Latest News From Biosecurity

What is the biggest protocol change you’ve made on your farm because of COVID-19? Aaron Lower, DVM, with Carthage Veterinary Service, sheds insight into the results of a Farm Journal's PORK poll.

China’s pork industry in 2020 looks like a scene from the history books when gold was discovered in California. However, this story is about piglets.

Russia's agriculture safety watchdog urged swine producers to make sure they don’t allow pigs infected with African swine fever (ASF) to go into the food chain.

COVID-19 has caused excruciating issues for the pork industry. From market disruptions to pork producers having to make incredibly difficult decisions because of over-capacity, 2020 has been a year for the ages. 

One more case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in a wild boar in the eastern German region of Brandenburg, Germany’s federal agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

Influenza A virus in swine is one of the primary respiratory pathogens challenging pork production systems. One of the biggest factors that has continued to make it such an issue is its genetic diversity.

Germany has received some "cautious, positive signals" during talks with Asian nations about easing a ban on German pork imposed after African swine fever was found in the European country.

The Pirbright Institute announced it will explore the development of new vaccine candidates for porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus.

As reports of ASF make headlines around the globe, the U.S. pork industry continues to work together to keep this deadly virus of pigs out of the country’s swine herd. But the question remains, is it enough?

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Board of Directors announced on Wednesday that it will host its 52nd AASV Annual Meeting titled “Navigate the Future … Together” virtually.

A serious lapse in inspection funding is putting the United States in a dangerous position that could have significant consequences for livestock producers and all of agriculture.   

Forecasting disease outbreaks before they occur allows specific control strategies to be tailored to farms in the short-term and the long-term, offering an opportunity to prevent infection.

Brucella suis is on the rise in feral swine populations in the U.S. USDA's APHIS is issuing a draft policy statement through the Federal Select Agent Program on research with Brucella species in outdoor settings.

USDA estimates there are 6 million feral swine in the U.S. in 2020, creating issues for traditional livestock production, natural resources and other species.

China confirmed the first reported outbreak of African swine fever since July 25 in piglets illegally transported to the southwestern city of Chongqing on Friday.

For the first time in a year, South Korea found new cases of African swine fever on a farm this week, forcing authorities to cull at least 1,500 pigs.

After finishing her DVM, Chelsea Ruston went back to explore ways to improve biosecurity on the farm, including staged loading as an additional layer of biosecurity and the efficacy of ultraviolet-C light.

Growth in pork exports from the European Union will slow significantly as Germany faces trade restrictions following a swine fever outbreak and Chinese demand contracts, the EU's executive forecast on Monday.

It started off as a normal day of deer hunting for Ryan Brook’s colleague and his friends. But when they came around a bend and walked into a group of several hundred feral swine, their day changed in a heartbeat.

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to recognize the unprecedented challenge that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to trade. Here's the latest interim guidance for U.S. CBP ag specialists.

Two more cases of ASF have been confirmed in wild boars in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, with one found outside the area of the first discoveries, the federal agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

An outbreak of classical swine fever has been confirmed at a pig farm in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. This is the first outbreak of this highly contagious disease in commercial hogs since March 2020.

The seventh aerial operation to eradicate feral swine is taking place at the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.

Another nine cases of African swine fever have been confirmed in wild boars in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, Germany’s federal agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

After turning heads at the 2019 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference with Bio-Barrier 360, a new twist to currently failing fumigation rooms, Zack Talbert went home to make his prize-winning product even better in 2020.

Forecasting the pork outlook today is like putting together a puzzle with a lot of pieces still missing, says Christine McCracken, Rabobank executive director - animal protein. 

Intervention Farm Disinfectant-Cleaner Concentrate has been approved by the EPA for use against African swine fever (ASF) virus, Virox Animal Health announced on Tuesday.

Seven more cases of African swine fever have been confirmed in wild boars in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, bringing the total confirmed cases to 20.

Practicing veterinarians, researchers and academics may now apply for one of three $35,000 awards for research related to infectious respiratory disease in pigs.

NPPC submitted comment on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed action to revoke the approved method for assessing residues of carbadox, an animal drug used in swine for production and therapeutic purposes.

With influenza A virus (IAV-S) in swine continuing to cause performance losses on U.S. pig farms, veterinarians have taken up the mantle to find solutions.

Are pigs able to be infected with SARS-CoV-2? A Kansas State University researcher shares his latest study.

An estimated $630-million shortfall in Agriculture Quarantine Inspections funding through the end of fiscal year 2021 has the pork industry concerned about future funding for agricultural inspections at U.S ports.

One more case of African swine fever has been confirmed in a wild boar in eastern Germany, and the government is considering aid to farmers if pork markets decline further.

A further five cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been initially found in wild boars in the eastern German state of Brandenburg.

The National Western Stock Show held in January in Denver, Colo.,  has canceled for 2021. Show management provide details on what's ahead.

A COVID-relief package that includes much-needed assistance to hog farmers in crisis and foreign animal disease prevention top the list of five critical issues at NPPC's Legislative Action Conference this week.

Tracheal sampling is a good way to determine if Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is present in a herd, but it’s invasive and can be difficult to accomplish. However, it may offer a valuable benefit, says Brandi Burton, DVM.

A new single-tube triplex real-time-PCR assay for differential detection of variant strains of pseudorabies virus is one way SHIC and CFIA are teaming up to help keep this devastating disease out of North America.

Germany, Europe's largest pork producer, confirms its first case of African swine fever in a wild boar in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

Should U.S. pork producers strive to produce an influenza-negative pig?

Although great efforts have been made to improve biosecurity in breeding herds, more work is needed to assess protocols in wean-to-finish growing sites. A recent study assesses viral contamination during load-out.

Vietnam has culled 43,150 pigs, equivalent to about 2,157 tons, this year to slow the spread of African swine fever.

Japan officially lost its disease-free status for classical swine fever on Sept. 3. OIE gave Japan a two-year suspension in 2018, after the country reported its first CSF outbreak in 26 years.

A new European Food Safety Authority campaign is raising awareness and trying to stop the spread of African swine fever in southeast Europe.

China is enacting a strict crackdown on the production and use of illegal African swine fever vaccines. Here's what they will be doing to increase measures to prevent illegal vaccine use.

A new study at the University of Minnesota reveals that a viral RNA extraction method can be used to detect both the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and influenza A virus from used farm air filters. 

When it comes to COVID-19 protocols, the pork industry has a leg up on other farming enterprises because of the extensive biosecurity measures already in place. How have you changed protocols because of COVID-19?

“What you don’t coach you condone.” That's why Clayton Johnson, DVM, considers it his obligation to say something if he sees a situation on a farm that could lead to a biosecurity breach.

Alternative strategies for control of PRRS virus are needed to maintain swine health and welfare while lessening the economic effects of this disease on pork producers, says K-State's Megan Niederwerder.