment. Learn what this means for the US. Source: The Pig Site, September 18, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Mastitis hurts
Pain recognition and mastitis were discussed recently at the 2019 Total Dairy Seminar. Dr. Jim Reynolds, professor at Western University in California, outlined the welfare aspects of mastitis and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to reduce pain caused by a mastitis infection. Learn what behavioral changes Dr. Reynolds identified that indicate a cow is experiencing … [Read more...]
ASF likely to reach U.S.
As African swine fever (ASF) spreads to more Asian countries, it increases the chance that it will make it into the U.S., Canada or Mexico. One of the key things U.S. producers can do now is to work with their local veterinarian to gather the data and paperwork the state veterinarian will need, if there is a U.S. outbreak that would allow for continued pig movement. Other top … [Read more...]
China’s pig herd continues rapid decline
Reuters reports China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is showing a 6.4 percent higher decline in the total Chinese swine herd due to the spread of African swine fever (ASF). September’s data shows a 38.7 percent decline, while July’s data indicated 32.3 percent. ASF is now endemic across every province in mainland China. Learn what this is doing to pork prices and … [Read more...]
In-house diagnostics making gains
Clients expect test results faster than ever before. Learn the benefits for the patient, client, practice and clinician of keeping testing in-house. Source: Vet Practice, September 12, 2019. Link. The animal diagnostic market is a major and flourishing sector; it accounts for 22 percent of the entire veterinary market and is worth US$4.2 billion globally. INSIGHTS: Newer … [Read more...]
New foot-and-mouth disease vaccine granted license by The Pirbright Institute
The Pirbright Institute has granted MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the U.S.) an exclusive commercial license for a new vaccine to protect livestock against several serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus. Offering greater stability than current FMD vaccines, it’s less reliant on a cold chain during distribution which is hugely beneficial in regions … [Read more...]
Suicide prevention tips for employers
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. It is the perfect time to be proactive and learn more about supporting your employees who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Knowing the signs and offering immediate access to help are two keys to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Read on to discover how to provide training to the … [Read more...]
Three possible pathways for African swine fever to enter US
How easy is it for African swine fever (ASF) to enter the U.S.? Patrick Webb, DVM and National Pork Board director of swine health Programs, explains three ways it can enter. Dr. Scott Dee’s studies on feed ingredients coming in from China are discussed, as well as the important role diagnostics play in trying to rule in or rule out a foreign animal disease. Source: The Pig … [Read more...]
Climate change: Longer growing season bodes well for crops, feed supply
A researcher at the Institute of Water Security and Science at West Virginia University says one silver lining from climate change that he’s seen is a longer growing season which is more conducive to agricultural production. This could mean big changes. He explains why traditional crops are floundering while non-traditional crops could gain momentum. Source: The Cattle Site, … [Read more...]
Alternative ways to reduce antibiotic use in the pig herd
Homeopathic approaches can help swine producers reach a long-term reduction in antimicrobial use. Irene Camerlink, a researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, explains the first steps to reducing antimicrobials are to assess the quality of the environment and to mitigate stress. She then dives into specific homeopathic options that producers can … [Read more...]
Study shows veterinary teams are stressed out
If you’re feeling stressed, you aren’t alone. A new study conducted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, included a survey completed by more than 4,000 veterinary professionals. It shows that stress and diminished well-being are issues for all members of veterinary teams around the world. Source: Veterinary Practice, August 17, 2019. Link. “Our research – the … [Read more...]
Modern approach to developing farmer rapport can pay dividends
Telling farmers what to do and expecting them to “just do it” doesn’t always work. Sarah Tomlinson, veterinarian with Westpoint Farm Vets in Ashbourne, England, shares her approach as part of the farm team. A few keys are to let farmers talk first, explaining the “why and how” and motivational interviewing, which, if you never heard of it before, involves a little bit of … [Read more...]
3 Vs drive U.S. chicken purchases
Versatility, value and variety are just a few of the categories that chicken ticks the box for in consumers’ eyes, according to new research presented at the 2019 Chicken Marketing Summit. Of course, taste is important for chicken and all meat buyers. However, it was less important to consumers of plant-based products. Lots of interesting protein stats, plus protein industry … [Read more...]
China approves use of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s African swine fever diagnostic workflow
China has approved Thermo Fisher Scientific’s PCR-based workflow to detect, monitor and help limit the spread of African swine fever (ASF). PCR is the preferred ASF testing method there. It allows for earlier detection of the virus compared to other diagnostic methods. The Thermo Fisher ASF workflow passed stringent validation protocol carried out by China’s Ministry of … [Read more...]
Is an African swine fever vaccine getting closer to completion?
With African swine fever (ASF) virus moving across the globe, the race is on to be the first to develop a vaccine against the economically devastating disease. The Pig Site spoke to Dr. Linda Dixon, head of the African swine fever (ASF) group at The Pirbright Institute, about their current research and development efforts for an ASF vaccine. The Pirbright research focuses … [Read more...]
New companion animal targeted GBS screening panels available from Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific launched three new AgriSeq targeted genotyping by sequencing (GBS) solutions that allow customers to genotype canines and felines while learning disease and parentage information about their pets. The ready-to-use panels achieve high call rates with reproducible genotyping results. Simple, high-throughput workflow on the Ion Torrent next-generation … [Read more...]
Breeding cattle to reduce their methane emissions
A new international study shows that genetic selection allows researchers to select for cattle that are less likely to have high levels of methane-producing bacteria in their rumen. Professor John Williams, study leader and co-author with the University of Adelaide’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, explains the study design, how this could compromise selection for … [Read more...]
Increasing UV light exposure means more vitamin D in eggs
Except for summertime, we rely on food sources to supply our body with enough vitamin D. A team of German researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg developed a new practice to increase the vitamin D content of eggs. Using UV light, they increased the vitamin D content of eggs by three- to four-fold. Practices used in the study could be implemented in poultry … [Read more...]