In the past five years, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has transformed 115 research projects into a practical arsenal for U.S. pork producers. By leveraging Checkoff dollars and federal partnerships, SHIC’s 2021-2025 program review proves that in an unpredictable global landscape, agility is the industry’s best defense.
For SHIC Executive Director Megan Niederwerder, this review is more than a retrospective; it is a strategic roadmap. It marks an expansion of data gathering and diagnostic tool development that drives actionable change on the farm.
What “Moved the Needle” from 2021-2025?
A standout success of the last five years is the $2.5-million Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program. Launched in 2022, this initiative funded 24 projects specifically targeting nursery and grow-finish facilities.
“Typically, biosecurity protocols are less stringent outside of the sow farm or boar stud,” Niederwerder says. “We wanted to turn our focus to nursery, grow-finish and harvest to consider how reducing the pathogen load in that population protects the whole industry. Even if they’re not affected by the disease, those hogs can replicate the pathogen, we know that’s a risk for the entire U.S. industry.”
The program focused on three critical pillars:
- Bioexclusion: Reducing the risk of pathogens entering the farm.
- Biocontainment: Managing a pathogen on-site post-introduction.
- Transportation: Reducing disease spread through dead haul, cull and market transport.
Facing Future Threats with Intentional Agility
SHIC has built a response infrastructure designed to pivot the moment a new threat—such as H5N1 or emerging FMD serotypes—is detected.
“We have built this organization to be intentionally agile,” Niederwerder says. “‘Emerging’ means it could change later today or tomorrow. We want tools in place that can respond the moment a disease appears.”
When a threat is identified, SHIC triggers a standardized “thought process” to bridge knowledge gaps:
- Is a diagnostic test available?
- Are fact sheets ready for producers?
- What are the U.S. industry’s knowledge gaps?
- How do we communicate research outcomes immediately?
Global Diseases on the Radar
SHIC is currently monitoring significant shifts in foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Specifically, the SAT-1 and SAT-2 serotypes, historically confined to Sub-Saharan Africa, have emerged in the Middle East and parts of the European Union over the past year.
Niederwerder emphasizes that U.S. preparedness must include vaccine bank readiness and producer vigilance. Because Senecavirus A is already present in the U.S. and causes similar blisters (vesicular lesions), distinguishing it from FMD is critical.
“It’s important to stay vigilant about potential entry points for any emerging disease,” she points out. “As we watch what’s going on globally, we always want to think about how we can learn from what other countries experience.”
Investing in the “Slat-Level” Future
Beyond the data, SHIC’s 115 projects are building the industry’s intellectual infrastructure. A significant portion of research funding supports graduate and veterinary students, ensuring a pipeline of experts dedicated to swine health.
“It is not only the researchable outcomes, but a critical component is the workforce development piece,” Niederwerder says. “We need to keep conducting slat-level research that results in actionable tools to change the farm immediately.”
