Getting colostrum into piglets in the first 24 hours is critical to their health and survival. Larger litter sizes place more emphasis on ensuring adequate volumes of colostrum get to each piglet. Few studies have considered the effects of sow late gestation nutrient intake on colostrum production and composition. Other factors play into piglet success, but optimizing nutrition … [Read more...]
New route for successful pain relief in piglets funded by National Pork Board
Painful processing procedures in piglets such as tail docking, castration and teeth clipping are emerging animal welfare concerns. KSU researchers proposed using transmammary delivery of NSAIDs to aid piglets during processing. The results were published in The Journal of Animal Science < link >. Source: National Hog Farmer, June 17, 2019. Link. <The> findings … [Read more...]
The flies have it!
As summer kicks off, Travis Meteer reviews four main types of flies that bother livestock. Wet spring conditions have provided favorable breeding conditions and we’re likely to see considerable fly pressure through the summer months. Cattle facilities are not the only places flies are nuisances. Meteer’s strategies for control apply to urban and suburban locales, as … [Read more...]
Foreign animal diseases beyond ASF can wreak havoc
While ASF is currently getting all the attention, are other infectious agents could have similar economic effects and cripple the U.S. pork industry and exports, writes Attila Farkas, DVM. She discusses other diseases that have potential to hurt swine production in the U.S. Source: National Hog Farmer, May 28, 2019. Link. In modern day swine production, free trade … [Read more...]
Microbiome; it’s a bug eat bug world
“The microbiome is a collection of different microorganisms that we find in the intestinal tract of animals, and we know these microorganisms are essential to immune development,” says Christopher Chase, DVM. “Understanding how they interact with the gut, and particularly the epithelium of the gut, is really important.” In the last decade, research has shown the epithelial … [Read more...]
Collegiate meat judging featured by Sports Illustrated
Comparing the core components to NCAA athletics, Mike Piellucci goes in-depth into the recruitment, rivalries, commitment, competitions and impact of this intercollegiate meat judging. The skill set of a champion meat judge is both eminently teachable and difficult to master: quick decision making, critical reasoning, self-assurance and, above all, the ability to quiet one’s … [Read more...]
Biosecurity beyond the farm is important
Kansas State University researchers are identifying if and how feed mill biosecurity could be involved with disease transmission. The efforts are important as U.S. swine producers brace for possible African swine fever challenges. Source: National Hog Farmer, April, 24, 2019. Link. A lot of what we have learned about how to assess biosecurity and personnel compliance has … [Read more...]
China doesn’t know how many pigs ASF has killed
In documented moves that foster public distrust of the government, Chinese officials are not creating an atmosphere of trust when it comes to producers reporting African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease that has claimed more than 1 million pigs to date. Reality may be worse as farmers are not reporting all the infections. This underreporting and low official response is a pattern … [Read more...]
The role of gut-microbiota in animal health, well-being
The complex microbial community in the gut of animals plays a critical role in pathogen control, immune function, nutrient provision and intestinal morphology. Animals are born with no effective gut microbiota. Inoculation and colonization begins as the animal exits the birth canal. Each animal’s microbiota is unique, but 90 percent of the contributing organisms are of the … [Read more...]
Improve biosecurity to keep ASF at bay
Swine veterinarians are critical industry players to keep watch over deadly diseases. With the threat of African swine fever (ASF) looming large, keeping up to date on biosecurity protocols is important. Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming, and Paul Thomas, associate veterinarian for AMVC Management Services, share questions and answers about … [Read more...]
NPPC cancels World Pork Expo 2019 to avoid risk of African swine fever
The 32nd World Pork Expo has been cancelled to prevent any potential for African swine fever to enter the U.S. swine herd, despite negligible risk associated with holding the event, The health of the U.S. swine herd is paramount; the livelihoods of our producers depend on it. Prevention is our only defense against ASF, and NPPC will continue to do all it can to prevent its … [Read more...]
Opinion – New TV program, Animal ER Live, demonstrates the complexity of veterinary care
The launch of Animal ER Live on Nat Geo WILD is a game-changer for animal owner perceptions of veterinary hospitals, veterinarians and veterinary staff members. Animal ER Live joins current family friendly veterinary programs featured on the network that include Secrets of the Zoo, Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER, Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet and the network’s number-1 series, The Incredible … [Read more...]
Antibiotic-free production puts pigs at extreme disease risk
A new study reveals what we suspected. “No one has ever done an experiment of this size under representative conditions comparing antibiotic-free production to production strategies utilizing judicious use of antibiotics,” says researcher Scott Dee, DVM. Dr. Dee and the team from Pipestone Applied Research report a new study confirms antibiotic-free production strategies leave … [Read more...]
Live streams show consumers modern pig farming
The National Pork Board and South Dakota State University (SDSU) are collaborating to show consumers how pigs are raised. Speakers who are part of the pork checkoff’s Operation Main Street can include a live-streaming video tour of the SDSU Swine Education and Research Center in presentations to civic groups, culinary, pre-vet students, chefs and others. Source: … [Read more...]
U.S. pork essentially free of veterinary residues
It’s official. Veterinary drug residues in pork do not pose a health concern to U.S. consumers. Results from a survey recently published by an Agricultural Research Service scientist, found almost no veterinary drug residues, and none at levels that approached U.S. regulatory limits. The survey included more than 1,000 pork kidney samples. Source: Feedstuffs, March 21, … [Read more...]
Gaming helps employees understand biosecurity risks
Researchers sought to discover how human risk attitude affects the adoption of biosecurity and the ability to control disease spread. Using video games called digital field experiences, a team from the University of Vermont discovered the weakest biosecurity point in swine operations is the personnel. The findings will likely apply to other production scenarios as well as in … [Read more...]
Opinion – Animal well-being IS as people problem
Taking care of animals is more challenging today because we know more about their needs and behaviors. Still, day to day management often falls into the category of chores. It should instead rise to the category of opportunity. With consumer and ecological pressures rising, we’ve been seeing a variety of changes in how we care for animals. Yet, one common denominator to … [Read more...]
Don’t believe what China says about ASF
Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming, recently spent a week in China on a market study tour with U.S. farmers, swine and beef producers and other agricultural business people. She focuses on four points about African swine fever (AFS) shared, seven items a U.S.-based company she was not allowed to name stated and nine statements Chinese officials put … [Read more...]
Feds seize 1 million pounds of pork from China
Agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized about 1 million pounds of pork imported from China last week at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New York . There are fears the products could contain African swine fever. CBP and USDA authorities are still investigating. No charges had been filed as of last Friday. Sources: The Hill, March 16, 2019. … [Read more...]
Learn how to manage the gut
Prebiotics and probiotics are frequent considerations for multimodal therapies in monogastrics, regardless of species It can be difficult to remain objective about their benefits, but the growing body of work indicates that considering the microbiome will become more prevalent in managing disease risk and potential treatments. We gathered several references for … [Read more...]
Will the dairy industry follow swine industry maturation?
Maggie Seiler shares consolidation metrics and insights from Bill Evan, National Pork Board CEO, to determine if swine industry changes might play out in the dairy segment. . . . swine is the only livestock industry that has consolidated faster than dairy with a growth rate of the midpoint swine farm of 3,233 percent from 1987 to 2012. Dairy’s midpoint farm during that time … [Read more...]
Swine vets highly valued, need more diagnostics
It may be a sign of swine producers’ growing expectations of technology, but fewer than 45 percent rated their vet as “excellent” at diagnosing problems in a study conducted by CF Grass Consulting. With high scores overall, the diagnostic metric reveals the continual need to educate producers on preventative production practices and to develop better diagnostic tools. … [Read more...]
Call it welfare or well-being, it’s about proper husbandry
Portia Stewart tackles semantics that help non-ag persons comprehend the challenges of raising meat and being good animal stewards. Young consumers want to learn a lot more about their food. One of the problems we have today is a lot of young consumers are totally removed from the world of the practical.” - Temple Grandin, DVM. Source: PORK, February 28, 2019. … [Read more...]
Pig’s faces get mapped on some Chinese pig farms
Facial and voice recognition may become standard on Chinese hog farms. As African swine fever threatens China’s supply of pork, worried owners are turning to high-tech to try and control the problem. While some experts and farmers are skeptical, agricultural officials have praised “raising pigs in a smart way” using the A-B-C-Ds: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud … [Read more...]
Goodbye dead wagon, hello composting
Transporting carcasses of livestock mortalities is challenging to biosecurity, air quality and groundwater safety. This calls for new alternatives. Jennifer Shike shares her experience visiting a farm using an aeration composter and shares her thoughts on the science and the importance of the topic. Source: PORK, February 15, 2019. Link. Forced aeration composting is a win … [Read more...]
Transportation biosecurity is imperfect at best
Biosecurity is one of the greatest ways to mitigate risk. Procedures cannot fully eliminate cross contamination. Clayton Johnson, DVM, suggests producers focus on controlling what they can when it comes to risk management in their pork operations. Source: PORK, February 7, 2019. Link. There are three main principles that come into play when it comes to biosecurity on the … [Read more...]
Opinion – Livestock producers still facing nuisance laws
As the noise increases about non-traditional-sourced 'meat' proteins, increasing pressure on source and production practices, the livestock industry remains under fire. Urban sprawl and the conversion of farm property to acreages encroach on buffer areas next to livestock production facilities. Iowa attorney Eldon McAfee says agricultural nuisance lawsuits in Iowa are … [Read more...]
Manage flu in swine and you
Whether it’s the neighbor’s pot-bellied pig, the large swine operation nearby or your family, flu season is here, and we all need to pay attention. Since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, research has been conducted to better understand human and pig influenza. Because flu viruses can be transmitted between pigs and people, biosecurity is important to prevent the spread of influenza from … [Read more...]
Focus on what you can control
Clint Schwab* reminds swine producers to remember to let technology take a backseat to good old-fashioned execution. Regardless of individual species focus, any animal health pro will capture something useful in his article about human and animal resources and maximizing production. He discusses training, feed quality, biosecurity, breeding and stress reduction. . . . … [Read more...]
Vegetarian-fed animals: Good marketing, bad for industry
Finding the right balance between science and marketing is an everyday challenge for animal health pros. Nutritionist Ioannis Mavromichalis, Ph.D., offers perspectives on why all-vegetable diets may not be best for animals or the animal protein industry: It’s not true to the consumerIt’s not true to the animalWhat about vitamin B12?Do not drive your customers to decide … [Read more...]