Hog Health
PRRS has been holding the pork industry hostage for far too long. A new study shows improvements in swine herd biosecurity can reduce the incidence risk of PRRS.
There’s no question the Swine Health Information Center got a lot done in 2023, and plans are underway to make 2024 even more productive. Here’s an inside look with SHIC executive director Megan Niederwerder.
Antimicrobial resistance is not a new concern, but it’s a concern that continues to grow, reports the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Megan Niederwerder, DVM, took over the reins as executive director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) on Jan. 1, while Lisa Becton, DVM, began her tenure with SHIC as associate director.
Although Paul Sundberg, DVM, is always one to turn the spotlight onto others, the pork industry wants to say thank you for his years of devotion to helping pork producers and pigs thrive.
A new study confirms the difficulty in eliminating viral RNA from a contaminated feed mill post-introduction and highlights the need for continued emphasis on biosecurity for preventing pathogen entry.
It was a challenging year for the pork industry, without a doubt. However, we’ve found some highlights over the past 12 months that the pork industry found particularly helpful in areas of production.
Here’s a look at five research projects the Swine Health Information Center is funding to better understand the potential use of tongue tips for monitoring emerging diseases.
Former basketball coach John Wooden and swine health leader Paul Sundberg share at least one thing in common. They both define success by “never quite getting there.” Sundberg says trying to “get there” makes life fun.
Effective Nov. 22, 2023, and until further notice, the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services is restricting the importation live swine, swine germplasm and unprocessed products and by-products from Bangladesh.
The Swine Health Information Center’s Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program is now available online. It was introduced as a Word-based form to conduct outbreak investigations. Here’s what you need to know.
Infectious diseases such as PED, PRRS and influenza can be transmitted through contaminated airborne particles. A variety of industries use technologies to control aerosolized emissions. An extensive review is now out.
Pathogens that cause swine respiratory disease and ileitis taunt pork producers daily. Veterinarians share how water-soluble antibiotics may help.
What do you need to know about Strep. zoo?
The House of Representatives passed the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act on Tuesday. It will help fight illicit use of the product in humans while preserving access to the drug for animals.
Visual inspection is insufficient to ensure cleanliness and eliminate disease transmission risk due to microscopic viruses and bacteria. Here’s what could help.
Nutrition has long been documented to have an impact on how an animal responds to disease. At times, certain conditions can become present associated with nutrients within the feed or feed itself. Here are five to watch.
When it comes to preventing a FAD at your operation, remember you are not on your own. There are three levels that must work together to achieve success.
The animal health industry continues to face challenges of new and emerging diseases as well as improvements in current commercial vaccines. Here are 5 things Mike Roof wants you to know about mRNA vaccines.
USDA has lifted an order that required sows from one Manitoba assembly yard to be certified free of Seneca Valley virus before crossing the border.
For the U.S. swine industry, 2023 has been a year most farmers would like to forget. However, this time, it’s not because of disease issues. Here are three predictions for pig health in 2024 by Pipestone’s Joel Nerem.
The U.S. pork industry has learned its lesson about paying attention to disease outbreaks in other countries. That’s why a new website has been created about Japanese Encephalitis Virus that wreaked havoc in Australia.
Pipestone’s Karyn Havas wants to develop a protocol that tracks antibiotic use across large-scale commercial swine production systems and compares it in real-time with its respective on-farm antibiotic use.
An analysis combining the results of 14 studies from around the globe has uncovered some common patterns in how the piglet microbiome, specifically the gut bacteria, changes over time, Purdue University reports.
As swine producers, you all pay a health tax at the end of the year, whether you know it or not. This tax is paid on every pig and reflects the cost of less-than-perfect health in an operation.
The U.S. swine industry lost an estimated $299 million per year due to heat stress alone in 2003, says Jay S. Johnson, USDA-ARS researcher. If you adjust that for inflation, that’s more like $493 million per year now.
Reducing the need for antibiotic use in livestock production is a key focus for researchers and on farms that has significant implications for the wellbeing of animals and humans alike.
Ready or not, peak disease transmission season has arrived. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a frustrating and complicated disease. How prepared are your farm and team for PRRS season?
Emerging infectious diseases are a constant threat to the swine industry. Here’s how SHIC is helping protect and mitigate emerging disease risks to the North American swine population.
A recent American Veterinary Medical Association study found less than 4% of veterinarians nationwide predominantly practice production animal medicine. Here’s what Iowa State University is doing to help change that.