Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program Tops SHIC Accomplishments in 2023
There's no question the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) got a lot done in 2023, and plans are underway to make 2024 even more productive. Of all the work completed, SHIC executive director Megan Niederwerder says she's most proud of the collaborative Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program.
"As part of the collaborative Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program with Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Pork Checkoff, SHIC funded research projects to investigate novel tools and technologies to enhance biosecurity across these phases of pork production. Projects are diverse and innovative, thinking outside the box for both transportation and site biosecurity," Niederwerder says.
The two-year, $2.3 million Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program funded 16 research projects in 2023 and will continue to fund projects in 2024. By leveraging budget allocation with the matching funds from FFAR and the Checkoff, SHIC increased capacity and output for its mission to safeguard the health of the U.S. swine herd.
These projects and more are highlighted in SHIC's recently released 2023 Progress Report that provides pork producers, swine veterinarians and industry stakeholders a review of its activities and accomplishments to carry out its mission over the past year.
The report is divided into sections detailing the year’s progress addressing SHIC’s 2023 Plan of Work priorities – preparedness, monitoring and mitigating risks to swine health, improving swine health information, surveillance and discovery of emerging disease, and responding to emerging disease. Information about the organization, its board of directors, two working groups, outreach to pork producers and all stakeholders, and its communication program is also detailed in the report, SHIC shared in a release.
"While guided by the 2023 Plan of Work, SHIC also strives for nimbleness to urgently address new industry needs as they are identified," Niederwerder explains.
SHIC activities are done with constant communication and coordination with the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians to serve the pork industry, she adds. In addition to an executive summary that gives a brief description of SHIC and 2023 accomplishments, the report includes a detailed description of the completed USDA-FAS funded ASF research program conducted in Vietnam.
The SHIC Board of Directors reallocated funds from the 2023 budget projection for collaborative Japanese encephalitis virus research to strengthen U.S. pork industry preparedness for this virus that caused a wide-spread swine disease outbreak in Australia in 2022. The board also designated funds to research the use of tongue tip fluids from pig mortalities to monitor disease circulation in U.S. pig herds, a new need identified in 2023 by a SHIC working group.
In 2024, SHIC looks forward to building upon the foundation of Wean-to-Harvest research projects initiated in 2023, Niederwerder says. In addition, SHIC will address research areas identified as continued priorities such as mortality management, packing plant biocontainment and alternatives to fixed truck washes.
"SHIC strives to be responsive and adaptive to the needs of the pork industry as emerging diseases and emerging swine health issues develop," Niederwerder says. "We encourage and welcome input from pork producers and swine industry stakeholders to help guide SHIC's activities throughout the year."
Read More:
A Humble Leader: How Paul Sundberg Moved the Needle in Swine Health
Niederwerder and Becton Assume Staff Leadership Roles at SHIC
