Biosecurity
Cara Haden, associate swine veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, offers three key questions to ask yourself as you consider the role of antibiotics in your operation in 2021.
From feral swine damage prevention to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine purchases, USDA APHIS has been focused on critical work for animal agriculture amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five noteworthy achievements.
South Korea authorities are building more fences to raise its guard against the deadly African swine fever virus. Since October 2018, 883 cases of ASF have been discovered in wild boars in border areas.
As African swine fever rages in Vietnam, the U.S. pork industry, through a $1.7 million USDA FAS grant, is studying the virus in real time as the disease breaks on farms across Vietnam. Here’s an update on the latest.
An RNA genetic sequencing method studied by researchers at the University of Minnesota finds that rapid, unbiased pathogen detection can be achieved at the species and strain level.
As the dust settles on a difficult 2020, the National Pork Producers Council is gearing up for a busy 2021. A new administration and congressional turnover means educating policymakers about pork producer priorities.
Behind the walls of a hulking industrial compound in rural China, top pig producer Muyuan Foods is trying to raise more hogs on a single site than any company in the world - a risky investment with deadly ASF lingering.
Pigs will no longer be allowed to fly inside the cabin on U.S. airlines as emotional support animals under a new rule from the Department of Transportation. Neither will peacocks or alligators or monkeys.
Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of Streptococcus suis, a key endemic bacterial pathogen of pigs.
Officials have confirmed another 42 cases of ASF in wild boar in eastern Germany, the state government of Brandenburg said, as an outbreak of the disease that has halted German pork exports to Asia persists.
The demonstration video is part of an effort to help producers prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak.
From increasing practical livestock biosecurity measures to advancing rapid depopulation and disposal abilities during animal disease outbreaks, Farm Bill funding will support endeavors to protect animal health.
How diverse are influenza A viruses circulating in U.S. swine herds? Tavis Anderson, PhD, says there’s a great deal of diversity within the virus. His team is studying the factors driving this diversity.
No matter how many times you think you know all the diseases, new diseases pop up and remind you, ‘Oh, there’s stuff out there you’ve never seen before,’ says Daniel Gascho, DVM.
Is it possible to determine where high-risk feed products are coming into the U.S. from ASF-positive countries? Scott Dee and Gilbert Patterson weigh in on a new study that could help the industry mitigate risk.
The Office of Homeland Security protects America’s livestock from biodefense risks and animal diseases that could crush the U.S. economy.
The race to find a vaccine for African swine fever (ASF) continues across the globe. Vietnam’s minister of agriculture says Vietnam might have a vaccine as early as 2021 following optimistic small-scale test results.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has caused everyone to rethink their actions and protocols related to biosecurity, not only for their pig farms but also for their personal protection.
For Jarrod and Shari Bakker of Dike, Iowa, biosecurity is a high priority. They’re working to make sure their three children share the same commitment to good biosecurity practices.
The industry can have all the rules or standard operating procedures in the world, but keeping farms protected comes down to human behavior and the decisions farm owners and employees make every day.
High-quality drinking water is an essential component for the health and efficient production of pigs, says Eric van Heugten, PhD, a professor in the Animal Science Department at North Carolina State University.
Producers and veterinarians don’t often think of water as a nutrient, since nutrients are usually associated with feeding. In reality, it’s likely the most important nutrient.
Each layer of biosecurity can make a difference when it comes to protecting your farm’s livelihood. Ilia Zubtsov of PIC Russia shares some of the most impactful biosecurity changes they’ve implemented in Russia.
Protection related to animal health and food safety issues begins at the farm level, and the acronym “IRS” plays an important role: isolation, resistance and sanitation.
Specific, effective biosecurity protocols need to become part of your standard operating procedures. Take the steps to ensure all employees know how important they are.
Is it possible to live with ASF? Although no one wants to live with this devastating virus that has no cure or vaccine, Ilia Zubtsov says it’s possible. But, there are several things the industry needs to do first.
A new African swine fever vaccine shows promise for the pork industry. Dave Pyburn, DVM, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, says it’s one of the best vaccine candidates he’s seen so far.
This month, the VIDO-InterVac facility will begin work with the virus in its Containment Level 3-Agriculture facility in Saskatoon. It is the first non-government facility to work with the virus in Canada.
Rodents can cause major problems due to destruction and contamination of food, in addition to disease spread, say two experts at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
In this time of heightened biosecurity awareness, the importance of an effective disease barrier system for rodent control in and around hog buildings can’t be overstated.