The unusual rainfall amounts during spring/summer of 2024 in the Midwest resulted in increased mosquito-related producer concerns such as carcass blemishing in pigs, explained Chris Rademacher, DVM, of Iowa State University in a recent webinar hosted by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV).
Those red and raised lesions due to bites are associated with the stimulation of histamine release, he pointed out. Pipestone’s Natalee Judson, DVM, noted the increased threat of viral infections from mosquito bites as well as physical blemishes on animals’ hides on-farm and at harvest sites. At harvest, 20% to 80% of loads delivered during this time period had blemishes. Additional impacts included carcass condemnation, she said.
Rademacher collaborated with industry stakeholders to assemble information for producer awareness and assist with mitigation and control of mosquitos. Stakeholder input was gathered from the AASV list serv, production systems, USDA and allied industry entomologists and tech service staff.
From the input received, he helped develop and publish “Management of Site Insect Levels to Minimize Carcass Impact,” a multi-faceted approach to insect management.
9 Steps for Integrated Pest Management on Your Farm:
1. Understand the life cycle to target for mitigation and control steps.
2. Engage with an entomologist to assist with pest identification and development of farm-specific control strategies.
3. Trapping can include the use of CO2 traps, light traps, or vertical fly strips.
4. Control standing water around the farm and use a rock barrier around barns to facilitate drainage.
5. Control weeds and other vegetation around barns to prevent resting areas.
6. Utilize ventilation adjustments to increase air flow to disrupt feeding including keeping stir fans on at night.
7. Ensure the proper functioning of waterers and misters to avoid standing water within the barns.
8. Use chemical mitigations targeted towards the appropriate lifecycle stage.
9. For chemical spraying, always read and follow label instructions for the product being used. Be sure that residual products do not wind up in contact with the animals.
“When considering mitigation and control strategies, especially for chemical spray utilization, it is important to review product specific withdrawal times and strictly follow regulations,” Rademacher said during the webinar.
He said additional resources are available for producers, including the Iowa-based mosquito surveillance that can be accessed here. Differences noted between the prevalence of mosquito populations surveyed during the 2023 dry season and the 2024 season was significant, SHIC reports in its September newsletter. Data includes mosquito species recently identified as well.
Your Next Read: Mosquitos Are On the Rise: Why Pork Producers Need to Pay Attention
