Hog Health
The Pirbright Institute is tackling three deadly livestock viruses: porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and African swine fever virus in pigs and bovine respiratory syncytial virus in cattle.
It’s no secret PRRS is a cunning enemy in swine herds. New research out of the University of Minnesota proves how sneaky this virus is and these findings could lay the groundwork for more effective vaccines.
Diagnosing and identifying a plan to treat scours as quickly as possible are critical to reducing morbidity and mortality in neonatal pigs, said Deb Murray, DVM, veterinary services manager for New Fashion Pork.
China’s agriculture ministry confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever on a farm in the northern region of Inner Mongolia, the 10th outbreak to be reported so far this year.
As the feral pig problem continues to explode throughout parts of the U.S., a new bait and delivery system may help reduce the population of feral pigs, scientists with Louisiana State University AgCenter say.
African swine fever (ASF) expert Dr. Dan Rock of the University of Illinois weighs in on a recent China Harbin Laboratory paper describing its analysis of ASF virus variants.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport seized a shipment of prohibited and restricted chicken lollipop pet treats disguised as men’s sweaters.
China’s agriculture ministry issued a plan to divide the country into five regions to be charged with greater responsibility to prevent and control African swine fever, as well as other animal diseases.
Water doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it is abundant, easy to access and inexpensive, but that will change in the future, said John Patience, PhD, professor of animal science at Iowa State University.
In January, an outbreak of S. zooepidemicus in an Indiana sow herd spurred a Swine Health Information Center project to learn more. Here’s what they discovered.
Raising pigs without antibiotics requires extra management and different tools compared to traditional commercial hog production, reports Laura Carroll, DVM, veterinarian with Four Star Veterinary Service.
When used in conjunction with an M. hyo-closure program, exposing all or some part of the herd to M. hyo is often considered a crucial first step in the herd-closure process, says Amy Maschhoff, DVM, with The Maschhoffs.
Biosecurity ranks high on the list of concerns for swine veterinarians who want hog units tightened up to reduce disease. Improvements can be expensive but the cost of not making those improvements could be much higher.
The adage that “knowledge is power” is especially true when it comes to understanding mold and mycotoxins. Lon Whitlow, professor emeritus at NC State University, offers five reminders to help livestock producers.
Hasty decisions made under pressure during the pandemic might not have been ideal from a disease management perspective, says Clare LeFevre, Carthage Veterinary System Ltd. She weighs in on depopulation and repopulation.
“The wild hog is very possibly the most dangerous animal in the wild. And he knows no enemies and he knows no fear,” says Hank Berdine of the Mississippi Levee Board in a new video series, Feral Swine in America.
Taiwan has begun testing hog herds and putting in place movement controls near where a dead pig infected with African swine fever washed ashore over the weekend.
Each year, several thousand dogs enter the U.S. for resale or adoption. In a recent Hogs on the Hill article, NPPC chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom wrote that it’s time to sound the alarm on importing rescue dogs.
Eight years of research has led to a disquieting scenario for swine producers: Feed and feed ingredients could potentially serve as means for the introduction and transmission of foreign animal diseases of swine.
A resurgence of African swine fever in Indonesia’s southern East Nusa Tenggara province has reportedly killed tens of thousands of pigs, adding to the long list of recent outbreaks around the globe.
Vaccines are the most important tool we have to control influenza, says Montserrat Torremorell. That’s why her team continually studies how it is transmitted and how vaccines can help prevent transmission.
Early detection is critical to control and eliminate transboundary diseases that threaten the U.S. pork industry. Dr. Jeff Zimmerman of Iowa State University says it’s time for a new approach to detect these threats.
Conflicting reports of the severity of African swine fever in China continue to raise questions for the U.S. pork industry. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack shares insight from the Chinese Ag Minister about ASF in China.
Two people are suspected of dumping pigs along the Yellow River. Chinese authorities have collected at least 48 pig carcasses and are conducting tests, the state media said on Tuesday.
Swine transportation plays a big role in spreading infectious pathogens. Researchers investigated if thermal-assisted drying and decontamination can effectively inactivate ASF virus in the presence of organic materials.
The governments of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have agreed that intensified hunting of wild boar is needed to combat an outbreak of African swine fever among wild animals.
Pseudorabies virus is ranked fourth in the SHIC Swine Disease Matrix due to the potential for the introduction of highly pathogenic PRV into the U.S. from Asia - an event which would have a major impact on pork exports.
Here’s the latest from around the industry.
Giving pigs the ability to digest more nutrients in their grains could help reduce the pork industry’s environmental impact, says new research published in eLife.
The reports keep coming of African swine fever outbreaks around the world. The uncertainty is significant when it comes to the 2021 pork outlook, Rabobank says.