Every breed is unique, but producers should know what they’re getting when raising pigs for market pork. Rodney Wilson shares how he learned this all-important first lesson in our lifelong education about feed conversion efficiency: pigs can loosely be lumped into two classes, bacon pigs and lard pigs. Source: Hobby Farms, March 20, 2017. Today’s new and prospective hog … [Read more...]
Swine Science Online offers opportunity for students, current producers
Leading universities are collaborating to ensure the pork industry is led and managed by individuals who have broad educational and production experiences that prepare them for these roles. The effort, Swine Science Online, teaches scientific principles and management skills involved in pork production for an efficient and sustainable operation. Source: National Hog Farmer, … [Read more...]
Not all disinfectants are equal
Animal health pros must be regularly reminded that not all disinfectants are created equal. The AASV study of disinfectant effect on Senecavirus A is stark reminder of the variances in disinfectant efficacies. Source: Pork Network, March 20, 2017. Household bleach, a phenolic disinfectant, and a quaternary ammonium-aldehyde disinfectant were tested at manufacturer’s … [Read more...]
Don’t forget the pigs
Collectively, swine veterinarians are helping producers and the swine industry deal with added regulation and transparency issues driven by consumers. But, recent discussions at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual conference included reminders that their primary role is to advocate for the pig and pig caretaker. Source: National Hog Farmer, February 28, … [Read more...]
All disease begins in the gut
Post-weaning gaps in piglets can easily take seven to 10 days. Some well-managed farms, however, can contain this to one or two days. Knowing what is going on in a piglet’s gastro-intestinal tract is the first step towards gaining control of these problems. Source: Pig Progress, September 23, 2016. The gut is responsible for up to 80% of the immune system. Immunogloblin A … [Read more...]
Wild pig meat goes USDA Prime
Producer Keith Mann slaughters, processes and sells wild pig meat on his South Florida operation, all signed and sealed by USDA. “We thought the market was ready and knew a lot of chefs would be interested. People instantly recognize the meat is packed with awesome flavor,” he says. Mann could sell every wild pig processed if he had market access. Even foreign markets in … [Read more...]
Weaning stresses impact piglet gut health
At weaning, piglets are faced with a combination of stresses to which they must quickly adapt, including diet, environment, social stress, maternal separation and more. David Saornil and Sylvie Roquefeuil focus on the impact of weaning stress on piglet digestive physiology and function. Source: Watt AgNet, February 9, 2017. (partial access only) As the industry faces … [Read more...]
Walmart working on high-tech food safety initiatives
A technique from the financial industry, blockchain technology, may help improve food chain safety. The initiative is being deployed in China to improve the transparency and traceability in pork production and in the U.S. on a produce project. Source: Meat + Poultry, February 2017, page 66. Pilot projects developed by Wal-Mart, IBM and Tsinghua University will use … [Read more...]
Training important for sows and gilts in group housing
The success of the group housing movement in swine production will depend on training sows and gilts, according to researchers at Kansas State University. Monitoring feed efficiency by individual sow is but one of the factors that complicates the changes in sow and gilt management. In one study, gilts spent 10 weeks in pre-training, two weeks in training, then moved into … [Read more...]
Swine Health Information Center helps producers and veterinarians
The four main categories of the Swine Health Information Center mission are: Preparedness, Response, Monitoring, and Analysis. “Education is key to preparedness,” said Dr. Paul Sundberg, executive director of the SHIC. In 2016, SHIC produced nine additional swine disease fact sheets, bringing the total number of fact sheets to 33. Source: Pork Network, January 30, … [Read more...]
Swine industry audits ensure safe pork
Consumer demand continues to grow for certified safe foods. The National Pork Board responded to these demands by developing an extension of the Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification called the Common Swine Industry Audit. Source: National Hog Farmer, January 2017. The CSIA, certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) in October of … [Read more...]
PRRS has lingering negative impact
It is no surprise to learn that PRRS has a measurable long-term impact on pork production and economics. A study by Pablo Valdes-Donoso and Andres Perez, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, shows that although the number of farms has decreased, and the number of animals and the level of specialization has … [Read more...]
VFD farm visits must pass the smell test
Tom Burkgren, DVM, AASV executive director, speaks out on the importance of the farm visit as part of the new VFD requirements. He calls for swine veterinarians to keep the integrity of the veterinary-client-patient-relationship valid and professional. “A farm visit by a veterinarian for the sole purpose of meeting a regulatory requirement may not pass the smell test,” he … [Read more...]
Producers turning to vaccines, biosecurity
A Brakke study conducted among beef, dairy, swine and poultry producers in late 2016 found that vaccination protocols and improved sanitation were the top two strategies for 70 percent or more of all producers in response to the loss of shared use antibiotics. Source: WattAgNet.com, January 12, 2017, (partial access). The study found that, among the changes in feed … [Read more...]
Tail docking still best practice in swine
The issue to dock or not dock the tail has been under scrutiny. The standard operating procedure of tail docking, performed to prevent the common problem of tail biting, is also criticized for inflicting pain. A University of Minnesota research team took another look at the consequences of raising pigs without tail docking under modern, confinement housing system conditions. … [Read more...]
Study looks at group housing for sows
Consumers have been driving the conversation about the use of group housing for sows. The swine industry has been hesitant to adopt this practice because of concerns over sow aggression and lack of control over individual feed intake. Source: National Hog Farmer, December 28, 2016. For producers, this means that a variety of mixing options can be used successfully for sows … [Read more...]
Pork consumption still declining
Nick Boddicker, PhD, reports from the recent National Swine Improvement Federation conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Consistency is an objection and the consensus was “the pork industry needs to align the grading with consumers demands.” The beef industry has done this and has been successful. Source: The Pig Site, December 23, 2016. Another issue that leads to a poor … [Read more...]
Feed gruel to underprivileged piglets
Gruel feeding is a management practice that targets the bottom 10 percent to 20 percent of small-for-age piglets in any weaning group, regardless of weaning age. In general, research and commercial experiences have indicated that gruel feeding offers four distinct advantages when done correctly: Enhances ingestion of nutrients, especially during the early days … [Read more...]
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found on sow farm
In early December, a research team from The Ohio State University announced that they had discovered the first transmissible carbapenem-resistant enterobactericeae in U.S. livestock on a farrow-to-finish operation. This discovery is a stark reminder of the importance of having the veterinary-client-patient relationship in order as the deadline for the VFD implementation looms … [Read more...]
Microbiome may hold key to antibiotic alternatives
Microbiome describes the community of microorganisms that live on the skin and mucosal surfaces of animals. Kansas State University researchers are studying the microbiome in a PRRS-endemic swineherd. As our industry seeks new alternatives to antibiotics, the microbiome holds potential for discovery. The gut microbiome houses the majority of these microorganisms and is critical … [Read more...]
Wild pigs still rock agriculture
Wild pigs cause $1.5 million in damage in the U.S. according to 2013 USDA estimates. Jack Mayer is currently working on a project for the agency to estimate overall wild pig numbers. He places the U.S. wild pig population at 6.3 million, with a possible range of 4 million to 11 million. Source: Pork Network, November 30, 2016. The cost of wild pig damage to the agriculture … [Read more...]
Opinion – Antibiotics: man vs. animal
Staying neutral about the antibiotic resistance issue is difficult for those of us who have observed how slow adoption hurts the acceptance of proven animal health protocols. According to Rick Bergman, executive director for the Center for Consumer Freedom, physicians now frequently reach for “big gun or last resort” antibiotics, which likely contributes to antibiotic … [Read more...]
Variable pig weight remains a challenge
Variability in pig weight at slaughter age is still a major issue in the swine industry. The challenge comes when trying to standardize the final product. We found this good article that can be used by veterinarians and salespersons when calling on swine producers. Consider it for targeted e-mails and posts as well. Source: The Pig Site, December 2, 2016. Big differences in … [Read more...]
Volunteers help monitor foreign animal diseases
Risk management is a critical element of swine production. Kevin Schulz reviews the work and challenges of managing and prioritizing the Swine Disease Matrix that provides a global view of swine pathogens. The matrix is a result of work from the newly formed Swine Health Information Center’s volunteers who comprise the Swine Health Monitoring and Analysis Working … [Read more...]
New insight into Senecavirus in swine
A recent study of Senecavirus A offers valuable new insights into this disease pathogen that affects the U.S. pork industry. The study finds tonsil tissue is one primary target. The researchers found virus shedding between days 1 to 28 post-inoculation in oral and nasal secretions and feces. Source: The Pig Site, November 10, 2016. 'We have shown that SVA has a predilection … [Read more...]
Healthy gut, healthy pig
The gut of a pig contains 70 percent of his immune system, which makes it a crucial barrier to keep out pathogens and toxins. The investment to support gut health pay offs by helping to set up the pig for lifetime production and performance. Source: National Hog Farmer, November 11, 2016. To work toward a pig’s optimal health and to give the young pig the best chance to … [Read more...]
It’s the fans — no pun intended
Ventilation is a critical component to the health of a swine herd. As veterinarians and representatives working with swine productions personnel, consider the importance of discussing ventilation and filtration as part of the herd health strategies. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 23, 2016. Barry Kerkaert, veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services in Minnesota, … [Read more...]
Pigs infect humans, says CDC
Pigs are responsible for infecting children with a type of swine flu not previously seen in humans, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. None of the 18 persons infected from the variant virus infections were severely ill. The positive message here is that the CDC’s surveillance methods are working and we have “eyes” on variant … [Read more...]
Youth swine exhibitors VFD guide available
The Pork Checkoff has released “Youth Swine Exhibitors’ Guide to New Antibiotic Rules” and it is available at no charge. Source: The Pork Checkoff. As of January 1, 2017, youth swine exhibitors, parents and project advisors will face major changes regarding access to feed and water medications for show pigs. INSIGHTS: In addition to this guide, there are more resources in … [Read more...]
Pig virus with polio-like symptoms discovered
A novel sapelovirus that Iowa State University researchers had not previously encountered was found in microscopic lesions in two pigs’ central nervous tissues. The 11-week-old pigs displayed a polio-like weakness in their hind legs that prevented walking. Source: Pork Network, October 13, 2016. Paulo Arruda, an assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production … [Read more...]