Hunting and killing may help with the feral hog population numbers, but it’s not the solution to this disastrous problem, according to John Tomecek, associate wildlife professor and extension wildlife specialist at Texas A&M University. Hunting spreads hogs across the landscape. Feral hogs move in groups called sounders. The best way to get rid of them is to get rid of a … [Read more...]
Search Results for: swine
Smithfield Foods awarded for net-zero, operational excellence projects
Despite criticism about carbon footprints, sustainability, factory farming and various waste concerns, animal production giant Smithfield Foods is making gains via its daily pursuit of operational excellence. Smithfield Foods, Inc. was awarded 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of … [Read more...]
Scientists decode pig emotions from their sounds
Swine language is the new talk of the town. Researchers in Europe recorded 7,414 sounds from 411 pigs in different scenarios from birth to death. They also measured heart rate and monitored behavior. The researchers then developed an algorithm to determine if pigs were experiencing a positive or negative emotion or something in between. Due to the impact of emotions on … [Read more...]
Fact sheet examines compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed
There’s no doubt we are more aware of biosecurity these days. One area of concern for livestock producers is whether feed and feed ingredients may also be routes of virus transmission and how to manage those risks. A new fact sheet from Iowa Pork Industry Center focuses on three research papers that evaluated compounds to mitigate virus-contaminated feed. Swine specialist … [Read more...]
Anti-mink farming bill should concern poultry, confined animal production industry
OPINION It’s easy to forget about mink production, especially if you live in a region where mink have never been raised, writes Roy Graber. The fact that a provision that would outlaw commercial mink farms in the U.S. made it into a larger legislative bill should be concerning to anyone involved in animal agriculture, he says. Animal agriculture has been under intense … [Read more...]
Wild pigs, a ticking time bomb on U.S. pork industry
Feral hogs pose a serious threat to the health of the U.S. pork industry specifically if African swine fever were to infect and spread in wild herds. There is no vaccine nor cure and the disease has a long track record of crossing international borders and wiping out billions of pigs. Source: PORK, June 29, 2021. Link. Wild pigs have exploded in numbers across the U.S., … [Read more...]
2021 year in Review: Animal disease awareness
“Storm clouds on the horizon” might best summarize this overview and it’s not all about bugs or viruses. Covid-19 isn’t the only disease creating problems for the global meat and poultry industry. Major reportable animal diseases made industry news headlines throughout 2021. African swine fever and avian influenza continued to spread, and atypical and classical bovine … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 13, 2022
Last week’s most read posts Workplace bullying, a growing concern for HR departments. Link. To hug or not. Tools to solve the conundrum. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 6, 2022. Link. =========================== So you cried at work Source: Harvard Business Review, January 4, 2022. Link. To minimize the impact of … [Read more...]
Top 10 animal feed industry stories of 2021
African swine fever was the most popular topic while feed pricing and production and the animal protein market also made the list. Source: Feed Strategy, January 5, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Salmonella sp. is ubiquitous and not going away
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is mobilizing a strong and comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. Swine producers took note since Salmonella I 4, [5],12:i:- has emerged as one of the most identified serotypes in pigs, pork and humans worldwide. Salmonella is an opportunistic bacterium that loves to get into something at … [Read more...]
Iowa State University to test teaching with telehealth technology
A USDA grant allows veterinarians at Iowa State’s Swine Medicine Education Center to partner with precision farming company Dystinct and the VetNOW veterinary telehealth platform to test the learning platform. The partnership proved the concept works as students learned how to draw blood from a pig while being taught from a veterinarian using telehealth technology. Source: … [Read more...]
Keys to systematically minimizing and eliminating diseases in pig production
Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, is well known for applying his experiences and knowledge to the management and elimination of diseases in pig production. He shares how diseases were managed in the past and how to use what was learned to better manage current and potential future diseases. When you have multiple pathogens, the strategy should be first to focus on the one that can be … [Read more...]
Time to FOCUS on biosecurity
Opinion The theme for the Kate Dion’s discussion of the biosecurity research currently in progress could be begin with the end in mind. She describes current work at Iowa State University to understand the rate of disease transmission in growing pigs and associate the timing of disease introduction with <location> biosecurity characteristics or events that could cause … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 7, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Highlights from the 31st Carthage Swine Conference. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - Sept 30, 2021. Link. Goodbye Google: 7 privacy-first search engines everyone should try Source: Fast Company, September 29, 2021. Link. Jared Newman offers search engine options that remove the … [Read more...]
USDA vaccine candidate successful in blocking ASF
One of the USDA African swine flu vaccine candidates has been shown to prevent and effectively protect both European and Asian bred swine against the current circulating African strain of the virus. Source: Feedstuffs, September 30, 2021. Link. A major step for science and agriculture, a commercial vaccine for ASF virus will be an important part of controlling ASF in … [Read more...]
Batch farrowing progress tracked with big data
Ron Ketchem and Mark Rix share the progression results of batch farrowing and provide views of various data depicting progress, challenges and value. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 1, 2021. Link. With the increasing disease challenges to the swine industry and large sow farms and finisher sites, batch farrowing needs to be explored.” INSIGHTS: The use of … [Read more...]
ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance and AVMA have disaster resources for all. They’re especially helpful for Tropical Storm Henri victims.
Sponsored Content Tropical Storm Henri was a hurricane before it made landfall in Rhode Island last Sunday. We shared hurricane safety and check lists for pets in September 2020 <Link>. Large animal and livestock owners also need to think about how they will care for their animals during natural disasters. The AVMA offers disaster resources to help owners plan for … [Read more...]
Intercept the annual rodent migration
START NOW to reduce the annual fall movement of rodents indoors. As the weather cools, rodents migrate to livestock and poultry houses seeking warmer conditions and food sources. The same migrations occur in cities, suburbs, ruralpolitan acreages, farms and ranches. Jim Eadie shares ways to get ahead of the migration using bait stations. He says early placement is vital … [Read more...]
ASF information for community and media available from OIE
The latest information about African swine fever and tools for communicating about it to the public and the media are now available from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). From a thorough overview of the disease, diagnostics, and prevention and control, the information quality is expectedly high. Additionally, a link to media resources that include posters, … [Read more...]
ASF in one third of Dominican Republic provinces, pigs will be slaughtered
The Dominican Republic will slaughter tens of thousands of pigs after detecting outbreaks of African swine fever in 11 of the country’s 32 provinces, according to authorities. Reports indicate the government will pay pig farmers the market price of each animal slaughtered. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Associate Administrator Jack Shere said safeguards are … [Read more...]
Concerns over loosening of biosecurity in U.S. pork industry
Heightened biosecurity efforts done to prevent ASF may be waning, according to Cassandra Jones. She raises concerns that the industry is slipping back into some of the old habits, thereby leaving biosecurity gaps for ASF or PRRS to sneak into herds. . . . biosecurity under the premise of PRRS prevention, or under the premise of ASF prevention, is the same darned thing.” – … [Read more...]
National Pork Board seeks producer input on survivability
Improving Pig Survivability is a 5-year project to reduce overall mortality in the U.S. commercial swine industry. The National Pork Board encourages producers to participate in the survey to generate information about the motivations and barriers to reducing pig mortality. The results will direct research and university extension efforts and producer training topics. Help … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 22, 2021
Last week’s most read post The hurrier we go . . . Source: Animal Health Digest, July 13, 2021. Link. Germany reports first ASF case in farm pigs Source: The Pig Site, July 16, 2021. Link. Asian swine flu was found in pigs on one organic farm with 200 animals and on a smallholding with only two pigs. All have been slaughtered. Pet dog brain banking … [Read more...]
Porcine circovirus type 2; where do we stand?
First seen in the 1990s in swine, PCV2 has been observed to be involved in a wide variety of clinical presentations. Thirty years later with millions of dollars lost by producers and millions spent chasing this virus, it is still a conundrum. The most common form of the disease is considered to be subclinical, write the authors. The evolution of the virus has followed a … [Read more...]
Antelligence, ATS to reintroduce Animal Health Industry Training
Complimentary Commercial Content This unique educational opportunity is designed for individuals who are relatively new to animal health and will benefit from a comprehensive overview of the entire industry. Initially the program will be offered virtually. Live programs will be available as venues open post-Covid. Source: Antelligence, June 18, 2021. Link. The program … [Read more...]
AMVC Cares purchases Audubon, Iowa, property
Audubon Manning Veterinary Clinic, LLC, is a multi-species, west-central Iowa veterinary practice with multiple locations and a well-known swine management division. Understanding the need for community improvement and to improve the quality of life for the community and its visitors, its principals created a non-profit entity, AMVC Cares. Source: AMVC Management Services … [Read more...]
Emerging Salmonella serotype gains attention, concerns
Includes Sponsored Content Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-, an emerging serotype in swine, has become one of the most identified serotypes in pigs, pork, and humans worldwide. Responding to the industry’s needs, Swine Health Information Center posted a new fact sheet that contains valuable information on the serotype, its nomenclature, as well as resistance. Pigs often carry … [Read more...]
Study reveals possible role of insects in ASF transmission
In a newly published study, African swine fever viruses have been detected in blood-sucking insects, particularly in those found on farms where pigs are present. While direct transmission was not conclusive, the study reinforces the need to consider insects in biosecurity efforts. Source: Feed Strategy, April 7, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Fly control has always been important … [Read more...]
New PRRS 1-4-4 L1C variant deserves vigilance, preparations
PRRS has been challenging swine producers for nearly 35 years. In late 2020, a variant strain surfaced from the PRRS 1-4-4 L1C lineage. It can be extremely virulent, although not the only variant strain circulating in swine herds. We’re sharing articles with different perspectives about the significance of this variant. It is clear, however, that biosecurity protocols at … [Read more...]
The battle to control America’s ‘most destructive’ species: feral pigs
Today, there are between 6 and 9 million feral hogs running across at least 42 U.S. states and three territories. The cost of the damage they cause is probably about $2.5 billion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We haven’t been able to find a crop that feral swine won’t eat.” - Stephanie Shwiff, economist with National Wildlife Research … [Read more...]