Hog Health

Pig Movement Restrictions Lifted Within 5-Mile Surveillance Zone in Iowa

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:31:23 GMT

Pig movement restrictions have been lifted within the 5-mile surveillance zone surrounding the small commercial pig herd in Iowa with confirmed detection of pseudorabies. All premises in this zone completed round one testing with no further detections.

Following the April 30 confirmation, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in coordination with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), shut down movement of pigs in this five-mile radius surrounding the site.

“All animals from both the Iowa index herd and the non-commercial source herd in Texas have been depopulated and properly disposed of,” APHIS reports. “All herds with direct exposure to these positive sites have been identified, and epidemiological investigations and diagnostic testing of these sites are ongoing. Cleaning and disinfection of the Iowa premises were completed on May 12.”

No additional commercial sites have been identified as having direct exposure to the commercial site in Iowa or the source herd in Texas, APHIS says.

2-Mile Surveillance Zone Remains Active

Officials say the 2-mile surveillance zone around the index herd remains active, and movement restrictions within that zone continue.

Premises within the 2-mile surveillance zone, along with all exposed herds, must complete a second round of testing 30 to 60 days after the affected site is cleaned and disinfected. This testing is scheduled to occur between June 12 and July 11. Until negative results from this second testing round are confirmed, movement restrictions for exposed herds and all swine premises within the 2-mile zone will remain in place, APHIS says.

The affected site remains under quarantine pending a 30-day fallow period and completion of the second round of testing for all exposed herds and all swine premises in the 2-mile surveillance zone.

“Strong biosecurity practices are the best defense for producers to protect their herds from pseudorabies and other diseases of concern,” APHIS advises.

Although this detection does not pose a risk to consumer health or affect the safety of the commercial pork supply, there may be limited, short-term impacts on exports of U.S. swine, swine genetics and certain animal products.

USDA is working with trading partners to clarify and mitigate these impacts.

“APHIS and IDALS appreciate producers’ continued cooperation and adherence to strong biosecurity practices,” APHIS says. “We are committed to supporting producers throughout this process and ensuring the continued security of the nation’s agricultural systems.”

Pseudorabies is a contagious viral disease of livestock and other mammals. However, pigs are the only natural hosts. While pseudorabies virus can infect most mammals, humans, horses and birds are considered resistant.

Intentional Agility: Is the Pork Industry Ready for the Next Swine Health Threat?

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:07:21 GMT

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.”

Producers Take the Lead: NPB Launches New Swine Health Advisory Committee

Fri, 08 May 2026 18:15:40 GMT

Recognizing that swine disease carries both a heavy economic price tag and a significant mental burden for producers, the National Pork Board (NPB) has officially launched its Swine Health Advisory Committee. The producer-led group held its inaugural meeting in Des Moines earlier this month to begin shaping the future of the National Swine Health Strategy.

“The National Swine Health Strategy is informed by producers and is for producers,” says Dr. Seth Krantz, advisory committee member and NPB board member. “Producers have felt the significant mental and economic stress of swine disease for too long. The time has come for our industry to unite around the long-term mission of improving herd health. It will take daily individual actions and decisions on farms around the nation to make a measurable difference for the entire pork industry, but that is the goal.”

A Strategy Built for the “Slat-Level”

The producer-led committee will provide strategic input and guidance to help ensure the National Swine Health Strategy remains aligned with industry priorities and delivers meaningful progress. By providing strategic guidance, the strategy aims to reduce the impact of domestic diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), lessen the spread of disease, and keep foreign and emerging diseases out.

“The formation of this new producer-led advisory committee is an important step in advancing the National Swine Health Strategy and continuing to transform valuable research and resources into practical, slat-level solutions for producers,” says NPB Chief Veterinarian Dr. Dusty Oedekoven. “I am excited and energized at the opportunity to collaborate with this group of engaged, wise and generous producers who are willing to contribute their time and expertise to help improve swine health for the entire pork industry.”

The advisory committee plans to provide ongoing strategic input and recommendations to NPB staff and board members in three areas of their work:

Prioritizing proposed plans to find efficiencies and opportunities across industry resources.
Defining clear actions and measurable outcomes to track progress and demonstrate impact on turning research into action.
Addressing both the risk of transboundary diseases and the ongoing burden of disease, including PRRSV and PEDV.

A Diverse Coalition of Experts

The committee features a broad cross-section of the industry, including independent producers, large-scale production leaders, veterinarians, and representatives from the USDA and academic institutions. NPB Swine Health Advisory Committee members include, in alphabetical order:

Dr. Matt Anderson, Suidae Health and Production
Paul Ayers, The Maschhoffs, NPB board member
Dr. Alexandra Buckley, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Cheryl Day, Ohio Pork Council
Joe Dykhuis, Michigan producer
Dr. Anna Forseth, National Pork Producers Council
Scott Hays, Missouri Pork Association
Jesse Heimer, Missouri producer, NPB board member
Stacy Herr, Indiana Pork Producers Association
Nathan Isler, Ohio producer
Dr. Clayton Johnson, Carthage Veterinary Services, LTD
Dr. Jeff Kaisand, Iowa Animal Industry Bureau
Dr. Seth Krantz, Tosh Farms, NPB board member
Dr. Joel Nerem, Pipestone
Dr. Megan Niederwerder, Swine Health Information Center
Dr. Kathleen O’Hara, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Lawrence Parks, The Parks Companies
Brock Pillen, Nebraska producer
Jeremy Robertson, Iowa producer
Brandon Schafer, Minnesota producer
Dr. Harry Snelson, American Association of Swine Veterinarians
Dr. Gordon Spronk, Minnesota producer, NPB board member
Dr. Matthew Turner, JBS Live Pork
Kraig Westerbeek, Smithfield Foods
Todd Wiley, Iowa producer
Noel Williams, Seaboard Foods
Clay Zwilling, National Swine Registry

By working together, the industry plans to strengthen its ability to protect long-term herd health and improve the lives of pigs and America’s 60,000 pig farmers. Learn more at porkcheckoff.org/strategy .

Pseudorabies in Swine: 5 Questions on the Texas-Iowa Detection

Tue, 05 May 2026 19:43:23 GMT

The recent detection of pseudorabies (PRV) in swine transported from Texas to Iowa has raised important questions regarding herd health and market stability. While the incident highlights the ongoing risk posed by feral swine populations, it also serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the U.S. animal health surveillance system. From rapid diagnostic reporting to swift regulatory action, the industry’s coordinated response ensured the virus was identified and mitigated quickly. To help producers navigate this situation, industry experts address five common questions about the risk, the response, and the safety of the U.S. pork supply.

Q. Do I need to be worried about the pseudorabies incident in Iowa and Texas?

A. “We know the pseudorabies virus is present in the feral swine population. On occasion, we see cases in domestic swine where pigs, specifically those raised outdoors, have a known risk of exposure to feral pigs. This case involved the transport of swine from Texas to Iowa, and it’s important to keep in mind that the diagnostic and regulatory system performed as we have planned and as it is intended to do. The surveillance program was in place, the diagnostic laboratory reported timely results, the state veterinarian was notified and took swift action in conjunction with the state’s department of agriculture and USDA, and traceability allowed for communication with the state of Texas, initiating a fast response there. While it is never ideal to have a case occur, the focus here should be that there is a known risk and industry measures in place to swiftly coordinate and address that risk.” – Dr. Anna Forseth, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Director of Animal Health

Q. How can I protect my herd?

A. “To keep farms PRV-negative, producers should only bring replacement animals and semen from PRV negative sources, ensure that pigs do not come in contact with feral pigs, and should enforce biosecurity protocols of visitors and employees by using farm dedicated clothing and footwear exclusively, and avoid sharing equipment or materials with other farms.” – University of Minnesota Swine Group

Q. Has the U.S. had any export market response?

A. “NPPC is working closely with USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative’s offices on outreach to trading partners informing them of the detection of PRV and the steps immediately taken to mitigate the virus’ impact on U.S. pork exports. Strong animal health standards are a cornerstone of U.S. leadership in global protein supply, and the U.S. pork industry’s track record of eradicating and containing PRV should provide confidence to our trading partners in the safety and reliability of U.S. pork.” – Maria C. Zieba, NPPC Vice President of Government Affairs

Q. How do producers differentiate PRV from other respiratory/neurological issues?

A. “PRV can easily look like many common swine diseases such as influenza, PRRS or S. suis. Clinical presentation for PRV tends to be age-specific with neonatal/suckling pigs more likely to exhibit neurologic symptoms (including trembling, incoordination, convulsions, paralysis) and high mortality, while older growing animals tend to exhibit respiratory symptoms (including cough, dyspnea, rhinitis). Gestating gilts and sows can exhibit reproductive abnormalities including increased stillborn and mummified pigs, mummies as well as an increased rate of abortion. The virus cannot be detected based on observational, clinical signs alone. Working with your herd veterinarian to collect detailed herd health information and history in addition to a comprehensive diagnostic analysis is critical if a case of PRV is suspected. Veterinary investigation should be considered when animals of various ages are exhibiting symptoms that are outside of “normal” for the herd or that the herd has increased risk factors for PRV such as known exposure to feral swine or a PRV positive herd. Samples for diagnostic analysis include various tissues, serum, and oral fluids from affected animals.” – Dr. Lisa Becton, associate director of the Swine Health Information Center

Q. Is our food supply safe?

A. “It’s important for people to know that pseudorabies is not a food safety concern, and this virus does not pose a risk to consumers. The United States’ pork supply remains safe and secure.” – Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

While the threat from feral swine remains a constant reality, the combination of robust diagnostic systems and proactive farm-level biosecurity provides a strong defense for the U.S. pork supply. Vigilance and strong biosecurity protocols ensures herds stay protected and the export market remains secure.

Iowa Implements 5-Mile Testing Radius to Contain Swine Pseudorabies

Fri, 01 May 2026 22:08:02 GMT

Iowa agriculture officials are working quickly to “stamp out” a confirmed case of pseudorabies (PRV) in a small commercial swine herd – the first detection of the virus in a U.S. commercial site since it was officially eradicated in 2004.

The detection, confirmed on April 30, involved five boars in a small commercial herd with less than 100 animals. While the virus has been absent from commercial herds for two decades, it remains endemic in feral swine populations, which is the suspected source of this “spillover” event.

Aggressive Containment Strategy

Following established USDA pseudorabies program standards , the affected site is being depopulated and all animals will be disposed of on-site to prevent any spread.

“The standards also require that we conduct surveillance around the site,” says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “A five-mile radius circle has been drawn around the positive site. Swine facilities within that radius will need to test for pseudorabies within the next 15 days.”

A secondary, two-mile radius circle has also been established. Farms within this inner circle must undergo a second round of testing 30 days after the original site is fully cleaned and disinfected. Naig confirmed that every producer within these zones was contacted by late Thursday.

Tracing the Source

The investigation points to a direct trace-back: the five positive boars were part of a shipment received several months ago from an outdoor “transitional” herd in Texas.

“We coordinated with the state of Texas, who began testing the herd of origin immediately on Monday,” Naig says.

The virus was caught during routine screening at the Iowa operation. While the five boars tested positive, the remaining pigs on the Iowa site tested negative. Naig notes that because there was no spread within the facility, it provides a “strong indication” that there was no spread outside the facility either.

The Science: Why PRV is a Challenge

Pseudorabies is a herpes virus , which presents unique challenges for eradication. Iowa State Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Kaisand explains that unlike many viruses that are cleared by the immune system, herpes viruses can remain dormant in the body.

“The virus can hang out and hide in the cranial nerves of the brain and the tonsil,” Kaisand says. “Pigs may recover and stop shedding, but the virus remains. Under stress, it can resurface.”

While the virus spreads primarily through nose-to-nose contact, it can also move via aerosols or contaminated equipment. Despite the risk, Kaisand emphasizes that vaccination is not currently an option for the industry.

“We are not expecting area spread, and vaccine raises trade issues,” Kaisand says. “We don’t want to vaccinate our populations and confuse natural infection with vaccine.”

Trade and Safety Outlook

Because pseudorabies is a reportable disease, the USDA has notified international trading partners, but the impact is expected to be minimal.

“There is always a potential for trade disruption, which is why we moved so swiftly,” Naig says. “We anticipate minimal, if any, short-term trade disruptions.”

Naig also stressed that the detection is not a food safety concern. Pseudorabies does not pose a risk to human health, and the U.S. pork supply remains safe.

Remain Vigilant

What producers can do is what they always should do – practice good biosecurity, Naig says.

“This is an isolated, specific incident here that has a direct trace back to this Texas farm,” Naig says. “Biosecurity is important every single day for animal health. It is important for livestock producers of all species.”

Kaisand adds that biosecurity is “protection from the unknowns, not the knowns.”

Pseudorabies (PRV) Confirmed in Iowa and Texas Commercial Swine Herds

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:17:16 GMT

For the first time since being eradicated in the U.S. commercial swine herd in 2004, pseudorabies (PRV) has been confirmed in herds in Iowa and Texas.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the detection of PRV antibodies in a small commercial swine facility in Iowa. The discovery was made through routine testing rather than pre-movement surveillance.

Traceback Confirms Texas Connection

Initial traceback efforts reveal that five affected boars in the Iowa facility originated from an outdoor production site in Texas. Subsequent testing of the Texas herd also returned positive results for the virus.

APHIS is currently collaborating with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to expand traceback efforts and identify any further exposures.

The Feral Swine Risk

Although the commercial industry has been free of the disease for more than 20 years, PRV remains prevalent in feral swine populations across the U.S. Officials believe this detection is a result of “spillover” from wild populations.

“Pseudorabies is still found in wild or feral swine populations, which remain a potential threat of exposure for domestic pigs,” an APHIS release stated. The Texas herd involved was housed outdoors, where contact with feral swine is possible.

Impact and Symptoms

PRV is a contagious viral disease that serves as a significant threat to herd productivity:

Adult Pigs: Causes abortions, stillbirths, and respiratory issues.
Newborn Pigs: Attacks the respiratory and central nervous systems, leading to sneezing, incoordination, and high mortality rates.

While pigs are the only natural hosts, PRV can infect most other mammals—though humans, horses, and birds are considered resistant.

Official Response and Market Safety

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig emphasized that the state is moving decisively to eliminate the disease.

“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has spent years preparing for these types of animal health events,” Naig said. “It’s important for people to know that pseudorabies is not a food safety concern, and this virus does not pose a risk to consumers. The United States’ pork supply remains safe and secure.”

Export Implications

Despite the lack of risk to food safety, the detection could have economic repercussions. APHIS warns there may be limited, short-term impacts on the exports of U.S. swine and swine genetics as trading partners evaluate the new health status.

“Established protocols were implemented immediately in response to the incident and remain in place to safeguard the commercial swine industry,” the National Pork Producers Council said in a statement. “These steps were successfully deployed through swift action and close coordination with USDA and the IDALS. The National Pork Producers Council and Iowa Pork Producers Association support these efforts and remain committed to a coordinated response to prioritize biosecurity and prevent further occurrences.”

Is PRRS Air Filtration Worth the Cost? New 16-Year Study Results

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:45:28 GMT

New, highly virulent strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) are popping up around the country, proving that even “isolated” areas are no longer safe from aerosol transmission. A single PRRS break can cost a 5,000-head sow farm $5 million. Recent research proves filtration isn’t just a biosecurity measure; it’s a financial risk-management tool.

The Data: A 16-Year Deep Dive

A University of Minnesota Department of Veterinary Population Medicine study shows that farms with commercial air filtration systems experience a significantly lower risk of PRRS outbreaks compared to unfiltered operations:

● Negative pressure filtered farms: 51% lower risk of PRRSV outbreak.
● Positive pressure filtered farms: 58% lower risk of PRRSV outbreak.

“While air filtration methods combined with biosecurity measures have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing PRRSV introductions, this study is the first to comprehensively address the impact of different ventilation pressure types while controlling for regional pig density which is a main risk factor for disease occurrence,” says Dr. Cesar Corzo of the University of Minnesota.

This longitudinal study analyzed 16 years of data from 413 sow farms participating in the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP), representing more than 1.5 million sows. By accounting for herd size and the number of pigs within a 35-kilometer radius, the research provides the most accurate picture to date of how filtration stands up against regional disease pressure.

The Secret Weapon: How Filters Trap Viruses

Producers often mistake air filters for simple sieves, but capturing a virus requires more than just “small holes.” According to Rob Langenhorst, technical sales manager for AAF International, filters rely on four sophisticated physical principles:

Straining: Trapping particles larger than the space between fibers (dust, hair, insects).
Impaction: Heavy particles that can’t “make the turn” around a fiber and crash into it.
Interception: Medium particles that “brush” against a fiber and become snagged.
Diffusion: The zigzag movement of tiny particles (like viruses) that causes them to eventually bump into a fiber and stick.

The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating tells how well these four forces work together. The swine industry is moving toward MERV 16 as the gold standard, Langenhorst says.

“MERV 14 gave us higher airflow but didn’t give us the protection,” he adds. “MERV 16 is the best of both worlds. They’re getting higher protection without compromising the airflow needed for ventilation.”

Making the Case to the Bank Manager

Paul Sennett, chief operating officer for AAF Americas, says the University of Minnesota Study provides the “missing link” for producers seeking capital for barn upgrades.

“The University of Minnesota report tells them the expense is sensible,” Sennett says. “However, the University of Minnesota also tells the bank manager that the investment is sensible. Now the producer has some evidence that they can take in front of the bank manager and say, ‘I need a couple of million dollars to do this, but here is the economic case.’ It’s a piece of science that demonstrates filtration is a financially sound investment to this situation.”

Fighting the ‘Wolves of Disease’ in the Nursery

As biosecurity tightens at the sow farm, the industry is shifting its focus to the nursery. Langenhorst notes a significant uptick in nursery filtration investment to protect the “clean” pigs coming out of filtered sow units.

“Maybe you spent X dollars filtering your sow farm and you have this beautiful, 21-day-old pig that’s nice and healthy,” he says. “You put it through the most strenuous day of its life at weaning, put it on a truck and take it to who knows where, commingle it with other pigs, and basically turn it out to the ‘wolves of disease.’”

Filtering the nursery protects the investment made at the sow farm. It allows the piglet’s immune system to strengthen before it moves on to the finishing barn, Langenhorst says.

The Human Element

Ultimately, cleaner air isn’t just about porcine health, it’s about the people in the barns.

“Productivity improves when things are cleaner,” Sennett says.

Beyond the pigs, filtered air supports the mental and physical health of the workforce. Preventing disease outbreaks and subsequent depopulation events is a key factor in employee retention and morale.

As new strains like PRRS 1-10-4 L1C.5.35 continue to strike previously “safe” areas in Ohio and Indiana , the mentality of the industry is shifting. “Producers who thought they were far enough away from the Midwest are realizing they aren’t,” Langenhorst concludes. “Now, they can’t build or remodel fast enough to get filtration in.”

Innovation and Health Take Center Stage at May and June Swine Conferences

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:10:29 GMT

From NC State’s Swine Innovation Forum in May to Iowa State’s back-to-back disease and production workshops in June, these events offer critical updates on research, technology and market trends for pork producers across the country.

MAY: NC State University Swine Innovation Forum
There’s still time to register for the 2026 Swine Innovation Forum on Tuesday, May 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maxwell Center in Goldsboro, N.C.

The annual Swine Innovation Forum features presentations from keynote speakers from both the industry and academia, providing updates about innovations in management, research and technology within the swine industry.

From future-proofing swine sprayfield irrigation to pit management and indoor air quality impacts, attendees will hear about new research findings and production practices to improve your herd’s profitability. During the afternoon sessions, Lee Schulz of Ever.Ag will share a pork market economic outlook before Eric van Heugten shares about sow anemia and Mark Knauer unveils nutritional solutions to enhance sow livability.

JUNE: 2026 ISU McKean Swine Disease Conference
Save the date for the 2026 ISU McKean Swine Disease Conference on June 23-24, followed by Iowa Swine Day on June 25. This powerful lineup of events will kick off with a deep dive into enteric disease and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) management.

What and When:

Tuesday, June 23 (morning) – International Workshop on Enteric Diseases at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
Tuesday, June 23 (afternoon) – International PRRS Management Workshop ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
Wednesday, June 24 (whole day) – ISU McKean Swine Disease Conference (focus on swine health) at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa
Thursday, June 25 (whole day) – Iowa Swine Day (focus on production) at the Scheman Building in Ames, Iowa

McKean Conference attendees are also invited to attend the Iowa State University Swine Networking Social, the welcome reception for the ISU Swine Day conference, at the Hansen Agricultural Student Learning Center on the evening of June 24. Although the McKean Conference is a separate conference, it will be held back-to-back with Iowa Swine Day again. Conference organizers say this allows attendees to participate in two exceptional conferences in Ames in one trip.

Conference program information will be finalized soon, with registration to follow. For more information on the event, please visit the conference website .

Claim Your Free 840 RFID Tags: How Show Pig Families Can Save Money This Season

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:44:44 GMT

As spring jackpot season kicks off, show pig families are facing a familiar hurdle: a mountain of paperwork and additional veterinary costs. However, a new tool could mean fewer manual errors and more money back in exhibitors’ pockets.

Making Show Prep Easier

Dr. Patrick Webb, assistant veterinarian at the National Pork Board, wants to help streamline some of that process using AgView, a free, opt-in technology solution funded by Pork Checkoff. AgView helps show pig producers and exhibitors track pig movements to and from show and exhibitions easily. This tracking is important, especially if animal health officials request updated and accurate data in a disease outbreak like pseudorabies or African swine fever.

The new MyBarn feature, funded by a USDA cooperative agreement, is an easy solution for show pig producers and exhibitors to add project pigs to their AgView account, along with its location and movement history, Webb says. This information is shared with the state veterinarian in the event of a disease outbreak.

“We continue to find ways to build AgView out to make it very easy for show pig enthusiasts to get tag numbers into AgView, associate them with their project pigs for that year, and then be able to associate those pigs with the movement to the show that they’re going to,” he explains.

There is no additional cost to families to obtain an AgView account, Webb says. Exhibitors can use AgView as a modern way to electronically track, and share when needed, locations and pig movements. They will also be able to use AgView to participate in programs like the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan.

Streamlining Show Paperwork

But AgView isn’t just for exhibitors. Webb is excited that they are finding ways to help show officials, too.

“Shows require paperwork,” Webb says. “This includes a lot of handwriting of information and files being sent via email. We’d like to streamline that whole process from the show pig producer to the show organizer to the state animal health official.”

This next phase of enhancing AgView will better meet the needs of the show organizer, he adds. For example, they are improving electronic gathering of pig identification and traceability data to meet the requirements set by the state veterinarian for record keeping and reporting by shows. This is currently done by hand.

“All pork producers and exhibitors need to have the ability to rapidly share traceability data (locations and movements) with their state veterinarian in the case of a foreign animal or regulatory disease outbreak,” Webb says. “The longer it takes producers or exhibitors to provide that information, the longer the industry waits to get back to business.”

One other way National Pork Board is helping eliminate manual errors is by moving to the use of RFID tags. Through a partnership with the USDA, official 840 RFID tags are now available to show pig producers at no additional cost. This removes a financial barrier for families needing official identification for sanctioned shows.

Moving to digital records solves the common issue of miscopying 15-digit tag numbers, which Webb notes happens “nine out of 10 times” when done by hand.

“Think about it – you’ve got 10 project pigs,” he says. “You enter those 10 project pigs in ‘My Barn,’ associate them with the RFID tag that’s in their ear. The kid enters it once and then everything flows where it needs to go.”

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

How to Claim Your Free 840 RFID Tags

Follow these steps to secure yours before the next show:
1. Verify Your PIN: You must have a valid Premises Identification Number (PIN) for the location where the pigs are housed. If you don’t have one, contact your state animal health official.
2. Visit the Portal: Go to www.840swinetags.com to place your order.
3. Enter Your Details: Provide your PIN, shipping address, and the number of show pigs currently on your premises.
4. Tag Your Projects: Once the tags arrive, apply them using a compatible RFID tag applicator.
5. Sync with AgView: Open your AgView account and use the “MyBarn” feature to scan or enter the tag numbers once. This ensures your records are accurate and ready for any show requirement.

Show Pig Health Checklist

When pigs mix for the first time at these shows, health problems undoubtedly follow. Help keep your pigs and your friends’ pigs healthy by following these steps.

1. Complete thorough animal health checks before loading up your pigs to go to the show.
2. If you have sick pigs, leave them at home and follow up with a veterinarian.
3. Bring health documentation to the show.
4. All identification and movement records should be in accordance with federal code of regulations, and it’s required when moving pigs in interstate commerce.

Read more about keeping your pigs health at the show here.

Visit porkcheckoff.org to learn more about AgView and its MyBarn Feature.

Rooted in Resilience: The Non-Traditional Journey of Swine Veterinarian Dr. Anna Forseth

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:07:56 GMT

Dr. Anna Forseth didn’t just follow a path; she carved one. While many people associate Montana with Yellowstone and cattle, Forseth grew up with a much different perspective.

The daughter of two successful pork producers, Bruce and Marie Samson, her family operated Samson Family Farm, a 300-sow, farrow-to-finish confinement hog farm in the southwest part of the state. They marketed about 5,500 pigs a year to packing plants in Twin Falls, Idaho, and Modesto, Calif.

She and her five siblings grew up with a deep appreciation for the family farm, 4-H and the great outdoors. So, how did this Montana native find herself serving 60,000 U.S. pork producers as the director of animal health for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)?

A Non-Traditional Journey to National Policy

“Nothing about my path is traditional,” Forseth points out.

While attending Montana State University, she interned with the National Pork Board. During that time, she worked with the science and technology team where she was exposed to a unique way of serving the industry as a veterinarian. She then went to Colorado State University for veterinary school.

“My husband Rocky and I got married during my fourth year of vet school, or should I say ‘our’ fourth year of vet school,” Forseth laughs. “That’s not because he is a vet, but because it’s hard to leave vet school at school. I brought a lot of it home and he was right there in the trenches with me. In fact, my parents gave me a beautiful saddle when I graduated from vet school, but they also gave him one because they thought he deserved one, too.”

Anna Forseth met her husband, Rocky, in an undergrad beef management class. He came from a long line of cattlemen and cattlewomen, and she hailed from Gallatin County, drove a Subaru, and much preferred the pig barn at the county fair over the steer barn. “How this worked is still a mystery to some, but it created quite a team,” she says.

(Anna Forseth)

As a new veterinarian, she went to work for the Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University. She also spent some time working with Smithfield before being hired by the Montana State Veterinarian’s Office in 2018.

Heading back west was important to the young couple who wanted to be closer to family. In 2022, the opportunity to work for NPPC allowed her a unique opportunity as the director of animal health for America’s pig farmers.

Although her roles have changed over the years, her focus has remained the same.

“When I thought about visiting a farm, it was about helping the pigs so that I could help the producer,” Forseth says. “What could I do for the producer that they couldn’t do for themselves? I would often, by default, be helping the pigs, but my focus is always on the producer.”

A Voice for the Producer

Although she no longer sees pigs on a daily basis, she talks to farmers often about their pigs. She points out that her role allows her to help farmers in a way that they can’t do for themselves because they are busy caring for their pigs and raising a protein that so many people in the world rely on.

“I am the bridge between policy and the producer,” Forseth says. “I’m not necropsying pigs and submitting samples to the diagnostic lab anymore, but I’m representing the industry domestically and internationally. I’m so proud to be doing that on their behalf.”

When she started in 2022, almost all of her time was spent on preparedness and response planning for African swine fever, post detection of ASF in the Dominican Republic. She continues to spend time on ASF response planning, though the diseases of focus have expanded since she began working for NPPC. Lately, she’s been engaged in foot-and-mouth disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza and New World screwworm planning.

“I think foot-and-mouth disease scares me the most because of its potential impact on multiple species,” she says. “Even if the swine industry were to manage the disease, we would be dependent on other domestic species’ ability to manage it. Remember that particular virus affects cloven-hooved animals, to include wild cervids and feral swine.”

During Forseth’s time at NPPC, annual funding for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (NADPRP) has surged from $18 million to $70 million. She currently serves on the NADPRP advisory board, ensuring these historic resources are strategically deployed to protect producers through enhanced state engagement and emergency readiness.

NPPC has also secured other legislative and funding victories, including the passage of the Beagle Brigade Act and the transition of the US SHIP program to the USDA. Central to these efforts is the “three-legged stool” of animal health—funding the national laboratory network, the vaccine bank, and the veterinary stockpile.

Rooted in Resilience

When she’s not working on behalf of pig farmers, Forseth keeps busy supporting her husband on their registered SimAngus cattle ranch and caring for their two young kids.

“It’s one big, but fun, balancing act,” she says. “I enjoy everything I’m doing, from being a mom to being a rancher’s wife to being a veterinarian for NPPC. I’m thankful for the example I had with my mom, who raised six kids and supported the farm. When work needed to be done and someone needed to step up, that someone was always her. While she was balancing all of our lives, I was watching and learning.”

Forseth is quick to point out that she learned a lot from her dad, too. He passed away in 2023 after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma.

“I will always remember him as a fighter, even before his cancer diagnosis, but certainly after,” Forseth says. “Despite pain and his prognosis, he stayed optimistic and focused on others.”

She vividly remembers the day she found out that he had cancer during a routine morning drive to a histology lab in vet school.

“I cried so hard on my way to school that I gave myself a bloody nose,” she says. “I got myself into class and sat down in front of the microscope. I hadn’t looked at the schedule for the day. To my surprise, we were looking at cancer cells – that was salt in the wound for me that morning. After class, I asked the professor to tell me what she knew about multiple myeloma.”

When she got back to her car, she called her dad and told him she was going to take the rest of the day off because she didn’t feel like sitting in a lecture hall in light of the news he just shared.

“He asked, ‘Why in the world would you do that?’” Forseth says. “He tried to perk me up by telling me about all the great advances. He just kept talking about the science and how cool it was. I loved that so much – it was never about him, even on his hardest days, it was always about somebody else.”

Unique Times Call for Unique Leadership

Forseth gets her passion for putting others first from her dad. It fuels her decisions every day as she strives to represent U.S. pig farmers from coast to coast.

Whether she’s navigating global meetings with the World Organization for Animal Health or tackling feral swine management with her trademark “Montana grit,” Forseth’s unique perspective is an invaluable asset. She is a reminder of how agriculture can be strengthened by those who take non-conventional paths.

“We can’t sustain this industry on a ‘how it has been done’ mentality,” she says. “Today’s consumer is different. The industry structure is different. The workforce is different. The policy pressures are very different. It’s going to take new and unique ideas to address new and sometimes unique challenges.”

Discover more about Forseth’s journey by watching “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or by listening to it anywhere podcasts are found.

Federal Agents Intercept Bizarre Monkey Remains and Prohibited Meat at Chicago Airport

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:27:36 GMT

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists intercepted a monkey carcass and prohibited ruminant meat on April 11 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The monkey remains discovered during an X-ray examination of a Cameroon traveler’s baggage is a major concern for human health, but the ruminant meat is strictly prohibited for the safety of U.S. animal agriculture.

(US Customs and Border Protection)

“A subsequent traveler from Liberia tried to deceptively sneak in prohibited ruminant meat,” CBP reports. “CBP agriculture specialists inspected eight boxes within the traveler’s baggage and discovered meat, bones and hair concealed in dried seafood. The traveler admitted that the concealed meat was beef. Seafood is generally admissible, but ruminant meat from certain parts of the world is prohibited due to the presence of disease, such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).”

In total, CBP agriculture specialists seized a total of 125 pounds of prohibited ruminant meat, one pound of prohibited fresh leaves, and four types of prohibited seeds for planting from the Liberian traveler’s baggage.

“CBP’s agriculture specialists mitigate the threat of non-native plants and pests, plant and animal diseases, and other potentially contaminants entering the United States,” Chicago Field Office’s Acting Director of Field Operations Michael Pfeiffer, said in a release. “The sheer volume of prohibited items our specialists intercept daily demonstrates how they play an essential and critical role in preventing plant and animal diseases from entering the United States.”

With outbreaks of FMD and other foreign animal diseases on the rise in regions of the world, it’s critical to protect U.S. borders by getting prohibited products out of the country. Earlier this week, South Africa announced that its government received 2 million doses of FMD vaccine from Turkey in light of South Africa’s worst FMD outbreak in years .

Travelers who wish to import plant materials, animal materials and other agricultural items should visit Bringing Agricultural Products into the United States .

South Africa Receives 2 Million FMD Vaccine Doses to Combat Worst Outbreak in Years

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:14:18 GMT

As authorities intensify efforts to contain the South Africa’s worst foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in years, its government announced on Wednesday that it received 2 million doses of FMD vaccine from Turkey.

The vaccine, supplied by Turkey’s Dollvet, will be distributed to provinces in the coming days based on animal population and risk, Reuters reports . An additional 4 million doses have also been ordered from Dollvet.

The government hopes to vaccinate 80% of South Africa’s national cattle herd, estimated at about 14 million. It also plans to allocate some vaccine doses to the pork industry.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease on the Rise

Reuters reports South Africa’s government has faced criticism from livestock farmers, who say they are suffering heavy losses over its handling of the outbreak, with some threatening legal action. In February, South Africa rolled out its first FMD vaccine in 20 years to ease a shortage of inoculation doses.

An additional 5 million vaccine doses have been ordered from Argentina, the article says, with delivery expected in two batches once import approval is granted by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

Recent reports of the emergence and spread of the FMD SAT1 serotype are highlighting a concerning shift in the global landscape of this virus.

“For FMD virus, immunity is serotype-specific, meaning infection or vaccination against a given serotype does not confer protection against a different serotype,” says Dr. Sol Perez at the University of Minnesota in a recent Farm Journal’s PORK article .

The Challenge of Controlling FMD

FMD is severe, fast-spreading viral disease that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cows, pigs, sheep, goats and deer. According to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service , FMD is one of the most challenging animal diseases to control. Although most infected animals survive, they’re left weak and unable to produce the level of meat and milk prior to infection. FMD is not a human health or food safety threat.

FMD was first discovered in the U.S. in 1870 and eradicated in 1929. The U.S. does not have FMD at this time.

Learn More Here:
Global Expansion of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype SAT1 Raises Alarms
Foot-and-Mouth Disease or Senecavirus A? Why Swine Producers Can’t Afford a Mix-Up

Dynamic Pig Health is Changing the Rules of the Game

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:11:50 GMT

For decades, swine health research often focused on a single pathogen. However, experts pointed out during a recent Boehringer Ingelheim webinar hosted by Farm Journal that producers are actually dealing with the interplay of multiple health challenges over time. Nick Gabler, DVM, professor in animal science at Iowa State University, started researching these factorial health challenges about a decade ago.

He believes the sow farm is the true starting line when it comes to swine health. Although disease often manifests in the nursery or finisher, the root cause frequently traces back to the sow farm.

“We’re seeing that sow farm health has a big impact on that first three to four weeks in the nursery,” Gabler says. “There’s a lot of multi-factorial health challenges there. That’s where I see opportunity for the swine industry to clean up the sow farm and create a downstream impact on health and performance of the pig.”

The Multiplier Effect

Most research focuses on the onset of an infection. However, the economic impact isn’t just about how many pigs get sick, but how quickly and efficiently they recover, Gabler says. A pig that “lingers” in a subclinical state is often more expensive than one that recovers quickly, as it continues to consume resources without gaining weight.

This approach of dynamic pig health, or understanding the full picture of the problem, requires producers and veterinarians to ask some tough questions.

“What is the pathogen or stressor involved?” Gabler asks. “When is it coming into your operation? How does it interact with your management decisions (feeding, marketing, people movement, truck movement, medication and vaccine use)? What pathogens are present?”

Just as importantly, it’s important to consider if the pig can recover and get to full value in time, he says. In short, it’s understanding the big picture and then intervening where you see the most benefit.

But that’s not easy math.

“One plus one does not equal two with the disease world. One plus one equals three, and a lot of times, four,” says Clayton Johnson, DVM, director of health for Carthage Veterinary Services. “That’s tough for a farmer to hear that the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit together well, but that’s the honest answer you’ve got to give them sometimes.”

No Two Pigs Are Alike

Dynamic pig health understands that no two pigs are going to get sick in the same way, says Lance Mulberry, an economist with KnowledgeVentures.

“Between no impact to mortality, there is a huge range of effects that can happen,” Mulberry says. “Dynamic pig health is a shift in mentality away from thinking of our herd as one unit, where every pig gets sick at the same time, has the same impact and recovers at the same time, to a population with complexity. This impacts that opportunity cost at the end because you’re going to have some pigs that just struggle a lot – I call those opportunity pigs.”

In a low-margin industry, the difference between profit and loss often lies in the “opportunity pigs” or the 20% to 30% of the herd that struggles to reach target weights due to health burdens.

“If you’re a producer and you’re trying to optimize your profits, you’re trying to hit a moving target that is changing from day to day and week to week,” Mulberry says. “When we throw disease in, especially a co-infection, we are making that target – that optimal profit point – move even more. Hitting that target in the best of scenarios is difficult to do, but with disease it can become a real challenge. Anything we can do to get a better idea of what is happening to individual pigs will make optimizing profit a little bit easier.”

PRRS is the “Trojan Horse” of the Barn

Even when pigs from different sources appear healthy and have no “bad actors” on a diagnostic report, mixing them often triggers disease, Johnson says. Mixing populations is a major catalyst for dynamic health challenges.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) remains the primary driver of coinfection complications because of how it systematically dismantles the pig’s defenses.

“PRRS makes everything else harder,” Johnson says. “PRRS is an excellent Trojan horse. It comes into the immune system and affects macrophages whose job is to be the police on the street looking for the bad guys.”

PRRS gets in those macrophage cells and causes apoptosis.

“Those ‘police on the street’ are now dead men walking,” Johnson explains. “They’re not out there finding the bad guys and bringing them to the immune system anymore. That allows PRRS replicate within the pig, pretty unchecked for several weeks, until eventually, the pig’s immune system figures out what’s going on and builds antibodies.”

During that period, imagine an entire city without police, Johson continues.

“On night one, it’s not a big deal. Night two, not as much of a big deal. But night three, once the bad guys have realized there’s nobody to catch them, that’s where you start to see problems,” he says.

The list is long of pathogens that can’t wait to take advantage of that situation. In short, it’s an “unwinnable battle” because the pathogens have the upper hand.

“We have to figure out a way to change the rules of the game in order to put the pig in a position where it can have the upper hand,” Johnson says.

The “Silent Thief": Subclinical Disease

Not all losses are visible. Subclinical infections are diseases that don’t cause obvious clinical signs or mass mortality. For example, subclinical Lawsonia (ileitis) can significantly worsen PRRS outcomes, even if the producer never sees a bloody gut.

“Subclinical diseases are like your taxes. They take it out before you get the money,” Johnson says.

Dynamic disease contributes to opportunity pigs and prevents producers from optimizing those opportunity pigs.

“What happens at the end of every all in/all out group of pigs?” he asks. “You have somewhere around 15% to 20% of your pigs left. What do you do? You dump them. You sell them all, no matter what weight they are right then, and you take a huge penalty by doing that.”

To minimize subclinical impact around diseases like Lawsonia, Fernando Leite, DVM, associate director of technical marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim, encourages producers to consider how they can optimize immunity and protection to the pathogens the pigs will likely face in the field.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all protection is equal. Using vaccines that are homologous to the field strain where possible can significantly reduce viral load and lesions compared to heterologous vaccines.

The Windshield vs. the Rearview Mirror

Edison Magalhães, DVM, assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University, encourages producers to incorporate more real-time data into health decisions. Closeout reports are “rearview mirror” metrics, but real-time data on water and feed consumption acts as a “windshield” that allows producers to see a health challenge before it becomes a wreck.

When coinfections and health challenges occur, the temptation is to change every variable. However, Gabler warns this prevents producers from finding the root cause.

“If you try to change too many things at once, you’re never going to get to what the true cause was,” he says.

When “Something is Off": Identifying the Subtle Shift of PCV2d

It’s Time to Unravel How Multiple Swine Pathogens Interact in the Pig

Lawsonia: It’s Time for a Gut Check

Screwworm Fight: $750M Sterile Fly Facility Groundbreaking in Texas

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:33:46 GMT

USDA officially broke ground on a $750 million sterile fly production facility Friday in Edinburg, Texas, marking a major escalation in the fight against the New World screwworm (NWS). Located at Moore Air Base, this facility will provide the U.S. with a domestic supply of sterile flies — up to 300 million per week — to protect livestock, wildlife and the national food supply chain from the invasive parasite.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she did not have an announcement about the reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border. On Wednesday, a report from a state official in Mexico incorrectly claimed that USDA has set a date to resume livestock imports from Mexico. According to Rollins and an USDA APHIS social media post , the claim is not accurate.

“Every day we are analyzing,” she says. “We’ve never been in a better position than we are in today, to a path. Now, I want to be very clear: New World screwworm is only about 200 miles from this border, so there will not be a port opening in Texas until it is significantly pushed back. But New World screwworm is roughly around 800 miles from the Douglas, Ariz., port and the two ports in New Mexico. So, we are looking every day to make sure we are protecting our livestock and national security.”

Rollins did announce she will be at the Douglas port next Friday, April 24, taking a firsthand look at that border crossing.

How Close Is NWS to the U.S.?

As of April 16, Mexico reports 1,300 active NWS cases in animals, with 746 cases in bovine. The latest case status map shows two active cases in the Nuevo León area, approximately 90 miles from the Texas border. The most recent case was a 7-day-old calf. On April 10, there was a canine located in the municipality of Monterrey also in Nuevo León. Along the coast south of Brownsville, in the state of Tamaulipas, there are multiple cases reported in the last week in young bovine.

USDA continues to distribute sterile flies in those NWS hot zones.

How Does Sterile Fly Production Stop Screwworm?

A sterile fly production facility plays a crucial role in NWS prevention and response. In a biosecure environment, NWS flies are raised and sterilized using irradiation before being released in targeted areas. Because female screwworm flies mate only once, mating with sterile males results in eggs that do not hatch. Sterile insect technique, paired with surveillance, animal movement restrictions, and education and outreach, has been the foundation of successful NWS eradication efforts for decades.

“Breaking ground on this facility marks a major investment in safeguarding America’s livestock and the producers who feed this nation. This puts NWS sterile fly production in American hands, so we do not have to rely on other countries for the best offensive measure to push screwworm away from our borders,” Rollins says. “The New World screwworm threatens the health of our herds, the stability of rural economies, and the resilience of our supply chain. President Trump and his entire cabinet is committed to leveraging every resource necessary to contain this pest, protect American agriculture, and ensure the long-term security of our food supply chain.”

Today at the Southern Border, we officially broke ground on @USDA’s new sterile New World Screwworm production facility.🇺🇸

For months, we’ve been on offense:
• Monitoring 8,000+ traps along the southern border
• Testing nearly 51,000 fly specimens — all negative
•… pic.twitter.com/VUE1KrX4TA
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) April 17, 2026

Rollins was at Moore Air Base Feb. 9 for a grand opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility at the same location. This facility expanded USDA’s ability to disperse sterile flies along the border and into the U.S., if necessary.

What is the Timeline for the Edinburg Facility?

“Once operational, this facility will initially produce an additional 100 million sterile flies per week in phase one, but eventually, when we get to Stage 2, which will be the end of 2028, we’ll be at 300 million sterile flies. When you combine that with all of the other flies that are being produced, that moves us from containment to eradication,” Rollins emphasizes.

Also at the groundbreaking was Lt. Gen. William H. “Butch” Graham, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commanding general.

“Our mission at USACE is to deliver engineering solutions, with our partners, to secure our nation, strengthen our economy, and reduce disaster risk,” Graham says. “That’s why we’re proud to deliver an engineering solution to the New World Screwworm, which represents a direct threat to our nation’s livestock, our food security and our economy. This new, modern facility is the critical infrastructure we need to secure a defensive line against the New World screwworm for generations to come.”

The new facility is being built with an aggressive timeline designed to quickly expand the nation’s sterile fly production capacity:

Initial operational capability targeted for November 2027, reaching production of 100 million sterile flies per week.
Construction continues immediately beyond initial operations to scale full production capacity to 300 million sterile flies per week.
USDA and USACE have slashed red tape, securing expedited procurement, and eliminating other barriers.
Together, USDA and USACE will oversee installation and commissioning of specialized systems that will make this facility operable on time, delivering the critical sterile flies we need to continue to defeat this pest.

Why is Domestic Fly Production Important for U.S. Agriculture?

This new state-of-the-art facility will complement USDA’s ongoing production of 100 million sterile flies per week at the Panama-based COPEG facility . USDA has also invested $21 million to support modernization of a facility in Metapa, Mexico, expected to be operational in summer 2026.

According to a USDA press release : “Once fully operational, this expanded production network will provide the speed, scale, and domestic capability needed to rapidly counter any NWS threat — reducing risks to producers, protecting animal health, and strengthening the resilience of America’s livestock industry.”

Read more about why the border is closed and its impact:
The 1.1 Million Head Gap: Analyzing the Impact of the U.S.-Mexico Border Closure
Should Beef Producers Be Concerned About Potential Phased Reopening of U.S.-Mexico Border?
From Lawsuits to Screwworms: Policy Uncertainty Rolls Downhill to Producers

Global Expansion of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype SAT1 Raises Alarms

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:40:47 GMT

Recent reports of the emergence and spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) SAT1 serotype are highlighting a concerning shift in the global landscape of this virus. The Swine Health Information Center-funded Global Swine Disease Monitoring Reports, led by Dr. Sol Perez at the University of Minnesota, have highlighted the newly affected countries in monthly publications.

“For FMDV, immunity is serotype-specific, meaning infection or vaccination against a given serotype does not confer protection against a different serotype,” Perez says in a SHIC article.

A Rapid Geographic Shift

Historically, SAT1 was maintained within endemic locations in East and Southern Africa. However, in 2025, SAT1 demonstrated a “concerning expansion” beyond its traditional geographic range, with confirmed detections of two cocirculating subtypes across Western Asia and North Africa. The increasing circulation of SAT1 poses a growing risk to previously unaffected regions, including southeast Europe and potentially beyond. As this serotype expands its geographic range, it creates additional pathways for introduction into new regions and countries, increasing the overall likelihood of transboundary spread, Perez notes.

The Immunity Gap

The primary concern for animal health officials is that FMDV immunity is serotype-specific. Current vaccination programs in many affected regions target serotypes O, A and Asia-1. Because these vaccines provide no cross-protection against SAT1, livestock populations remain effectively susceptible, research shows. This “ecological space” has allowed SAT1 to spread rapidly through populations that were previously considered protected.

Drivers of FMD Transmission

SAT1’s expansion is likely due to several factors, Perez says.

Livestock Movement: Informal cross-border movement of small ruminants, which may carry subclinical infections, is a primary driver.
Environmental Pressures: Drought and land-use changes have increased contact between wildlife reservoirs and domestic herds.
Vaccine Limitations: A lack of SAT1-specific vaccine stockpiles and gaps in surveillance have hindered rapid response efforts.

FMD Implications for the United States

Although the U.S. remains free of FMD, the expansion of SAT1 into new regions of the world increases the complexity of global risk, Perez says. The emergence of two cocirculating subtypes (topotypes SAT1/I and SAT1/III) creates more pathways for the virus to enter the U.S. via international travel, contaminated animal products, or fomites.

“These global developments underscore the need to strengthen early detection and surveillance systems, maintain stringent biosecurity measures across livestock value chains, and ensure that vaccine preparedness strategies are sufficiently flexible to incorporate emerging serotypes such as SAT1,” Perez says.

For the U.S. pork industry, this serves as a critical reminder to maintain stringent biosecurity measures and support global monitoring efforts to prevent a domestic outbreak.

From Pig Data to Profit: How Accurate Records Drive 2026 Swine ROI

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:15:01 GMT

The days of collecting volumes of data from your swine operation and wondering what to do with it “someday” are largely past.

In 2026 it’s possible to crunch standard data points on pigs, and even additional specialized data, to come up with a whole operations picture that assists producers with faster, even more efficient decision-making. This translates to more accurate financial records to satisfy bankers and partners and help veterinarians solve or prevent health issues, as well as giving management the ability to focus more pointedly on big-picture plans for future return on investment.

But sharp, well-informed analytics is not possible without a solid foundation of accurate production records — which is also integral to the future of automation and artificial intelligence assistance for swine producers.

Clean and consistent

It is vital that the information a producer is amassing from their operation is clean and consistent, to build the best records database. A prime way to ensure this, is for the people collecting the data to enter it into your collection system in real time, or as close to real-time as possible.

Obviously the day-to-day work of pig production is going to be a producer’s, farm manager’s, or barn employee’s main priority. With that in mind, you can see it’s easy to get caught up in other immediate tasks and not finish entering all the data at the time you’re collecting it. You may think, “I can finish this in a little while; I’ll remember.”

Nobody believes they will forget important information, but waiting a few hours or longer to enter data from memory or incomplete or confusing notes means there is a high likelihood the information could indeed be forgotten — or at least misunderstood. If you are not consistent in entering data in a timely manner, it is less likely to be clean, accurate and useful.

Say you get most of a morning’s data entered correctly but are inaccurate on even one or a few points; that mistake can compound over time. This might impact how quickly you recognize a health issue in one or more animals and delay a critical response, eventually affecting the whole herd and costing extra in treatment and mortality. Conversely, inaccurate data could distort the picture of your healthy animals and create unnecessary concern and expense.

Collecting it right

There are two ways we help producers ensure they are recording this clean, consistent data. First, we work with a farm’s team to help them learn not just how to collect and enter data, but the ways in which it’s so important to the operation.

As I noted above, it’s easy to view data collecting as a distant or optional second responsibility to caring for the pigs. So we show them how the data is used to influence those day-to-day decisions, and why the quality of data matters to the speed of the farm being able to pivot on critical health or real-time financial information.

Second, we help producers understand the features of the data they can and do collect, based on the goals for their operation. There are different types of data collection software you can use, and each one has certain parameters you can choose to deploy.

For example, most sow farms collect basic, standard types of data on each animal such as vaccination, breeding date, farrowing, live-born, weaning and return to estrus. Some producers like to get much more detailed — such as recording every movement of the animal, specific genetic lines used in breeding, every medicine administered, total born including stillborn and more.

The accuracy is the point

When it comes to pig data — any data — it’s not only about what you collect, it’s about how accurate it is.

Part of what we do is to help producers make certain they are collecting the right data to inform the details of decisions important to their operation. I talk periodically with current producers to review the value of their data and records. We discuss if they are collecting the proper data, enough data — or too much. There is a difference between data, and data that matters.

One thing I sometimes encounter are producers who want certain insights but don’t know the type of data to collect, or they presume there’s no way to glean that information from data they’ve already collected. Or, they don’t realize their software can collect particular data — on health, management practices, performance or even environmental factors — to inform even more detailed decisions.

These are good problems to encounter because it means I can help them view data in a whole new light, and we can make their operation more efficient, profitable and meaningful through advanced technological tools in the long term!

Ashley Tanner is Data Operations Manager for Carthage Veterinary Service. A nearly 17-year veteran of CVS and an expert in sow production records, her role recently expanded to include finishing data, which gives her oversight across the full swine production lifecycle. In her role, she leads broader pig data management initiatives with an emphasis on efficient, strong data collection and integrity.

When "Something is Off": Identifying the Subtle Shift of PCV2d

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:46:23 GMT

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) doesn’t look like the devastating ‘wasting’ disease of two decades ago that resulted in high mortality and failure to thrive. Instead, it manifests as a subtle, persistent drag on production today that leaves producers feeling like something is simply ‘off.’

New research confirms the PCV2d genotype is now ubiquitous across the U.S. industry, appearing in over 80% of clinical cases. By matching the vaccine to the dominant field strain, experts say producers can provide the most robust protection possible, effectively taking PCV2 ‘off the table’ so they can focus their resources on more complex challenges like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

Why Modern Circovirus Doesn’t Look Like it Used To

The original PCV2 vaccines included protection against genotype “a” (the most common at the time) and “b.” What had become a major challenge for U.S. pig farmers was fading away because of the successful protection of these vaccines.

But something shifted, as viruses do. Veterinary diagnostic labs discovered less PCV2a and started finding more PCV2d.

“When they were finding PCV2d, they were not seeing the full-blown clinical signs like they saw before vaccines,” says Jana Morgan, DVM, senior key account veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim. “It led us to ask, what’s off? What do we need to look for? What more do we need to understand about PCV2d? We wanted to discover what PCV2d was doing to the system.”

To better understand how widespread this particular genotype was in the industry, Boehringer Ingelheim designed two studies. The first set out to determine if PCV2d was associated with particular flows or production systems from a geography perspective and system perspective. The other study sought to discover if PCV2d was actually leading to disease.

“We took two approaches to assess its distribution across the U.S. and swine-producing states,” explains Fernando Leite, DVM, associate director of technical marketing-swine at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We used oral fluids for simple detection and to see if genotype “d” was present or absent. We found that it was widely present in most swine producing states and across most of the production systems that we evaluated.”

In terms of the disease cases, the researchers followed strict criteria to validate that those pigs had clinical signs – lesions. Then, they sequenced the virus to see which genotypes were present.

“The ‘d’ genotype was present in more than 80% of the clinical cases that we investigated, and the ‘a’ genotype was present in around 15% of the cases that we investigated,” Leite says.

What Does This Mean for Vaccines?

Morgan points out there is cross protection between PCV2a and PCV2d. As the “d” genotype became more prevalent in production systems, the team worked to develop a “d” vaccine so they could have homologous protection.

“Although the ‘a’ is cross protecting, it is not doing exactly what we want it to do,” Morgan says. “We now have the ‘a’ and ‘d’ in the same bottle. It’s important to have that homologous protection to provide the most robust defense. I make sure producers understand that they will still have protection against ‘d’ if they only use the ‘a’ vaccine, but there is an economic impact by putting ‘d’ in there as well. Your production will be better, and you will decrease the clinical signs if you have ‘d’ in your system.”

When PRRS and PCV2d Mix

Recent research also indicates that PCV2d can be more virulent when combined with PRRS, Leite adds. That’s why it’s important to understand which genotype of circovirus is present on your farm.

“The more we understand, the more we can meaningfully intervene,” he says.

As PRRS also continues to evolve and become more frustrating for producers, Morgan says getting a handle on PCV2 helps.

“If we can take that piece off the table by putting a homologous vaccine in the pig that’s going to protect it to the best of its ability (whether it’s ‘a’ or ‘d’), we can start working harder to fight viruses like PRRS,” she says.

Do Diagnostics Align with a Shift in Data?

Producers are encouraged to look critically at small shifts in production numbers. If the “math is off,” diagnostics should be used to see if PCV2d is the underlying culprit, even in the absence of full-blown clinical symptoms.

“Understand what you’re seeing within your system,” Morgan says. “Yes, everyone looks at their closeout numbers. I think with PCV2d, the shift might be small. But if the diagnostics align with this small shift in production numbers, there are tools to shift that back.”

Questions about PCV2d being just in one flow or system in one area of the country have answers now, Leite says.

“PCV2d is really the predominant genotype in the industry today, across different production systems and states and locations,” he says. “Why not use the best tools that are available? If you want to optimize production, the tool is there. As always, work with your herd veterinarian to find the best strategy for your herd.”

Wean-to-Market Filtration: Advancing the Next Generation of PRRS Biosecurity

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:17:07 GMT

“Great innovation only happens when people aren’t afraid to do things differently,” George Carter said.

It has been nearly 20 years since the first commercial sow farms were filtered with the goal of controlling porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. This was certainly different at the time. Farmers and veterinarians didn’t know if it would work. What they did know was that the survival of many family farms depended on changing the strategy in preventing PRRS.

For generations, the sow farm was a foundational piece to their family farm – a truth that still stands today. Ownership of sows was a way of securing a pig supply, controlling health and genetics, and building equity for the farm. PRRS was threatening that paradigm, as it was frequently infecting sow farms and eliminating the ability to consistently control health. For many farms, high infection rates were becoming unsustainable.

Fast forward 20 years, and filtration has become one of the pillars of sow farm biosecurity at Pipestone, now managing over 50 farms with air filtration. Those individuals who dared to think differently and took that initial leap of faith changed the course of history forever – both for their family farms, as well as for the swine industry.

Now, farmers find themselves asking the same questions about wean-to-market barns:

What can we do to reduce wean-to-market PRRS infection rates? Beyond abandoning or relocating barns?

We believe the time has come to challenge the current paradigms in wean-to-market PRRS control and consider if filtration is part of the next generation of wean-to-market biosecurity.

Examples in operation today, both in the United States and internationally, that have demonstrated proof of concept. In China, Pipestone has had firsthand experience with a concept called micro-filtration that has been effective in reducing both PRRS and African swine fever. Domestically, there are examples in operation that utilize a simple seasonal filtration design that mimics or comes from the basic concepts used in sow farms today. While the sample size is small and the duration is not long, the results thus far suggest the concept can be successful.

Two decades of filtration have taught us a couple lessons that are worth considering:

Filtration mitigates risk and reduces infections but does not eliminate risk. In dense swine-producing areas, filtration has reduced the frequency of breaks on sow farms. Our goal when looking at filtration should be to reduce the frequency of infection, not eliminate all risks.
Filtration only controls infection by air. We must have strong biosecurity in other areas of mechanical transmission as well to reduce PRRS infections. If farms are not going to execute on the basics of biosecurity, filtration is not the solution.

As with any innovation, we will continue to learn from both successes and setbacks. Standards for filtration may need to evolve to fit the unique challenges of wean-to-market settings, but the pursuit of perfection should not hinder progress. This technology will not fit everyone and is not needed for everyone, but for some farmers, this could be the next chapter in biosecurity for those brave enough to think differently.

Adam Schelkopf, DVM, is a veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services.

Read More:
Finisher Sites Are the Weak Link in Swine Disease Biosecurity
Why Producers Must Lead the Charge Against PRRS
11 Steps to Eliminate PRRS from the U.S. Swine Herd

What’s Driving Grow-Finish Profitability in 2026?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:35:51 GMT

Times change quickly. Fifteen years ago, a standard 2,400-head barn that cost $600,000 now requires aninvestment of nearly $1 million, points out Brad Eckberg, account executive at MTech Systems. With much of the U.S. finishing capacity built in the late 1990s and early 2000s reaching the end of its lifespan, the need is growing for expensive mechanical and structural overhauls.

“If you have an aging facility and want to do some remodels, I think there’s definitely a need for good space out there,” Randy Kuker, director of swine production for The Equity, explained during the recent State of the Pork Industry Report. “Where your challenge is going to be is if your facility is in an area where it’s surrounded by other pigs and has a lot of disease pressure, the value you’re going to get from integrators or even independent producers that want to use your facility is not going to be very high.”

With what he’s “hearing in the countryside,” porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) have been major issues brought up by people looking for spaces. Too much disease in an area is just too hard to manage.

“Health is king,” Eckberg agrees. “But ultimately, success in the wean-to-finish barn comes down to feed conversion and feed cost per pound of gain. Feed represents about 55% to 65% of the total cost of the pig, so keeping inputs low matters.”

However, he’s quick to point out that people in the barns at the slat level are key to making sure inputs stay low. For example, making sure no out-of-feed occurrences happen, keeping pens appropriately stocked and reducing stress on pigs that are being marketed can make a big difference.

Eckberg and Kuker joined Adam Annegers, JBS sow farm manager, and Cara Haden, DVM, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone, on the April 2026 State of the Pork Industry Report. They share tips for contract hog growers to consider this spring.

1. Focus on the first 48 hours.

The transition from the sow farm to the wean-to-finish barn is the most vulnerable time. Success depends on preventing dehydration and ensuring pigs find water and feed immediately.

For Annegers, spending time in the wean-to-finish barns recently has helped him gain a better perspective of the downstream cycle. He believes communication is key.

“Each group of pigs is going to be a little bit different from the last group whether that’s due to health status, diet change or a treatment plan,” he says. “Review the health document with that grower on the group of pigs that’s coming prior to their arrival.”

Make sure the barn is ready to receive pigs from the temperature to ventilation to having the right diet ready to go, he adds.

“The most important thing to do when the pigs arrive is to make sure the pigs don’t get dehydrated,” Annegers says. “They’re used to having mom’s milk right there available to them, so making sure they find water and get started. Have the mats ready for mat feeding multiple times a day. And don’t just throw feed on the mat; get the pigs up and moving.”

2. Better biosecurity equals better production.

Disease management remains one of the most significant operational risks for all pig farmers, contract growers alike. Kuker says he has heard of three sow farms in the past few weeks that have experienced outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“From what I’m being told, it’s a pretty bad one,” Kuker says. “High mortality, high abortion rate and then those pigs end up in the finishers. It’s very frustrating for those growers because it doesn’t seem like any antibiotic strategy is doing the pigs much good. It’s rather disheartening.”

He says it’s resulting in the producers and pig owners adding a lot of cost to manage with very few results.

“There’s not much the growers can do,” Kuker says. “The ones who end up getting those pigs just have to deal with it. The veterinarians have a good plan to transition those sows back to healthy pigs, but it’s hard when you know that group of pigs you’re getting is going to be a challenge, take a lot of work and not get anywhere close to the results you want.”

The Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) break from a couple years ago really opened producers’ eyes to ‘Oh, wow. We’re actually moving stuff around in grow-finish on people and equipment,’ Haden says. She believes as the industry moves toward disease elimination with the National Swine Health Strategy, the pressure will increase on grow-finish sites to do the same.

The better biosecurity is in your barn, the better your production will be, Haden adds. In a recent cost of disease project funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and the Swine Health Information Center, they’ve been doing some testing and biosecurity scoring to help determine production impact.

“We’re starting to see some very clear ties between better biosecurity and better production,” she says.

Eckberg says that it’s not hard to see how better biosecurity will also improve key performance indicators.

“Think about it – I’ve got healthy pigs so from a cost standpoint, I’ve got fewer medication costs,” Eckberg says. “I’ve got lower mortality so my labor retainment is higher. I’ve got improved average daily gain because they’re not sick. You name the metric – across the board – production will be better because of better biosecurity and better health.”

3. Look into manure as a strategic asset.

Manure is no longer just a byproduct; it is a significant revenue stream, Kuker says.

“We’re seeing a shift, especially with guys that were looking at expanding their operations or adding another facility, to look into ways to create more revenue from manure,” Kuker says. “Depending on your situation, if you’ve got a neighbor or somebody who wants that manure, we’ve got some people benefiting in the $3 to $5 range per pig space from it. On a 4,000-head site, that could generate $20,000 a year in income for that barn owner.”

Kuker says he is also hearing more and more talk about manure technologies. At a recent grower meeting, he learned about a manure separation process where solids are separated from the liquid. Then, the liquid can be set up to go into a planter for more precise and concentrated manure treatment.

“They are looking at 30 gallons per acre on that application and sometimes seeing an 18-bushel increase in yield by using that specific treatment,” he says. “We also heard about a farmer over in Indiana who was willing to pay $1 a gallon and wanted a million gallons of this stuff. There are definitely opportunities out there on the organic side for this fertilizer. And with the current prices where they are, I think you’re going to see more of this by people looking to branch out in their operations.”

4. Boost truck biosecurity.

“It feels like we control everything at the sow farm, we’re talking about improvements in biosecurity at grow-finish sites, but then we’ve got this black box of transport that’s often not something that we manage,” Haden points out. “A lot of times, it’s a third-party vendor and it’s out of our control.”

Washing and properly drying trucks is not an easy job, she says. In fact, it’s a big ask to get a truck and trailer perfectly clean every time.

“There are a lot of things that have to go right to get that done perfectly,” Haden says. “How do we verify that on a regular basis? How can we make sure every single trailer comes out clean?”

She believes truck audits and verification are a gap in the pork industry that needs to be focused on moving forward to be successful.

Watch the full report here.

Sow Longevity: New Study Confirms Critical Management Triggers for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:48:20 GMT

Sow mortality continues to frustrate U.S. pig farmers. One of those key causes of sow mortality is pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Previous studies on purebred sows show that there is no silver bullet to prevent POP, but susceptibility can be reduced by genetic selection because it has a substantial heritability. A new study shows the same correlation exists among the crossbred (F1) commercial sows, but that’s not the only factor contributing to prolapse incidence.

A recent study led by Tricia Haefner, a master’s degree student at Iowa State University, evaluated genetic and non-genetic factors associated with susceptibility to vaginal/uterine POP in crossbred sows. She wanted to validate the non-genetic factors tested in the Iowa State University POP project led by Jason Ross , including the association of body condition score and perineal score measured during late gestation with POP in crossbred sows.

Data were collected on 3,983 crossbred sows during late gestation on two commercial farms in the Midwest during the summer of 2023. The data include:

Body condition score (1-5)
Caliper units (5-24)
Perineal Score (PS, 0=low risk; 1=moderate/high risk)
POP – defined as vaginal or uterine prolapse (0/1)

All sows were housed in group pens 35 days after breeding, except for a subset of sows at one farm, which were placed in groups immediately after weaning and managed according to California Proposition 12 regulations and moved into farrowing within 5 days prior to her due date.

The “Thin Sow” Problem

Using body condition score and the sow caliper tool, this study confirmed a “glaringly obvious” linear relationship between body condition score during late gestation and POP.

“Sows that are too thin during late gestation are at a substantially higher risk of prolapse,” says Jenelle Dunkelberger, a geneticist at Topigs Norsvin USA.

She says that’s an important message for the industry to hear right now.

“Late gestation is just a snapshot in time, but we should consider what her body condition at this time point might imply about her development prior to that point,” Dunkelberger says. “For instance, we need to be aware of, and perhaps even implement changes, regarding how she’s managed prior to late gestation to ensure that she is in the appropriate body condition going into farrowing, to maximize her success for longevity.”

Within parity groups, the data showed higher parity animals are also at a higher risk than gilts or Parity 1 sows.

Perineal Scoring as an Indicator

Researchers used a 1–3 scale developed by Iowa State University’s Jason Ross and former graduate student Zoe Kiefer to score the perineal region for swelling and redness. They found a high genetic correlation between perineal score and actual POP, indicating that these are, genetically, the same trait. More specifically, genetic predisposition for an unfavorable perineal score is strongly correlated with genetic predisposition for POP. Because perineal issues occur at a higher frequency (33%) than actual prolapse (2.4%), it can be considered a higher-resolution “indicator trait” for early identification of susceptibility to POP.

“POP is a binary trait – you either have a prolapse or not,” Dunkelberger explains. “Unless you have a high incidence rate, statistically, it’s tricky to analyze these types of traits. That’s why a trait like perineal score, which appears to have a higher incidence rate, may be an attractive indicator trait for POP.”

For this study, they did not see a large incidence of 3 scores, so they grouped together scores 2 and 3 and called them a moderate to high risk.

“We want to use this perineal score to try to develop an indicator of prolapse because you don’t get to see the incidence of it until it actually occurs,” Haefner says. “This helps identify it a little sooner so we can develop mitigation strategies.”

Prop 12 and Group Housing Stress

A significant finding showed that sows in Prop 12-compliant systems (weaned directly into groups) had a higher risk of POP and high perineal scores compared to sows kept in stalls for the first 35 days post-breeding.

“That was a little bit of a shock, but also we know that there’s a lot of stressors occurring around that time frame,” Haefner says, noting that there was limited data for this subset of animals. “It’s a critical time point of breeding and just getting off of lactation, wanting sows to recover their body condition. Even though those sows in that group were at this higher risk, we actually saw higher average body condition scores and caliper scores for them at late gestation.”

The sows were recovering, but Haefner says more research is needed to determine what’s different during that 35-day period as compared their non-Prop 12-compliant sows. She suspects hierarchy, including competition for feed, to be a key factor.

Still More Genetic Work to Do

After compiling this data, Haefner performed a genetic analysis on the tissue samples she collected.

“We were looking at perineal score and actual prolapse incidence,” Haefner says. “We were able to find moderate heritability for both of those traits, validating the heritability of POP in a commercial, crossbred population.”

Haefner says there’s still more that genetics can contribute to reducing the incidence of POP and improving perineal score.

“Perineal score and prolapse together being highly correlated means that we can utilize perineal score to also help mitigate against prolapse and select for perineal score alongside prolapse as well. Or, potentially, use perineal score in place of POP, to select for reduced incidence of POP,” she adds.

In other words, the same genes that control susceptibility to an undesirable perineal score are the same set of genes that control POP.

A Multi-factorial Approach is Needed

“Genetics can be part of the solution, and should be part of the solution,” Dunkelberger says. “But moderate heritability indicates that the majority of phenotypic variation in that trait is actually influenced by non-genetic factors. Therefore, you need to address both the genetic and non-genetic factors influencing POP to make a substantial reduction in the incidence rate of POP.”

Topigs Norsvin USA has been performing direct selection against susceptibility to POP since 2021. Dunkelberger says that should continue to reduce the genetic susceptibility to that trait, but effort should also be invested into looking at these non-genetic solutions as a way of complementing that approach.

“The lowest hanging fruit is body condition,” Dunkelberger says. “There are different ways to go about managing body condition and different things that can influence it. Having awareness of the relationship between body condition during late gestation and susceptibility to POP is important. I really believe that proper management of body condition will pay for itself in terms of sow retention.”

Finisher Sites Are the Weak Link in Swine Disease Biosecurity

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:45:34 GMT

The U.S. swine industry relies on a multi-site system where pigs are moved between separate farms for different growth phases. Although efficient, this constant movement of pigs, people and equipment creates significant pathways for disease transmission.

“While sow farms often follow strict biosecurity protocols, there is limited information on how these practices are implemented and their impact on pathogen introduction in growing pig populations,” Mariah Negri Musskopf, DVM, said at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

Wean-to-finish sites play a critical role in disease dynamics but are less frequently studied. Musskopf and a team of researchers at Iowa State University set out to identify bioexclusion practices associated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) outbreaks in U.S. wean-to-finish sites.

A prospective observational study was conducted on 95 wean-to-harvest sites managed by eight companies across six states, including 33 nursery, 17 finisher and 45 wean-to-finish sites. All flows were either PRRSV-negative or PRRSV-positive stable vac¬cinated with modified-live vaccine at placement, Musskopf explains. Sites completed a detailed biosecurity survey covering 17 categories, including local swine site density. Oral fluid samples were col¬lected every four weeks from placement to market, refrigerated, and submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for analysis.

The “Finisher” Problem

The results showed finisher sites were the most vulnerable, with an 82.4% outbreak rate, compared to wean-to-finish (66.7%) and nurseries (33.3%).

“These findings show that site type and farm density are key driv¬ers of PRRSV outbreaks, with finishers in dense areas at greatest risk,” says Musskopf, a graduate student at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Some of the top risk factors discovered include:

Local Farm Density: For every additional swine farm within a one-mile radius, the odds of a PRRSV outbreak increase by 62%.
Carcass Disposal: Using rendering services was associated with a 6.47 times higher odds of an outbreak.
Human Connections: Employees who live with others who also work in the swine industry face a 6.15 times higher odds of bringing the virus to their site.

Proven Protective Measures

There’s power in downtime. Implementing overnight downtime for employees who work across multiple sites significantly associated with lesser outbreaks, providing a critical window to prevent cross-contamination.

The study suggests prioritizing biosecurity and surveillance on high-risk finisher sites is beneficial, especially those located in “swine-dense” geographic areas.

Controlling PRRSV requires looking beyond the sow farm, Musskopf says.

“Veterinarians and production systems can use this knowledge to improve surveillance and biosecurity on high-risk sites, review practices adopted during carcass disposal and employee downtime, and cohabitation,” Musskopf says. “Targeting these factors can reduce opportunities for virus introduction and improve regional PRRSV control.”

The Path from PRRS Control to Elimination

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:13 GMT

The “why” behind elimination of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is clearer than ever, veterinarian Reid Philips said during the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting.

The statistics are staggering, he points out.

• PRRS costs the U.S. industry $1.1 billion annually.
• Acute breaks lead to a 278% increase in injectable treatments and pre-weaning mortality rates as high as 100% in some weeks.
• A single system can lose $1 million to $3 million in the 10 weeks following a break.

So, what holds producers back from eliminating this devastating virus? Philips believes the fear of reinfection is heavy on the minds of some pork producers. Only after controlling the virus and reaching a stable status can producers decide if they want to eliminate it or not, he adds.

“The fear there may be having a naive herd and then having a reintroduction of a new heterologous virus, and experience the break,” he says. “That’s the fear I would have. Can I prevent the rebreak?”

That’s a tough question to answer, Philips says.

Moving Beyond the Silver-Bullet Mentality

The industry has gained a lot of information and knowledge through research and experience since the “mystery disease” made its entrance in the late 1980s.

“We know there is not one tool in our toolbox that is a silver bullet, but if we can apply all the tools in a systematic and coordinated fashion, we can move the needle,” he says.

The industry should strive to get breeding herds to a stable status where they are weaning negative pigs, Philips says.

“We need to focus on managing the virus and in wean-to-finish flows, beat it down to a more manageable level and reduce the viral risk,” he adds. “I think we can employ pilot projects, whether they be system-based or regional-controlled pilot projects. We have the knowledge, tools and protocols to do that and prove that we can achieve not only regional control, but even regional elimination and minimize rebreaks.”

He knows this won’t be easy, but he believes it’s doable.

A Five-Step Checklist

In his mind, this is not just a science- and evidence-based discussion. It’s a business one. He encourages producers to consider a step-by-step approach to PRRS:

Step 1: Identify the goals of the program.
Step 2: Determine current PRRS virus status.
Step 3: Understand current constraints.
Step 4: Develop solution options.
Step 5: Implement, monitor and measure preferred solution inclusive of complementary components of a PRRS virus control program.

The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer

Through the efforts of field-applied research and continuous learning, Philips says the industry is overcoming obstacles and turning them into opportunities.

“We have the tools (biosecurity, immunity management and diagnostic monitoring) and knowledge to apply what we’ve learned in a systematic, coordinated process to improve our ability to control and eliminate PRRS virus,” Philips says. “The components of regional control offer framework for programs to mitigate its economic, health and welfare impact.”

The effort will require industry leadership as well as patience and persistence. It will also take time, along with collaboration, coordination and communication with all stakeholders.

“It’s a long journey to the top of the mountain,” Philips says. “It’s never easy, but when you get there, the view at the top is well worth the trip. As the U.S. Marines often say, ‘The difficult things we do immediately; the impossible, it just takes a little longer.’”

Small Decisions Drive Big Victories for Disease Elimination

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:06:24 GMT

In the world of livestock health, the “impossible” is often just a goal that hasn’t been met yet.

Years ago, as a veterinary student at Iowa State University, Dusty Oedekoven spent his days bleeding pigs on sow farms and spinning down samples in the lab. At the time, the industry was locked in a battle with pseudorabies. Many producers believed the virus was too pervasive to ever truly disappear.

But Oedekoven watched as the industry rallied, developed vaccines, and made the thousands of small, disciplined decisions required to win. In 2004, the U.S. was finally declared free of the disease.

This isn’t his only experience with disease elimination. For nearly 20 years, he worked for the South Dakota Animal Industry Board, serving 13 of those years as the state veterinarian. From bovine tuberculosis in cattle to scrapie in sheep, Oedekoven is no stranger to the “impossible.”

Now, as chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, he is facing a new “impossible” in the swine industry: the elimination of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV).

The Psychology of Elimination

In March 2025, the National Pork Board (NPB) received an advisement at National Pork Industry Forum asking the industry to facilitate the creation of a producer-led national swine health strategy.

During 47 listening sessions across 36 states, Oedekoven heard a recurring theme from producers. They were “PRRS fatigued.” The disease had made raising pigs “not fun anymore.” It was a heavy, endemic weight that felt permanent.

But Oedekoven saw a parallel to this struggle in a place far from the barn: the wrestling mat.

“This year was my son Alex’s fifth time to wrestle in the state tournament,” he says. “This was his third time in the championship match. He’s lost that championship two other times, and while we were so glad he made it that far, when you get to that point and you lose, it is hard.”

It might have been easy to accept that a title just wasn’t in the cards. Instead, Alex used those losses to fuel a year of disciplined, small decisions—extra practices, better nutrition and mental focus. Last week, Alex finally stood at the top of the podium as the South Dakota State A Champion at 144 lb.

Oedekoven believes the pork industry is at a similar crossroads. He presented an update on the next steps for the National Swine Health Strategy at the National Pork Industry Forum. He says this isn’t just a set of technical goals; it’s a mindset shift. The strategy aims to keep foreign diseases like African swine fever out while aggressively moving to eliminate PRRS and PEDV that drain producer morale.

Moving From Management to Eradication

Just as Alex’s title was won in the extra time and attention to detail in the practice room months before the tournament, Oedekoven argues that the battle against endemic disease is won in the mundane, daily adherence to biosecurity protocols.

Eliminating PRRS won’t be easy, he adds. It’s a significant challenge and there is a long list of reasons why this disease causes so much heartache in the industry.

“We know we can eliminate PRRS from a single farm,” Oedekoven says. “We have several examples of what happens when appropriate resources, knowledge and training are all in place – you can eliminate PRRS. Now, how long can you keep it from being reintroduced? I think there’s a lot of factors to that, but we know it can be done.”

The tools are already in place for elimination, but the real power doesn’t live in a lab, Dusty points out. It lives on the farm. It’s in the hands of the producer who enforces a strict biosecurity protocol one more time, or the system leader who chooses transparency over silence.

“It’s a mindset,” he says. “It’s believing that we can do it, believing that we should do it, and taking actions that align with that belief.”

Bringing everybody together around common goals is at the heart of the National Swine Health Strategy. It will take coordination, communication, collaboration and making difficult choices in some cases, Oedekoven says.

“We have a lot of work to do in understanding how we contain the disease on the farm,” he says. “What are the alternatives to moving pigs from a known positive sow farm to an area that was just getting over an outbreak? How do we share information within the industry to protect confidentiality, protect liability, and yet give producers the information they need to make the best decisions? We know that coordinated effort to reduce the viral load is going to pay dividends for everybody.”

Again, those are things the industry doesn’t have all the answers to, Oedekoven adds. But if we don’t change our actions to align with our beliefs, then we’re going to continue to struggle with these viruses.

The road to eliminating PRRS and PEDV will be long, and there will likely be setbacks. But as Oedekoven looks back on the victory over pseudorabies and his son’s journey to the podium, he remains optimistic. Success isn’t found in one giant leap; it’s found in the hundreds of small, purposeful decisions made every single day.

Check out the National Swine Health Strategy tactics here and engage with your state pork associations.

You can listen to more of Oedekoven’s personal experience with disease elimination and his perspective on PRRS on “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or follow The PORK Podcast anywhere podcasts are found.

AASV Recognizes Lifelong Dedication to Swine Health

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:06:59 GMT

Veterinarians and industry leaders were honored for their commitment and dedication to the U.S. swine industry at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev.

AASV Names 2026 Meritorious Service Award Recipient

Dr. Clayton Johnson was named the 2026 recipient of the AASV Meritorious Service Award for his outstanding service to the AASV. Johnson’s commitment and service to the AASV are unparalleled, the organization says. During 2022-2025, he led the innovative AASV Early-Career Swine Veterinarian Development Program, an initiative designed to provide mentorship, communication and leadership training, giving early-career practitioners the tools they need to thrive. He has served for decades on AASV committees, including chairing the Student Recruitment Committee and chairing the Pharmaceutical and Biologics Committee, one of AASV’s most active committees. He delivered the 2025 Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture. Most recently, Johnson was elected the 2026 AASV Vice-President.

“I’m beyond grateful to receive the 2026 AASV Meritorious Service Award – to be recognized by peers, colleagues and my own mentors is a tremendous honor,” Johnson says. “The American Association of Swine Veterinarians has given so much to me personally, it’s always been my goal to give back as much as has been given to me and I take this award as a token of gratitude that I’m at least making strides in that direction. To be recognized as having contributed to the development of others is the highest compliment I’ve ever received – thank you again for this generosity and recognition.”

Originally from Griggsville, Ill., Johnson received his DVM from the University of Illinois in 2008. He credits his veterinary interest and entire career to the foundational knowledge in technical skills, relationship building and communication instilled by his veterinarian father. Johnson is the director of veterinary services at Carthage Veterinary Services in Carthage, Ill., where he is a globally recognized swine health expert. He leads a team of veterinary professionals and hosts “The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast” a weekly podcast series reaching a global audience of more than 100,000 listeners serving to distill complex swine health research into actionable insights.

AASV Foundation Awards Prestigious Heritage Award to Dr. Joe Connor

Dr. Joseph Connor received the AASV Foundation’s Heritage Award. He becomes only the seventh recipient of the award which recognizes individuals who have lifelong outstanding achievements in swine veterinary medicine. It is only awarded on an as-needed basis when a deserving individual has been nominated and selected. Awardees have demonstrated their eligibility through their membership in the AASV, service to the AASV, and service to the North American swine industry.

Connor founded Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD after purchasing the CVS practice in 1980. A leading swine veterinarian in the world, he considers it a privilege to be involved in the swine industry during a time of significant transformation and assisted producers domestically and globally undergoing transformations. He was recognized for his international efforts by being named the first honorary member of the Japanese Association of Swine in 2008.

A true leader in swine health, Connor has led the AASV for decades. After serving on the AASV Board of Directors, he was elected president of the association in 1988. He was a member and chair of the AASV Foundation Board. He continues to serve the association as a member of the Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Committee, and Foundation Investment Committee. Colleagues regard Connor as an icon in the swine industry and are grateful for his tremendous contributions and outstanding service to the AASV. The Carthage, Ill., native received his bachelor’s degree and DVM from the University of Illinois, and his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota.

“It has been a rewarding journey,” Connor says. “Our colleague, the late Dr. KT Wright, informed me in my first year in practice that to be a swine veterinarian you had to be an active member of AASV. His guidance was fortuitous as AASV has evolved into a diverse organization leading the industry transformation by incorporating programs that support both our profession and our industry. It is exciting to see it adapt and be involved in multiple segments of the industry. The strength of the organization is our members. It is a privilege to be a member.”

AASV Names 2026 Howard Dunne Memorial Award Recipient

Dr. Rick Sibbel received the AASV 2026 Howard Dunne Memorial Award for his important contributions and outstanding service to the association and the swine industry.

Sibbel was born and raised on a family farm in Butte, Neb. As the oldest of six children, he shared daily responsibility with his brothers and sisters for much of the farm animal work, including working at the family’s small livestock auction market. Around 12 years old, he decided that a veterinary career gave him the best chance to make a positive impact on people and agriculture. He went on to receive his BS from the University of Nebraska and DVM from Iowa State University.

After retiring from Merck Animal Health in 2018, Sibbel established Executive Veterinary & Health Solutions LLC, a consulting firm specializing in veterinary and human medicine interface (One Health) processes and programs, especially focused on food animal systems. He is the president and owner. During his transition from rural mixed private practice to the animal health industry in the mid-80’s, Sibbel began attending AASV annual meetings. There, he grew to cherish the people and interactions and the innovation and evolution in herd health. He became very active in leadership roles within AASV, the animal industry, and organized veterinary medicine, having served on numerous committees in both the AASV and American Veterinary Medical Association. He served as the AASV president in 2003.

“Accepting the Howard Dunne Memorial Award is a truly special moment for this veterinarian,” Sibbel says. “I’m accepting this award with humility and honor as I join the long list of veterinarians that have come before me. I am forever grateful for the many incredible people I have worked with in my veterinary and animal industry leadership roles.”

AASV Names Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year Award Recipient

Dr. Glen Almond was named the 2026 recipient of the AASV Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year Award to a member employed in academia who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service to the swine veterinary profession. Almond is a professor of swine health and production management at North Carolina State University (NCSU). He has been on faculty since 1987 when he joined as a graduate research assistant. His research has focused on reproductive physiology, urogenital disease and interactions between disease and growth.

Perhaps his most impactful contribution during his time at NCSU is his commitment to swine-interested veterinary, graduate and undergraduate students world-wide. As coordinator of a senior swine medicine course, he has provided educational opportunities for students from twelve veterinary colleges and seven countries. Extremely generous of his time devoted to students, his open-door policy demonstrates his drive to help others succeed. As a mentor, he is highly supportive of students and continues to advocate for their success.

Dozens of current and former students who nominated Almond for this award credit their mentor as foundational in their careers. His ability to ignite excitement in his students has been carried into practice for decades. Almond’s commitment to students and education is evident in his service to AASV. For many years, he has been a member of the AASV Student Engagement and Collegiate Activities committees and has participated in the AASV Program Planning Committee at least seven times. He is the 2020 recipient of the AASV Howard Dunne Memorial Award.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award,” Almond says. “It reflects on the amazing, positive attitude of my current and previous students, and the AASV as an organization. Without their support and commitment, I would have left the university system a long time ago. I do not measure my success by the number of publications, nor the number of funded grants: the success of my students has been my motivation. I always learn from the students. They are the future of our profession.”

AASV Names 2026 Top Veterinarians of the Year

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:10:46 GMT

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) celebrated the “best of the best” at its 2026 Annual Meeting, honoring veterinarians for their exceptional skill, industry impact and leadership. This year’s top honors recognize the clinical proficiency of Dr. Brad Leuwerke, the pioneering technical expertise of Dr. Robyn Fleck, and the rapid professional ascent of Dr. Elizabeth Noblett, showcasing the depth of talent driving the U.S. pork industry forward.

2026 Swine Practitioner of the Year

Dr. Brad Leuwerke was named the 2026 Swine Practitioner of the Year by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians for his unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of veterinary service to clients. Originally from a farm near Forest City, Iowa, Leuwerke earned an MSc in veterinary microbiology and preventative medicine and DVM from Iowa State University in 2006. He joined the Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minn., immediately after graduation. There, he oversees sow herd and nursery/grow-finish health, trains clients on health topics, and conducts research.

Leuwerke stands out for his balance of science, common sense and character. Clients view him as a “kind, humble, empathetic leader and a talented, approachable resource.” His critical thinking skills and ability to contribute on topics such as animal welfare, infectious diseases, biosecurity, responsible use of antimicrobials and live vaccines demonstrate his holistic vision toward the profession and the level of respect he has for the pig, the consumer and the environment.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Eileen Thacker in veterinary school, Leuwerke was introduced to the concept of a swine-only veterinarian, and she encouraged him to attend the 2003 AASV Annual Meeting. Leuwerke has attended every AASV Annual meeting since. He has presented, chaired seminars, served on the program planning committee, and participated in student recruitment events. He has also been an active participant and leader in AASV committees, especially the Pork Safety Committee. AASV notes that he mentors new veterinarians, fostering growth and knowledge sharing, and remains actively engaged in industry conferences and emerging research.

2026 Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year

Dr. Robyn Fleck received the AASV Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award. As a senior account manager of scientific sales and affairs at Merck Animal Health, Fleck manages corporate account relationships and technology transfer, and she manages generation and distribution of scientific data to support swine vaccine brands. She also provides technical input into and review of marketing materials for swine biologicals and pharmaceuticals.

Prior to joining Merck Animal Health, she held positions with Zoetis as associate director of outcomes research, the National Pork Board as director of swine health programs, Schering-Plough Animal Health as a swine technical services manager, and as a staff veterinarian with Cargill Pork.

Fleck has served on multiple AASV committees, including program planning, influenza, pharmaceutical issues, food safety, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has also served on the National Pork Board’s Swine Health and Food Safety committees. Fleck is a recognized pioneer among women in the swine veterinary profession who has paved the path for others.

2026 Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year

The AASV Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Elizabeth Noblett. Originally from Gastonia, N.C., she received a BS (2013) and MAS (2016) in animal sciences, and a DVM (2020) from North Carolina State University (NCSU). Noblett said before college, she had very little experience or exposure to swine production. Her unwavering interest was sparked after holding her first pig at the NCSU Swine Unit during her first animal science lab.

After graduation, Noblett joined The Maschhoffs as a herd veterinarian. Since 2023, she has been a veterinarian with Smithfield where she oversees the health of sow farm operations and corresponding grow-finish operations in the southeastern United States.
Noblett has been a continuous member and leader of the AASV since joining as a student. She has presented at the AASV Annual Meeting as a student and a practicing veterinarian. She has served as the student podcast coordinator, and she currently chairs the AASV Communications Committee. Noblett was a participant in the first class of the AASV Early-Career Swine Veterinarian Development.

Swine Veterinary Students Take Home Top Honors from AASV Annual Meeting

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:31:12 GMT

The awards and honors were abundantly presented to outstanding students at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Annual Meeting at the AASV Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev.

(AASV)

AASV Foundation Announces Results of First Graduate Student Competition

The AASV Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $5,000 to three graduate students who participated in the Research Topics session. The Research Topics session highlights research projects related to swine health and production, including virology, diagnostics, environment, biosecurity and welfare. For the first time, graduate students presenting in the session competed for scholarships sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

• $3,000: Katlyn McClellan, South Dakota State University, “Blood hemoglobin as a predictor of removal risk and reproductive performance in prolific sows”

• $1,000: Rafael Medeiros de Avila Melo, University of Minnesota, “Assessing viral environmental contamination in and around mortality handling structures in wean-to-finish farms”

• $1,000: Sara Correia Sequeira, The Ohio State University, “Assessing connectivity and biosecurity compliance of vehicles in a Brazilian swine production system”

Bryn Van Winters of the University of Guelph.

(AASV)

AASV Foundation Announces Student Seminar Awards and Scholarships

The AASV Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 to 15 veterinary students who participated in the AASV Student Seminar at the Annual Meeting.

Bryn Van Winters, University of Guelph, received the $5,000 scholarship for top student presentation. Sloane’s presentation was titled “Effects of early-life energy supplementation on survival and growth in pre-weaned piglets?” The Zoetis Foundation provided funding for the Top Student Presenter Award.

Elanco Animal Health provides $20,000 in additional funding, enabling the AASV Foundation to award scholarships for 2nd through 15th place. Four veterinary student presenters received $2,500 scholarships: Maeve Powis, University of Guelph; Jacqueline Springer, University of Illinois; Jinnan Xiao, Iowa State University; Emma Zwart, Iowa State University. Five veterinary student presenters received $1,500 scholarships: Ginny Bass, North Carolina State University; Emily Evans-Stevens, Kansas State University; Ben Hollis, Iowa State University; Kara Linder, Colorado State University; Johanna Vandenack, Iowa State University. Those student presenters receiving $500 scholarships were: Sean Dullard, University of Illinois; Lila Minnick, University of Illinois; Rebecca Smith, University of Georgia; Nicole Villalon, Iowa State University; Samantha Wagner, Midwestern University. In addition to the $5,000 Top Student Presenter award, the Zoetis Foundation provided $11,250 in grant funding to support $750 awards for each student selected to participate in the oral session.

(AASV)

AASV Announces Student Poster Competition Awardees

The AASV provided an opportunity for 15 veterinary students to compete for awards in the Veterinary Student Poster Competition. United Animal Health sponsored the competition, offering awards totaling $4000. Additionally, the Zoetis Foundation provided $10,000 in grant funding to support $500 awards for students selected to participate in the poster session.

$500 scholarship: Molly Jones, North Carolina State University – Top student poster titled “The dosing disconnect: Evaluating agreement between two measurement methods of swine water medicator performance”
$400 scholarships: Abigayle Brown, Iowa State University; Heath Keiser, Iowa State University
$300 scholarships: Lindsey Britton, North Carolina State University; Logan Griggs, University of Pennsylvania; Aleah Vetter, University of Minnesota
$200 scholarships: Lee Ammons, Iowa State University; Emma Coursey, University of Illinois; Rachel Kontz, University of Minnesota; Timothy Magdall, University of Minnesota; Ella Moll, Iowa State University; Abbey Pals, Iowa State University; Amanda Pisarczyk, Iowa State University; Seth Reicks, University of Minnesota; Antonio Rodriguez-Torrado, St. Georges University

(AASV)

K-State Student Wins David A. Schoneweis Scholarship

Emily Evans-Stevens, a second-year student at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the David A. Schoneweis Scholarship. The children of the late Dr. David Schoneweis established a scholarship in his memory to benefit swine-interested students from Kansas State University (KSU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student or students from KSU or OSU who participate in the student oral or poster presentations during the AASV Annual Meeting, based upon a selection rubric prepared with the oversight and approval of the Schoneweis family. Evans-Stevens presented her research, “Evaluation of sanitation procedures in swine nursery facilities utilizing adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence,” during the AASV Student Seminar.

(AASV)

AASV Foundation Awards First Baysinger Scholarships

Yoonsuk Lee and Mary Lisa Kasakamu were the named the first recipients of the AASV Foundation Angela Baysinger Memorial Scholarship. The objective of the Angela Baysinger Memorial Scholarship is to promote the long-term improvement of production animal welfare by supporting experiential learning opportunities for the next generation of animal welfare veterinarians and scientists. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student with a passion for production animal welfare who is currently working or studying in a field of animal welfare science.

Yoonsuk Lee spent seven years as a practicing dairy veterinarian before pursuing his graduate studies in welfare. He is a PhD student majoring animal welfare science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his research focuses on experimental and epidemiological investigations of dairy calf welfare practices, particularly in calf pair housing. Lee’s goal is to contribute to a future in which farm animal welfare practices are supported by robust science and where producers feel confident making decisions that benefit both animal welfare and farm success. He expects this scholarship to support his continued efforts to advance meaningful, practical, and scientifically sound welfare improvements, particularly in the dairy industry, but also to benefit animal agriculture more broadly.

Mary Lisa Kasakamu is pursuing a PhD in animal sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, specializing in animal health, welfare and precision livestock management. She regards precision livestock management as a powerful tool for individual animal care within populations. Her goal is to develop science driven technologies that detect welfare challenges, including thermal stress, lameness, and failure to thrive. Supported by this scholarship, Kasakamu hopes to deepen her expertise, further develop her communication skills, identify adoptable solutions, contribute to meaningful dialogue, and evolve as a spokesperson for animal welfare improvements – just like Dr. Baysinger.

Don’t Leave the Feed Mill Out of Your Farm’s Biosecurity Plan

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:20:01 GMT

Biosecurity programs in commercial swine production typically focus on animal housing and the immediate farm perimeter. However, upstream inputs — particularly feed and ingredient supply chains — represent critical and sometimes under-recognized pathways for pathogen introduction.

Feed is unique among production inputs because it is delivered directly into animal environments and consumed daily. As veterinarians supporting the Carthage System’s 30-plus sow farms, our collaboration with feed mills extends beyond diet formulation. It also includes verification of ingredient sourcing, mill biosecurity design, and delivery logistics to minimize infectious disease risk.

Making feed safer

Modern swine diets include not only major ingredients such as corn, soybean meal and distillers byproducts, but also a range of micro-ingredients — including amino acids, trace minerals and vitamins — that are frequently sourced through global supply chains. Some originate from regions where foreign animal diseases (FADs) not present in the United States, including foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever and classical swine fever, are endemic.

To mitigate this risk, mills supplying Carthage System farms preferentially source ingredients from FAD-negative regions. When procurement from affected regions is unavoidable, imported micro-ingredients are held in segregated, climate-controlled storage to allow time-temperature inactivation of potential viral contaminants. Inventory planning is structured so incoming ingredients can complete the designated holding period before use.

Feed mitigants are also incorporated during manufacturing, particularly during higher-risk seasons when environmental survivability of enveloped viruses may be extended.

Feed mills themselves operate with internal and external clean-dirty line (CDL) separation, analogous to farm biosecurity zoning. Within the facility, traffic flow and personnel movement are structured to prevent cross-contamination between raw ingredient receiving, processing and finished feed load-out. Externally, physical separation of incoming ingredient trucks and outgoing feed delivery vehicles reduces cross-contact risk. In some mills, traffic lanes and access points are designed so inbound and outbound vehicles never intersect, with only the truck scale shared.

Safety in deliveries

While FAD exclusion remains a top priority, endemic U.S. swine pathogens — particularly porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine deltacoronavirus — continue to drive production losses. Feed delivery vehicles moving among farms represent a recognized mechanical transmission risk.

To reduce this risk, Carthage System mills and farms use a structured delivery sequencing model referred to as a biosecurity pyramid. Farms are categorized by health status, and delivery routes are scheduled from highest-health to highest-risk sites to avoid reverse contamination.

Health status classifications are reviewed at least weekly and adjusted as outbreaks occur or sites recover. If logistical constraints require deviation from sequence — for example, urgent delivery to a lower-status farm — the vehicle undergoes full wash, disinfection and downtime before returning to higher-health routes, in addition to routine sanitation protocols.

Seasonal environmental contamination also requires management. Winter road conditions in the Midwest can accumulate organic debris on truck undercarriages that may harbor pathogens. Mills typically require removal of this material before trucks enter load-out areas or pass over delivery pits. Farms may also increase on-site feed inventory ahead of forecast thaw events (“sludge days”) to reduce delivery frequency during high-contamination periods.

The importance of mill–farm relationships

For independent producers, the primary takeaway is the need for structured communication with feed suppliers. Vertically integrated systems with dedicated mills can implement unified protocols more readily, but toll and cooperative mills serving multiple clients can also operate at high biosecurity standards when expectations are clearly defined.

Producers should work collaboratively with their veterinarians, nutritionists and mill managers to establish and verify feed-related biosecurity measures. Within the Carthage System, veterinary teams conduct mill biosecurity audits every 6-12 months to verify compliance and incorporate emerging science and technologies. At minimum, annual review is recommended.

Another risk-reduction strategy involves eliminating porcine-derived animal byproducts in swine diets. Ingredients such as spray-dried plasma, serum and other blood products provide highly digestible protein and energy, but also present significant pathogen transmission risk within species. Carthage System diets use alternative sources to reduce this exposure pathway.

Feed biosecurity is not solely a mill responsibility or a farm responsibility. It is a shared system that requires alignment across the entire supply chain.

Hog Health

Pig Movement Restrictions Lifted Within 5-Mile Surveillance Zone in Iowa

2-Mile Surveillance Zone Remains Active

Intentional Agility: Is the Pork Industry Ready for the Next Swine Health Threat?

What “Moved the Needle” from 2021-2025?

Facing Future Threats with Intentional Agility

Global Diseases on the Radar

Investing in the “Slat-Level” Future

Producers Take the Lead: NPB Launches New Swine Health Advisory Committee

A Strategy Built for the “Slat-Level”

A Diverse Coalition of Experts

Pseudorabies in Swine: 5 Questions on the Texas-Iowa Detection

Q. Do I need to be worried about the pseudorabies incident in Iowa and Texas?

Q. How can I protect my herd?

Q. Has the U.S. had any export market response?

Q. How do producers differentiate PRV from other respiratory/neurological issues?

Q. Is our food supply safe?

Iowa Implements 5-Mile Testing Radius to Contain Swine Pseudorabies

Aggressive Containment Strategy

Tracing the Source

The Science: Why PRV is a Challenge

Trade and Safety Outlook

Remain Vigilant

Pseudorabies (PRV) Confirmed in Iowa and Texas Commercial Swine Herds

Traceback Confirms Texas Connection

The Feral Swine Risk

Impact and Symptoms

Official Response and Market Safety

Export Implications

Is PRRS Air Filtration Worth the Cost? New 16-Year Study Results

The Data: A 16-Year Deep Dive

The Secret Weapon: How Filters Trap Viruses

Making the Case to the Bank Manager

Fighting the ‘Wolves of Disease’ in the Nursery

The Human Element

Innovation and Health Take Center Stage at May and June Swine Conferences

Claim Your Free 840 RFID Tags: How Show Pig Families Can Save Money This Season

Making Show Prep Easier

Streamlining Show Paperwork

How to Claim Your Free 840 RFID Tags

Show Pig Health Checklist

Rooted in Resilience: The Non-Traditional Journey of Swine Veterinarian Dr. Anna Forseth

A Non-Traditional Journey to National Policy

A Voice for the Producer

Rooted in Resilience

Unique Times Call for Unique Leadership

Federal Agents Intercept Bizarre Monkey Remains and Prohibited Meat at Chicago Airport

South Africa Receives 2 Million FMD Vaccine Doses to Combat Worst Outbreak in Years

Foot-and-Mouth Disease on the Rise

The Challenge of Controlling FMD

Dynamic Pig Health is Changing the Rules of the Game

The Multiplier Effect

No Two Pigs Are Alike

PRRS is the “Trojan Horse” of the Barn

The “Silent Thief": Subclinical Disease

The Windshield vs. the Rearview Mirror

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Screwworm Fight: $750M Sterile Fly Facility Groundbreaking in Texas

How Close Is NWS to the U.S.?

How Does Sterile Fly Production Stop Screwworm?

What is the Timeline for the Edinburg Facility?

Why is Domestic Fly Production Important for U.S. Agriculture?

Global Expansion of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype SAT1 Raises Alarms

A Rapid Geographic Shift

The Immunity Gap

Drivers of FMD Transmission

FMD Implications for the United States

From Pig Data to Profit: How Accurate Records Drive 2026 Swine ROI

Clean and consistent

Collecting it right

The accuracy is the point

When "Something is Off": Identifying the Subtle Shift of PCV2d

Why Modern Circovirus Doesn’t Look Like it Used To

What Does This Mean for Vaccines?

When PRRS and PCV2d Mix

Do Diagnostics Align with a Shift in Data?

Wean-to-Market Filtration: Advancing the Next Generation of PRRS Biosecurity

What’s Driving Grow-Finish Profitability in 2026?

1. Focus on the first 48 hours.

2. Better biosecurity equals better production.