Hogs Animal Welfare

Bridging the $300-Billion Gap: WOAH Launches Global ‘PREVENT’ Forum to Boost Animal Vaccination

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:59:26 GMT

Global animal health threats are no longer distant risks—they are immediate economic disruptors. From the devastating spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the persistent threat of Newcastle disease, the cost of “acting too late” has reached a staggering $300 billion annually. Despite these stakes, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reports that vaccination rates for the most critical notifiable diseases remain stalled below 20%.

To close this gap, WOAH officially launched the PREVENT Forum on May 19. This five-year public-private platform is designed to dismantle the barriers preventing widespread vaccine adoption and to modernize global animal health defense.

A Strategic Response to a Global Crisis

The forum’s launch follows the publication of The State of the World’s Animal Health , that calls for better-resourced animal health systems to protect human health, food security, trade and livelihoods.

“The PREVENT Forum is a concrete response to that call, advancing prevention through structured public-private dialogue with a strong focus on vaccination,” WOAH reports. “Vaccination is one of the most effective tools available to prevent and control animal diseases, alongside strengthened biosecurity, surveillance, early detection and rapid response.”

By expanding access to quality vaccines, PREVENT aims to protect livelihoods, support food security and contribute to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Unlike previous high-level dialogues, this forum is built around seven specific priority areas that address the practical “why” behind low vaccination rates:

Planning and Regulatory pathways
Economic evidence
Vaccine access and Equity
National strategies and Trade

The forum seeks to align the entire supply chain—from the lab to the barn.

A Shared Space for Action

The initiative will culminate in its first global technical session in October 2026, where members intend to draft a global declaration to overcome existing regulatory and financial barriers.

“Vaccines are one of our most powerful tools against animal disease — but access, regulation and financing gaps mean the potential is far from fully realized,” says Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General, WOAH. “The PREVENT Forum gives governments and industry a shared space to identify what is holding back progress and to act on it together. WOAH is proud to convene this effort, and we are committed to ensuring it delivers results for our members and strengthens animal health systems globally.”

Don’t Be Fooled: Animal Rights Activists Pose as Family Farmers

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:05:48 GMT

Recently, several new activist groups have been using proclaimed farmers as prominent features in legislative campaigns aimed at preserving state “animal welfare” laws like California’s Proposition 12 . But who are these organizations – and are they really speaking for farmers?

Last fall, the Animal Agriculture Alliance noticed a trend of groups like Farm Action and Humane World Action Fund running ads claiming “family farmers” are in favor of upholding Prop12 and encouraging opposition to federal efforts to overturn the law. The ads claimed that Prop 12 “created a market that gives family-run farms like ours a fighting chance.”

Farm Action, a group with a purposely misleading name, is run by two former Humane World for Animals (HSUS) staff. The group endorses anti-animal agriculture legislation while claiming that they are working to “protect the future of family farms,” and organized a Congressional fly-in event last year to speak with legislators. Similarly, the activist-backed American Meat Producers Association, also led by a former Humane World for Animals (HSUS) staffer, was launched last year and has also been involved in similar efforts in D.C. to support Prop 12. The group said that they are working to “give a voice on policy issues and protect state laws that are good for family farmers,” while misleading lawmakers that these voices – heavily influenced by leadership that has strong ties to anti-animal agriculture organizations – speak for the entirety of producers.

These efforts in D.C. in support of California’s Prop 12 and in opposition to the EATS Act, now renamed the Save Our Bacon Act, were lauded by other anti-animal agriculture groups like Mercy for Animals, which wrote a blog in November about the “hundreds of farmers [sending] a strong message on Capitol Hill.” If you look deeper into the connections of these organizations, it’s hard to believe that these “farmers” would want to align themselves with groups that ultimately want to put all animal agriculture out of business.

In January, The Center for the Environment & Welfare issued a report breaking down some of the alleged “supporters” of California’s Prop 12 that were listed on a letter circulating on Capitol Hill. In the letter, Humane World for Animals had claimed that 5,000 farms across 39 states support Prop 12’s “animal welfare standards,” however, after a thorough review, it was found that this list included over 100 wineries, 150 honey producers, a goat yoga practitioner, and an urban garden – not a very accurate depiction of farmers that are actually impacted by these housing standards and supply chain restrictions.

Most recently, with the House Ag Committee passing a Farm Bill that includes preemption language related to Prop 12, we have continued to see animal rights activists scramble for support. Many groups have put out rapid “calls to action” on social media and through e-mail blasts asking their supporters to reach out to legislators. Some of these efforts seem to be aimed at major conservative commentators and policymakers, signaling attempts by activist groups to reach nontraditional audiences. A recent article in the LA Times claimed that “even conservatives are mad” about Proposition 12 and, while using an activist-provided stock photo from outside of the United States, referenced “intensive corporate-owned mega-farms.” In the article, an alleged farmer and “self-described conservative Republican” claimed that gestation stalls are not “proven to be good science.” This kind of content directly opposes the work that has been done in partnership by farmers, academia, and industry to make sure that pigs, whatever housing system they are in, are raised in environments that balance the best for their welfare and environmental sustainability, all while creating a nutritious, affordable protein for consumers.

It’s not hard to see why animal rights activists are trying to appear as representing farmers and ranchers. According to Gallup polling , farming and agriculture is America’s most trusted sector over the past 25 years. This new wave of organizations and tactics seems to be an attempt at distracting and confusing the public and policymakers, drowning out the perspectives of longstanding grassroots organizations who do count farmers and ranchers responsible for putting meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and seafood on American plates among their membership. It’s imperative that we look beyond the facades that these groups want you to see to understand their true intent. That second look at groups claiming to be aligned with farmers and asking for support could be hugely impactful to major legislative changes that seek to alter the future of our food supply.

Abby Kornegay is the director of issues and engagement for the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

2026 Common Swine Industry Audit Updates: What Pork Producers Need to Know

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:48:04 GMT

Nobody gets excited when an auditor pulls into the driveway, but in an era of increasing retail pressure and global scrutiny, the Common Swine Industry Audit (CSIA) is evolving from a simple checklist into a pork producer’s most powerful shield.

The CSIA task force’s 2026 updates are the most significant overhaul in a decade, shifting from looking for flaws to benchmarking positive welfare outcomes. By aligning with international standards and providing rigorous third-party verification of on-farm care, these science-based revisions are securing the industry’s ‘freedom to operate’ and ensuring U.S. pork remains a trusted, high-quality staple in the global supply chain.

Securing ‘Freedom to Operate’

The CSIA is a tool for third-party verification, not just internal training, explains Stephanie Wetter, National Pork Board’s director of animal welfare. It provides the credible data needed to justify pork’s place in the global supply chain and protects the industry’s right to operate by meeting international standards.

“CSIA does not teach. It does not train. It is third party auditing, verifying what you’re doing on farm,” Wetter says. “This helps to protect the ‘freedom to operate’ by giving us that credible third-party voice to demonstrate how our pigs are being cared for before these requirements are dictated to us by others.”

She’s quick to add that she understands people don’t get excited about having an audit done on their farm.

“It’s not necessarily fun to think about having someone come in and basically give your farm a test,” she says. “But the CSIA is not designed to focus on your flaws, and especially with the changes in positive welfare language. This is a way to brag about the good care and production that our producers are doing on farm.”

The CSIA is an industry-led effort that gives customers and packers confidence in their suppliers and helps justify keeping those farms in their supply chain because they have that third-party verification.

“There will always be opportunities to improve,” Wetter says. “It’s just the nature of agriculture and production, and especially in an industry that is committed to continuous improvement. The CSIA helps keep those conversations focused on outcomes, learning and progress, rather than focusing on punishment or one-off issues.”

From a system perspective, Brooke Kitting, senior veterinarian at Seaboard Foods, appreciates the feedback loop the CSIA provides. While it does identify things done well, it also identifies areas that could be improved. She says having this formalized audit tool to help them deliver that feedback has helped the CSIA to become a core part of their program.

What’s Changing in the Audit

The 2026 updates to the CSIA include both revisions and clarifications to audit standards and individual questions. Key updates include:

Animal Sampling: The animal sampling protocol was updated following recommendations from published validation research. The revised method is designed to detect at least a 0.5% occurrence at a 95% confidence level, improving data accuracy and consistency while maintaining practicality for on-farm use.
Animal Benchmarking Question Language: Benchmarking questions were reframed to report positive welfare indicators—such as the percentage of animals walking well or in good condition—reflecting a shift toward recognizing positive affective states while maintaining transparency about welfare concerns.
Animal Handling: Additional questions were added to capture a broader range of observed animal handling behaviors. All handling must now be performed in accordance with the site’s written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The section also includes expanded criteria for evaluating handling during transport, with added emphasis on space allowance during loading and unloading.

Kitting appreciates that the “Five Domains” of animal welfare are now being incorporated into the framework of the CSIA. The domains include nutrition, environment, health, behavioral interactions and mental state. This comprehensive framework ensures the audit tool is a true reflection of modern production.

Why ISO Compliance Clicks

The work the CSIA task force is doing to continue to improve the CSIA has a trickle-down effect to support producers’ ‘freedom to operate’ and protect their own supply chain domestically and internationally, Wetter says. In her role at National Pork Board, she interacts with all of the big retailers and food service brands.

“When we start talking about resources like PQA, PQA-plus site assessment, TQA and CSIA (which are all aligned), USDA has granted ISO compliance with all these programs,” Wetter says. “This means they are in line with the World Organization of Animal Health’s international animal welfare standards. When we start talking to our supply chain and they start hearing those words, that clicks with them.”

Coming from a production background, Wetter knows producers don’t always see that other end of these programs they participate in.

“Your participation is so incredibly valuable and meaningful to the other end of the supply chain,” Wetter says. “This is why we want them to continue to use and support these different programs.”

Kitting says it’s incredibly valuable to the Seaboard Foods system that the standards for care and pre-harvest pork safety are well defined, and everyone “sings the same song.”

“As you look at other species in the barnyard, it may not necessarily be replicated in other areas,” Kitting says. “We are incredibly fortunate in the swine industry to have all these programs that sing the same song and dance for us to follow.”

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.’”

Failing Forward: Why Veterinarians Are Looking At Obstacles As Opportunities

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:23:56 GMT

A variety of topics ranging from fall-behind pigs to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) kicked off conversations during the 2026 American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) annual meeting. Swine veterinarians, researchers and industry experts from all over the world gathered together to learn how to “fail forward” and turn obstacles into opportunities.

“I chose this theme to reflect an essential truth of veterinary medicine: progress is rarely linear,” says Rebecca Robbins, DVM, AASV committee chair. “Mistakes and setbacks are not roadblocks; they are pathways to deeper understanding, innovation and better outcomes for pigs and their caretakers.”

When developing the program, she was inspired by Al Leman’s quote, “We’re just not making mistakes fast enough.” This led to a line-up of speakers and topics focused on learning from failure, not avoiding it.

Here’s a quick glimpse of what some of the experts had to say.

(Jennifer Shike)

“Swine diagnostic medicine is an eloquent sequence of trial and error, salted with humility. Don’t be afraid to fail because of uncertainty, it’s always present. It’s not about getting it right, it’s about being wrong less. It’s about learning. Do not be restricted by the fear of getting it wrong. Diagnostic process requires curiosity, adaptability, reflection and collaboration.” – Darin Madson, DVM, with Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, in the Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture, “Diagnostic Airballs: Reserve the right to learn”

“Health is an integral component of all welfare frameworks. We have an opportunity to support impaired animal welfare by minimizing negative impacts, supporting positive experiences that contribute to recovery, providing timely euthanasia if/when necessary. Impaired animals have unique needs and preferences.” – Emiline Sundman, postdoc research associate, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in the Angela Baysinger Memorial Lecture, “The Impaired Animal On-Farm: A vision for turning an animal welfare challenge into an animal welfare opportunity”

(Jennifer Shike)

“Through the efforts of field-applied research and continuous learning, we have overcome obstacles and turned them into opportunities. We have the tools and knowledge. We have learned how to apply them in a systematic and coordinated process to improve our ability to control and eliminate PRRSV from farms, systems and regions. The components of regional PRRSV control offer a framework for programs to mitigate its economic, health and welfare impact.” – Reid Philips, DVM, in the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture, “PRRS: Continuous learning and improvement by turning obstacles (and evidence) into opportunity”

“Disease is an interaction where context determines outcome. Disease is not just a pathogen. Host biology shapes outcome. Development, immunity and stress matter. Understanding disease requires depth.” – Adam Moeser, Matilda R. Wilson Endowed Chair in the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in “Thinking Forward, Looking Back: Redefining value in basic research for swine health”

(Jennifer Shike)

“Doing many little things correctly results in measurable success.” – Christine Mainquist-Whigham, DVM, director of health at Pillen Family Farms/DNA Genetics, in “Starting and Managing the Fall-Behind Pig”

“Are we dating or getting married? Provide realistic guidance for culling decisions. What is her true potential for recovery? For me, there is a higher moral value to a cull animal than one that dies or has to be euthanized.” – Ian Levis, DVM and senior operations manager Seaboard Foods in, “One Sytem’s Approach to Improve Sow Mortality”

From the Outside In: Why This Farm Bill is Different

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:57:40 GMT

U.S. farmers and ranchers are currently operating under 2018 policies, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) says those 2018 policies are no match for 2026 challenges.

“There’s no better example than California’s Proposition 12 and the issue it is causing for the swine industry,” Thompson told pork producers at the Illinois Swine Mixer on Feb. 17. “Like the farm bill we passed out of committee in 2024, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 includes a fix to Prop 12. At the end of day, it’s not common sense to allow a small percentage of California voters to dictate how someone in Illinois or anywhere else in the country raises their animals.”

He says the House Agriculture Committee has been busy preparing the farm bill by “using what God has given us – that’s two ears and one mouth – with the dedication to listening at least twice as much as what we speak.”

They have traveled to 43 different states and one territory, holding more than 150 listening sessions.

“We’ve done this from the perspective of legislating from the outside in,” Thompson says. “Agriculture is anything but typical. We work on your behalf. That’s why we came out on farms and ranches, and we sat down and talked to people to find out, maybe not what you wanted, but what you needed.”

We Need a Farm Bill Now

As the House Agriculture Committee prepares to meet on Feb. 23 to review the 803-page document, Thompson says he’s hopeful they can get this passed through the House by Easter, April 5.

“I think the odds are pretty darn good, and the need is even greater when you look at the financial stresses on the American farmer and rancher today,” he says. “We have to get this done.”

Thompson says he wants farmers and ranchers to know that they recognize how bad things are right now. But most importantly, he wants them to know they care.

“Those are not just empty words,” Thompson says. “We’ve been working really hard, actually for a couple years, to prepare what will be one of the most effective farm bills. With 20% of it already approved with a $66 billion investment, we’re really putting our actions to where our words are. There are more good things to happen with what we’re going to mark up next week. We know how bad things are, we recognize that, but we’re working to do something about that.”

Prop 12 Is Causing More Problems

Despite these challenging times in agriculture, Thompson is proud of how many U.S. pork producers have adapted to capture the Prop 12 market, but he said some are finding they don’t have quite the market now because people are eating less pork in California, a state known for its pork consumption.

Food affordability is just one of the reasons why he has worked so hard to find a fix for Prop 12 in the farm bill.

“In California today, I’m told there are grocery stores that now sell bacon by the slice and not the slab because people can’t afford it,” he explains. “Consumption of pork products has dropped because affordability has been reduced significantly. The cost has gone up. People who are struggling financially probably aren’t eating pork products at all, and those middle class are making decisions and maybe choosing other proteins they’re able to get more for their money.”

Most importantly, Prop 12 is a slippery slope. One state should not impose agricultural practices on other states, he says.

“Constitutionally, it’s just wrong,” Thompson says. “The Supreme Court said this is something Congress should do, and so we’re doing it. If you allow this to stand, the question is, what will come next in terms of overriding agriculture or animal science with political science?”

Beyond the Farm Bill: Labor and USMCA

While the farm bill continues to be Thompson’s main focus right now, he is also focused on agricultural labor and the renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement. One of the most common requests he gets from farmers is about reforming the agricultural labor system.

“I organized an ag labor working group in the last Congress to have the hard conversations about what was working and what wasn’t,” he says. “We needed certainty. We needed reliability. Without workforce, we have food insecurity. With food insecurity, we have national insecurity. The implications of that are significant.”

The bipartisan group of eight Republicans and eight Democrats developed “practical solutions that work on both sides of the aisle.” In the end, the final report included 15 solutions recommended unanimously by the working group and informed by producers and processors who testified before the committee.

He says they are putting the finishing touches on the discussion draft, which looks very similar to the recommendations that came out of this working group. The three topics addressed regarding the H-2A visa program are expanding access to include year-round for the livestock industry, controlling costs and streamlining the overall process.

“The goal is to put out a discussion draft after we’re done with the victory celebration of at least passing the farm bill out of the House Committee,” he says. “I don’t want to let it hang out there long because it is critically important. We need to get moving, but we will probably give at least three weeks of opportunity for input in a discussion draft. We’ll take those comments back, make some final tweaks if needed or if indicated, and then we’ll get the bill introduced.”

On the trade front, he says USMCA has been a great benefit to American agriculture, resulting in over $60 billion in exports to Canada and Mexico since it was signed into law. For the pork industry alone, these exports represent a 66% increase in value since enactment, he adds.

“I know the agreement’s not perfect, and there are various things I’d like to see addressed during this negotiation,” Thompson says. “But more importantly, I’d like to know from you as we go forward what you would like to see in this renegotiation.”

Don’t Be Quiet Now

Farmer and rancher input is always of great value to legislators, but especially now.

“Your voice matters and you have a role to play in getting a new farm bill across the line,” Thompson says. “Find time in your busy schedules to stand up and speak out. Send emails, make phone calls, reach out to your congressional delegation. We’ve got a lot on our hands in 2026 in the ag committee, but I want you to know we are on your side and will keep fighting for you every day in Congress.”

Understanding Wean Stress is How to Minimize It

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:54:42 GMT

Swapping the only diet they’ve known for a different one, and learning a new eating system, puts a great deal of stress on piglets making the transition from sow’s milk to solid food and water. Producers can lean on a few solid strategies to make newly weaned pigs comfortable enough to thrive in the nursery.

Those working with nursery pigs observe firsthand the learning curve that comes with getting used to their new diet, flavors and textures, as well as pans, feeders, waterers and other equipment they have to learn to navigate. It’s important to help them start wanting to use these new tools to eat within the first 48 hours weaning off milk, as it gives them a desire for mealtime throughout their lives.

The Science of Stress

The stress response of pigs, like other livestock, is influenced by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis — glands that trigger adrenaline and cortisol when the animal is in a stressful situation. This is great in danger, such as escaping a predator, as the hormones can help the body override physical limitations or injury to get away. The problem is that the stress felt in less deadly situations also trips the HPA, and sustained stress keeps cortisol levels elevated.

In a wean pig, sustained cortisol release suppresses its immune system, which can lead to damaged gut microbiome integrity and leakiness. Successful stress management in the nursery goes back to trying to prevent too much cortisol-spiking.

One good way to gauge the pig’s stress level is if it is eating and drinking adequately. Monitor your pigs’ interest level as well as consumption. Are they interested in the waterers? Are they going to the feeders on their own and interacting with the equipment well? Group huddling and zero interest in getting up to eat at feeding time should be of concern.

I am in favor of using electrolytes or other additives in water for freshly weaned pigs — this helps them want to hydrate frequently, and some additives also stabilize their gut microbiome and may help immunocompromised piglets get started. Producers shouldn’t use these for long, since too much could lead to diarrhea — but for those critical first few days in the nursery, it can be an effective tool to help establish good habits.

Multiple Sources of Stress

Going from the farrowing space to nursery is one of the more stressful events in a pig’s life, not just because of a new diet. Everything is changing — separation from sow and littermates, living in a new pen or barn, increased socialization, a new schedule and things to learn. Even if you’re a veteran producer, reviewing practices from time to time isn’t a bad idea.

Before your influx of new pigs, make sure the barn is set up correctly. This includes preheating the space, making sure brooders work correctly and comfort mats are placed correctly.. This helps lessen the shock of temperature change from the farrowing space and being close to the sow. Check the ventilation — do the fans work? Are the controls set appropriately for the season and environment? Manage humidity to make sure the pigs get plenty of fresh air.

Use proper handling techniques when picking up and moving young pigs. You can learn more about the correct manner of handling through Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus guidelines from the Pork Checkoff. Rough handling increases cortisol levels and the chance of injury, as well as contributing to the pig’s fear of people; proper handling ensures that pigs remain fear free of humans.

Stocking density is also important in managing young pigs’ stress levels. Ensure they have adequate square footage per pig according to their age and proper feeder spaced and water station access per head. Also, make sure the space is sturdy — you don’t want them breaking through pens as they get bigger, since some aggression is normal as they socialize.

Good preparation of the living space and supplies goes a long way toward reducing stress and promoting pig health and welfare. Genetics companies can often provide specific recommendations about ideal stocking density, feeder space and other metrics for animals from their lines. If you have access to such a source, I encourage you to review their guidelines.

Don’t Forget Transport Stress

One other source of potential stress for new nursery pigs is in transport. Be sure your hauler maintains clean, dry trucks that are disinfected thoroughly between runs — producers are encouraged to run empty trailers through a “bake” to reduce the possibility of infection between groups.

Drivers should use the safest routes possible, to minimize animals’ time on the road, especially in extreme temperatures. In hot weather, pigs rely on evaporative cooling since they can’t sweat, so spraying with water when appropriate is critical to survival and welfare.

Of course, also make certain you have plenty of feed and water ready for incoming wean pigs, including medications or other additives — discuss these with your veterinarian. If you don’t already, I highly recommend having both a veterinarian and nutritionist to help develop a plan with maximum benefit for your nursery pigs. This should address gradual diet changes as they age, use of any functional additives and probiotics, a vaccination program tailored to health status and geared for the prevention of disease and more to aid in proactive stress management.

Claire Mtezankuni, DVM, MVS is an associate swine veterinarian with Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd.

The ‘Lift and Shift’: Managing Pigs and People Through Winter Disease Pressure

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:20:07 GMT

It’s that time of the year where you brace yourself for the worst when the phone rings, says Adam Annegers, sow production manager at JBS, during the recent State of the Pork Industry Report.

“I call it the lift and shift,” Annegers says. “You can have your schedule all lined out, and then the phone rings and redirects you. Winter means being flexible because diseases thrive in this weather.”

Raising pigs in southeast Iowa comes with its fair share of health challenges and 2026 is no different. Now is a critically important time to make sure you provide needed support to your team, he says.

“At the onset of a health challenge in the sow barn, there’s not always a lot we can do to have a better outcome for the piglets,” Annegers points out. “It’s difficult on the teams. Focus on keeping your team motivated to get through difficult times knowing that at some point, disease pressure will lessen. Then, they can get back to raising a lot of good, healthy pigs again.”

This time of the year is always challenging, but he’s optimistic about what’s ahead.

“Pig prices are through the roof right now,” Annegers says. “Saving every pig and raising every pig that we can is important right now. Working with your teams to control what they can control helps. It’s time to be a big cheerleader.”

When PRRS Doesn’t Look Like PRRS

Randy Kuker, director of swine production for The Equity, had a strange incident occur in a barn recently.

“We had a group showing some clinical signs – it actually looked like a strep was going on,” Kuker explains. “We’re about 12 weeks on feed, which is rather late for us to be seeing signs of strep, but I had pigs down, kind of paddling, red, puffy eyes, all the classic symptoms. It also looked like maybe a late myco lameness issue.”

His team saw enough issues going on that they took some tissue samples and those samples came back positive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“This was surprising to me, considering most of the pigs (if we got to them soon enough and treated them) responded to antibiotics fairly well,” Kuker says. “We had minimal death loss, but it came back as PRRS 1-12-2, a strain which I hadn’t seen in our area at all.”

They ran some antibiotics in the water and administered some antibiotics by injection. Over the course of a few weeks, they lost 0.75% to 1% of their pigs.

“It really wasn’t terrible, but it keeps us humble, knowing this virus can change and do different things than we least expect,” he says.

They also experienced an outbreak late last fall where they saw pigs with purple ears, Kuker adds. The mortalities had purple bellies which automatically made their team think it looked like Actinobacillus suis (A. suis). But it came back PRRS positive.

“I’m glad we’ve got a lot of good veterinarians out there who can give us some recommendations on what to do,” he says “I just wish we could find a way to eliminate it. But don’t see that coming anytime soon.”

PRRS Isn’t Going to Let Up

Cara Haden, DVM, director of animal welfare and biosecurity with Pipestone, says the Bob Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project has been a super helpful tool to see where the industry is at as a whole.

“Right now, cumulative incidence of PRRS as of January 21, is 8.2% which is actually pretty low,” Haden says “But I think it’s important to note that we often see two peaks every year. It looks like we’re maybe through that fall-winter peak, but there is the expectation that we will see a spring-summer peak again in 2026. If we follow the pattern of the last couple years, we’re going to see more PRRS this year than what we’ve seen so far.”

The number of PRRS strains continues to cause heartache across the pork industry.

“We’re getting more information about PRRS Lineage 1C strains being incredibly devastating and very virulent, seeing significant clinical signs with this particular virus family,” she says. “We’re also getting more information about increased shedding times and this virus being more difficult to eliminate from sow farms. These viruses are sticking around in the pig longer, which I think is super frustrating.”

Control What You Can Control

Fortunately the U.S. pork industry is entering a time where it may be possible to spend a little more money to help prevent disease breaks.

“We can’t always control the fact that pigs might break with a lateral PRRS introduction at some point during the growing period, but we can make sure that they don’t break with ileitis,” Haden says. “We can make sure they don’t break with salmonella or that they don’t break with circovirus.”

Trying to pinch pennies on vaccines by partial dosing or foregoing them all together is a dangerous game.

“I’m seeing a lot more freedom from producers to do the things that veterinarians would love to see them do all the time,” Haden says.

Be sure to record it and keep 12 months of documentation of vaccination treatments as required for PQA site assessments, says Brad Eckberg, account executive at MTech Systems.

“Then use that information to ultimately determine how it is working for you,” Eckberg says. “I’m a big fan of learning from successes and failures. Use the data you are keeping to help with decision making, maybe even for future changes in the protocols.”

Watch or listen to their entire discussion that delves into the impact of winter on your operation, wean pig health and nutrition tips, and conversations taking place at trade shows and more in the Farm Journal’s PORK State of the Pork Industry Report.

New AVMA Standards Recognize Foam Depopulation for Swine Emergency Response

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:20:54 GMT

From fires to tornadoes to foreign animal disease outbreaks, no two emergencies are identical on the farm. That’s why depopulation plans must take a number of specific circumstances into account.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently released revisions to its Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals . After years of research and work, foam depopulation is now recognized as a tier 1 method.

“The addition of foam-based depopulation methods to our toolbox provides a critical advantage in speed, cost and logistics,” says Andrew Bowman, DVM, with The Ohio State University. “This is a gamechanger for swine producers.”

Tier 1 methods are given highest priority and should be used preferentially when developing emergency response plans and when circumstances allow reasonable implementation during emergencies, according to AVMA’s guidance.

“For producers, this update expands the set of AVMA-recognized depopulation methods that can be considered as part of emergency preparedness and response planning,” says Stephanie Wetter, director of animal welfare at the National Pork Board. “The Tier 1 designation means that water-based foam and nitrogen-filled foam are now recognized alongside other Tier 1 methods commonly used on farms for euthanasia and depopulation.”

Importantly, Wetter says a Tier 1 designation does not require producers to use these methods. Instead, it provides additional flexibility and confidence that foam-based approaches meet the highest professional standards for humane use when properly applied.

“Method selection remains site- and situation-specific and should be made in consultation with a veterinarian, based on factors such as facilities, pig size, labor availability and the nature of the emergency,” Wetter says.

What’s Best for the Animals and Caretakers?

In 2019, the AVMA’s first guidance for depopulation came out after the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia recognized the importance of evaluating methods and agents that might need to be applied when animals are killed under conditions in which meeting the panel’s definition of euthanasia may not be possible.

The guidelines cover a broad range of animal species and help veterinarians assess risks and methods for the rapid killing of animals during emergency situations. They provide recommendations for procedures, training personnel and anticipating equipment needs.

In general, the 2026 revisions include:
• Introduction of a new tier system for classifying depopulation methods
• Development of 11 criteria to guide assessment of depopulation methods
• Expansion of species-specific chapters and inclusion of additional species
• Reorganization of species chapters to include images for improved clarity
• Inclusion of special considerations within each chapter
• Updates to the veterinary ethics section

Tier 1 Methods for Swine

The tiers distinguish methods according to their demonstrated welfare outcomes, feasibility and suitability during emergency response operations. The Tier 1 methods for swine include:

• Commercial or private humane slaughter processing
• Inhaled methods (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen)
• Non-inhaled methods (injectable agents)
• Physical methods (gunshot, nonpenetrating captive bolt, penetrating captive bolt, electrocution, manual blunt force trauma)
• Foam-based methods (water-based, N2-filled foam)

Paul Ayers, animal care manager with The Maschhoffs, believes producers need as many depopulation options as possible.

“There are trade-offs with all methods, and it’s important to have several methods available that will meet producers’ site-specific needs,” Ayers says. “Every depopulation scenario will be different, and we must provide producers with several options to help meet their needs.”

AVMA urges veterinarians to also consider factors such as human safety, psychological impacts on personnel, availability of trained responders, infectious disease concerns, conservation and population objectives, regulatory requirements, equipment availability, disposal options and potential secondary toxicity.

A Step Forward for the Pork Industry

“The AVMA’s decision to classify water-based foam and nitrogen-filled foam as Tier 1 depopulation methods reflects the strength of the available science and validates years of research, field experience and veterinary review,” Wetter says. “For the U.S. pork industry, this provides clarity and consistency around humane depopulation options for pigs that prioritize animal welfare, worker safety and operational feasibility during emergency situations.”

By diversifying the depopulation methods available, Bowman says the U.S. swine industry will be more resilient in the face of emerging disease threats. He offers three major reasons why foam-based depopulation is a valuable tool for producers.

1. Leverages existing infrastructure
“One of the greatest benefits of water-based foam depopulation is that it utilizes equipment already housed in the USDA National Veterinary Stockpile and owned by poultry production companies,” Bowman says. “While water-based foam has long been a standard for poultry, recent studies have shown it is highly effective for swine.”

2. Cost effective
“In an emergency, financial barriers can slow down response times,” Bowman says. “Water-based foam is an affordable alternative to other depopulation methods. The necessary specialized equipment (high-pressure water pumps and expansion nozzles) is often already available in local communities through fire departments or can be purchased for under $1,000. Additionally, unlike gas-based agents, foam concentrate can be stockpiled, ensuring farmers are prepared before a crisis hits.”

3. Allows for rapid scalability
“Efficiency is the best way to lessen the economic impact of a disease outbreak,” he adds. “Foam-based methods are group applied, meaning it is specifically designed for rapid, large-scale depopulation. It can be adapted to handle everything from nursery pigs to adult swine quickly. By providing a ‘stamping-out’ method that is both fast and thorough, we can effectively create firewalls around a disease outbreak, saving the livelihoods of neighboring producers and stabilizing the industry.”

Years of Research

“Historically, depopulation methods that AVMA has reviewed and endorsed have allowed producers to qualify for indemnity,” Anna Forseth, DVM, director of animal health with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), explained at the Ohio Pork Congress. “Prior to this version, foam depopulation was not included.”

The U.S. pork industry has been funding research for years to explore more depopulation methods.

“I’d like to acknowledge the Ohio Pork Council and industry stakeholders in Ohio, because a significant amount of work was completed by them in this area of foam depopulation,” Forseth says. “Dr. Andrew Bowman and his team at the Ohio State University have provided the industry with important data on these depopulation methods. AVMA wouldn’t have been able to add them to the list without important research that has been funded by the National Pork Board and the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.”

See the AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals: 2026 Edition here.

Read more:
It’s Time to Talk About Depopulation in the U.S. Swine Industry

Sad Doesn’t Mean Wrong: The Impact of Animal Depopulation on Employees

When You Know Better, You Do Better: A Pig Farmer’s Approach to Sustainability

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:25:15 GMT

If you want your freedom to operate, you must be willing to do the hard things every day to make that happen, says seventh-generation pig farmer Maddie Hokanson.

“We need to have hard conversations and be willing to set aside our own really strong opinions,” Hokanson says. “We’re passionate in agriculture. We’re passionate in the pork industry. That is wonderful, but we can’t let that be our blind spot that stops us from getting where we want to be in the long run.”

That’s why Hokanson joined National Pork Board chief sustainability officer Jamie Burr to have some of those hard conversations at the Conference of Parties (COP) in Brazil. Each year, about 200 countries convene at COP to develop global climate policy. https://unfccc.int/cop30

Some of the attendees are anti-ag, others are anti-meat, and this year, one was a U.S. pig farmer. For all their differences, the perspectives gathered at this event provide a window into what the world thinks, Burr says.

Time to Play Offense

Burr and Hokanson set out for Brazil with a goal to play offense and not defense.

“There’s never been a baseball team win the World Series by playing defense alone,” Burr says. “It’s so important we stand in that batter’s box and play offense. I know that’s very nerve-wracking to have all eyes on you. But to win the game, we’re going to have to be in that position. We’re going to have to continue to share our story and we need to do it with our own data.”

Hokanson says the opportunity to tell her story and have conversations with people opposed to animal agriculture is why she said yes.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

“We all want to have a sustainable, healthy world to live in together,” she says. “Eighty percent of the things we talked about at COP are things we all agree on. It’s all those extra pieces on the periphery that seem to be what get focused on instead of the things we agree on.”

Whether farmers are there or not, conversations take place at COP about livestock production practices and things we do on our farms, Hokanson explains.

“If we’re not willing to be there and share our story, then we’re being left out of the equation,” she says. “As new practices and new commitments are put into place by other countries, I believe COP allows us to change the narrative from livestock agriculture being part of the problem to livestock agriculture being part of the solution.”

Show Me the Data

The on-farm sustainability reports are a great way to show that, she says. One of the key messages she shared is what she calls the three-legged stool of sustainability: environmental, economic and social sustainability.

“On our farm, we have generations before us that continued to look for improvement and ways to do better,” Hokanson says. “That’s something we must continue to do. We don’t want to be the generation that screws it up. We want to make sure it continues for another seven generations. However, that can only happen if we are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.”

Hokanson has always thought of sustainability as stewardship.

“I see them very much as the same word,” she says. “We’re stewards of our land. We want to do more with less. That means taking good care of our land, environment and water because we live there, too. We drink the same water, breathe the same air, and live on the same land as our neighbors. It’s important that we take good care of it. That has been the posture and the position of our farm for 140 years.”

International sustainability conversations directly influence U.S. farmers’ freedom to operate—and what the pork industry is bringing to the table.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

When You Know Better, You Do Better

She found some historic paperwork from her farm in the 1940s, after the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. These papers showed how several farmers, including her great-great-grandfather, met and asked a hard question of themselves: What do we need to change to make sure that we don’t have another Dust Bowl?

“They decided they needed to make some changes, and not because a regulation was coming down on them,” Hokanson says. “They saw change was needed, so they improved. That doesn’t mean that what they did before was wrong. They did the best they could with the information they had. Then, when they knew better, they did better.”

She says that’s what agriculture is all about.

“When you know better, you do better,” Hokanson says. “But you’re always doing the best that you can for your animals, for your land and for your people. At the end of the day, when you put all those things together, continuous improvement is the name of the game. That’s the only way for a farm to transition from one generation to the next in a long-term capacity.”

What Made the Trip to Brazil a Win

Hokanson was a coveted panelist, but she says it was the side conversations that stood out to her.

“The conversations before and after panels, where some people disagreed with our beliefs, truly made it worthwhile to travel all the way down to Brazil,” she says.

(The Meat Institute)

During one panel focused on minimizing animal protein and shifting to a more plant-based diet, Hokanson was intrigued about how often they brought up the need to “involve farmers in these conversations.”

“The ironic thing was that there wasn’t a single farmer on that panel or another farmer in the room,” she says. “Toward the end of the panel, the moderator said, ‘It’s great to see so many friends in the room, and I see we’ve got a couple of people from the animal protein sector, too. So, if you have opinions on this, we’d be happy to hear them.’”

Hokanson stood up and took the opportunity to share her opinion. She thanked the panel for saying farmers should be involved in these conversations and pointed out that she would be happy to do something like that in the future.

“I told them, ‘If you want to have a farmer be part of the conversation, then make sure you really make an effort to do so,’” she adds. “Then I followed it up with a question about differences in topography and geography. On our farm we raise pigs and cattle, and cattle work really well in areas where crops can’t be grown. Then, one of the panelists who wants to minimize animal production, said, ‘Well, I will say there’s plenty of ground in the world that isn’t well-suited for crop production, and that probably is meant to be livestock focused.’ For him to say that – in a crowd of people who are meat minimizers – was a big win.”

There is no question there are a lot of individuals who make local, state, national and global policy who have never had their boots on a farm, Burr adds.

“It’s so important for us to be open enough to have those conversations with them and invite them to our farm to form their own opinion,” he says. “There’s a lot that goes on inside of those four walls, and those four walls, they don’t raise pork – people do. The more that we can connect with those individuals to understand their perspective and then share ours, the more middle ground we will find.”

Sign up for the Pork Cares Impact Report program here.

Listen to Maddie share more of her story on The PORK Podcast.

Pig Painkiller Patch Shows Promise

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:38:55 GMT

It’s been just over a year since the FDA issued a “Dear Veterinarian” letter that caught a lot of attention among livestock producers. The letter reminded veterinarians that aspirin and sodium salicylate are not approved for use in dairy cattle or any livestock.

“From an animal welfare standpoint, we know pigs go through pain. They have fevers and inflammation when they are sick. We can make them feel better with NSAIDs like we do in humans,” Brian Payne, senior director of commercial technical services R&D and innovation at Veterinary Pharmaceutical Solutions, said in a previous article . “When you’re feeling sick, you want to feel better. Pigs under our care should have that opportunity as well. When they have pain, inflammation or a fever, we can reduce that down so they start feeling better. A secondary benefit is that they produce better.”

To provide pain management and reduce repeated drug administration, Jeremy Powell, veterinarian and professor of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture , joined a team of researchers to test an experimental pain-relieving drug delivery method for farm animals using microneedle patches.

Although the patches may not have delivered an effective dose, Powell says it took a pivotal step that offers new leads for innovation, according to a University of Arkansas release .

Two Birds With One Stone – Improving Pain and Welfare

The team wanted to find a way to provide analgesic therapy to help control pain in livestock species while improving animal welfare. The project, which began several years ago in cattle with meloxicam, has been supported by a USDA grant.

According to the release, initial studies led to unsatisfactory pain management for cattle. Because of this, the multi-state team of researchers received approval to switch the experiment to pigs using flunixin and dextran, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are more soluble than meloxicam.

The goal of the study was to alleviate some pain after castration and tail docking. Researchers set out to see if the patch could provide five to seven days of pain relief without daily injections or handling of the animal.

How Does the Microneedle Patch Work?

Researchers made the patches with polyvinyl alcohol, collagen and chitosan using a square mold. The patches are about 1"x1" and have 625 pyramid-shaped microneedles that are 800 microns tall — about the thickness of a stack of eight sheets of standard copy paper. The medicines were incorporated at a dose of 50 milligrams per patch, the study says.

Application sites and morphological analysis of microneedle patches in a study by researchers within the Department of Animal Science for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Macroscopic (center) and SEM (right) images of PVA–COL–CHI patches loaded with FLU or FITC-dextran highlight the consistent microneedle geometry.

(Reproduced from RSC Pharmaceutics with permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry)

Medicine slowly flows through the microneedles from the pain patches for slow-release drug delivery, the release explains. The patch is designed to eventually fall off and continue degrading into inert natural products that do not generate contaminants, says Jorge Almodovar, the study’s corresponding author and an associate professor in the department of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in the release.

“Designed to only penetrate the upper level of skin where there are few pain receptors, microneedles are known for being painless to mildly prickly, like pressing fine sandpaper when applied with light pressure, or a cat’s tongue brush,” the article says.

Although the drugs administered through the experimental patches did show up in the pigs’ system, the drug concentrations only reached about 2 micrograms per liter. Powell says they would need 3 milligrams per liter for the medicine to be effective, which is 1,500 times greater than what was achieved.

What’s Next for the Patch?

The project remains a proof of concept despite the limited performance, demonstrating that pig skin can absorb medication delivered through a dissolvable microneedle patch, the article says.

In the most recent published study, patches were applied to the ear and neck to assess anatomical site choice on systemic absorption. The team found patches work better on the neck than the ear, which Powell said may guide future testing.

The dextran-based patches on the neck achieved higher plasma concentrations than oral administration and ear-applied patches, “demonstrating enhanced uptake from vascularized regions,” the study explains. Meanwhile, the flunixin-based patches applied to the ear produced detectable plasma levels up to 72 hours after application, with a maximum concentration of about 1.9 micrograms per liter at 24 to 48 hours, “indicating sustained systemic exposure and reinforcing the potential for long-acting therapy.”

One of the other benefits of the patches was that no adverse responses were observed at application sites, the article says.

The findings emphasize the importance of choosing the right spot on the animal and using medications that the delivery method can handle are key to making microneedle drug delivery work better, the researchers note as they head back to the drawing board to improve the patch.

Editor’s Note: The study, “Systemic drug delivery in pigs using biodegradable microneedle patches,” was published in the journal RSC Pharmaceutics. The lead author, Katherine Miranda Muñoz, Ph.D., is a former graduate student at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering. Muñoz is now a postdoctoral associate at the University of Miami. Co-authors of the paper included Powell, Tsungcheng Tsai and Jacy L. Riddle in the department of animal science with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Almodovar, Ke He and Lee Blaney at UMBC. Almodovar was previously an associate professor and Ray C. Adam Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas.

Open-Pen Gestation Rule Now In Effect for Ohio Pig Farmers

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 18:36:15 GMT

On Jan. 1, Ohio’s regulation on open-pen sow gestation officially went into effect. This rule ( Ohio Administrative Code 901:12-8-02 ) requires that after Dec. 31, 2025, breeding/gestation stalls are only allowed post-weaning for limited periods to confirm pregnancy and maximize embryonic welfare, with new construction banning stalls except for these short confirmation windows.

The Ohio Pork Council points out that Ohio pig farmers have been preparing for these open-pen gestation requirements for years by investing in facilities and fine-tuning management practices that support sow wellbeing, all while maintaining the flexibility to address individual animal needs. Proper sow research ensures animals are cared for responsibly.

“The timeline for implementation gave pig farmers the ability to plan, invest and adapt responsibly—rather than face abrupt changes that could have forced families out of a profession they love, providing nutrient-dense protein for their communities,” the organization says.

This rule reflects a carefully considered choice made by Ohioans to place farm-animal care decisions in the hands of veterinarians, animal scientists, and farmers — using science, research, and real-world experience to guide policy, the Ohio Pork Council explains.

“As these requirements take effect, Ohio pig farmers remain committed to providing high-quality animal care rooted in accountability and expert oversight,” the organization says.

Ohio voters approved the creation of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board more than a decade ago. This board established the first state-led, science-based system in the country to set livestock housing and care standards.

Ohio’s sow-housing standards were developed using this process, along with input from accredited veterinarians, animal welfare scientists, and farmers who understand sow behavior and daily care. The Ohio Pork Council says the resulting regulation supports open-pen gestation systems while allowing farmers and veterinarians to make individualized care decisions when needed for animal health, safety or recovery.

“Ohio pig farmers are proud to operate under a system built on science and expertise,” explains Cheryl Day, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council. “The group-housing standards taking effect are part of a thoughtful, Ohio-led approach to animal care — one that puts animal health first.”

Unlike “one-size-fits-all policies that attempt to extend livestock housing requirements beyond state lines through market pressure,” the Ohio Pork Council says their state’s system focuses on setting science-based standards at home.

“This grassroots approach doesn’t try to dictate how farmers and their veterinary partners in other states raise their animals,” the organization emphasizes.

Guided by veterinarians and animal-care experts, Ohio pig farmers say their focus is on the health and well-being of their animals while working to meet today’s consumer expectations.

The Ohio Pork Council says at the heart of this approach is a simple promise by Ohio’s pig farmers: “We care about our animals and their wellbeing, we care about food safety, and we certainly care about the people and the environment in the communities where we farm.”

Solid-Dose Vaccine Protects Pigs Against Deadly PRRS Virus

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:30:06 GMT

A needle-free, solid-dose vaccine can protect pigs against one of the most costly and devastating diseases in global pork production, reveals new research at the Roslin Institute.

This marks the first time that needle-free, solid-dose vaccine technology has been shown to work in any species, the Roslin Institute says in a release. This discovery was made in a “prime and pull” immunization strategy study focused on preventing porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).

Despite almost four decades of research, modified live vaccines (MLV) remain critical for PRRS control, especially in unstable herds, the researchers say.

“It is recognized that they [PRRS MLV vaccines] outperform inactivated vaccines in terms of efficacy,” the study says. “As such, PRRSV MLV vaccines cannot considered to be perfect, as they are unable to provide sterile immunity and can mutate and recombine with field strains.”

In addition, researchers note practical issues of storage and administration on-farm.

“It’s a step forward, not just for pig health, but for vaccine delivery technology more broadly — including for potential future use in humans,” says Simon Graham, a professor at Pirbright Institute.

No Needles Needed

Roslin Institute scientists were part of a team of researchers who tested a solid dose of an MLV, delivered using a needle-free technology developed by the company aVaxziPen. The technology injects the vaccine under the surface of the skin, combined with a nasal boost using an inactivated vaccine.

“While the nasal boost failed to enhance immunity in pigs, the solid dose vaccine was shown to provide neutralizing antibody responses and strong protection against infection, which was comparable to protection attained by conventional needle-and-syringe vaccination,” the release says.

The solid-dose PRRSV vaccine ended up being less stable than expected, which resulted in evaluation at a lower dose than typically used. However, both solid and liquid formulations provided a high level of protection, the Roslin Institute says. This suggests lower vaccine doses may be effective without compromising efficacy.

“Solid-dose vaccines offer the potential to transform vaccine delivery, improve animal welfare and eliminate needle related risks for staff,” adds Robin Cohen, CEO at aVaxziPen.

Risk Reduction

The development of needle-free vaccination could lower the risk of spreading diseases via reused needles, improve animal welfare and potentially address needle-phobia in people.

The study, published in “ Vaccine ,” was led by the Pirbright Institute and involved expertise from the Moredun Research Institute, animal health company Zoetis, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and aVaxziPen.

This study builds on previous work Pirbright and aVaxziPen conducted on solid-dose PRRSV vaccines and complements studies by the Roslin Institute on intranasal vaccine delivery using jet injectors.

“This is an encouraging development towards managing one of the pig industry’s most harmful infectious diseases,” says Christine Tait-Burkard with the Roslin Institute.

Researchers believe this approach could help mitigate losses from PRRSV, which are estimated to exceed $660 million annually in the U.S. alone.

Editor’s Note: The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and it is part of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

New Animal Activism Reports Released: Activists Connect in the Courtroom

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:42:27 GMT

As part of the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s mission to safeguard the future of animal agriculture, we work to make sure that farm and food communities have all the facts about what animal activist groups are really working toward. That’s why we’ve recently released two new reports that break down the strategic coordination and funding behind these organizations.

The first report, “ Radical Vegan Activism ,” looks back at statistics from 2024 to show the tactics, targets and driving ideologies of key players within the movement. The numbers tell an important story, with nearly one-quarter of all documented activist attacks focusing on farms and food businesses. It is of note that research institutions were reported to be the most targeted overall. When it comes to agriculture, documented actions included vandalism (59 incidents), animal theft or release (43 cases) and trespassing (31 cases).

The second report, the “ Major Animal Activist Groups Web ,” outlines the connections between well-known organizations based on staffing, funding and project collaboration.

While some of these groups have a more public-facing presence — such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States) — and often engage with the public and are seen on television commercials, others are working behind the scenes pushing legislation that is unfavorable to agriculture and, even in some cases, stealing animals from farms and facilities. The point of the “Major Animal Activist Groups Web” is to show that though groups may differ on how they get their point across, they are all working together in some ways to push for changes in modern animal agriculture that drive up the cost of production and threaten the availability of animal-sourced protein.

The web is updated annually with the inclusion of new connections and organizations. A key theme identified in this latest update was a focus on legal collaboration between groups. For example, Animal Activist Legal Defense Project is working to appeal a 2023 felony conviction of Wayne Hsiung , founder of Direct Action Everywhere and Simple Heart Initiative (a new addition to the web this year after holding an “animal rescue” event in Washington, D.C., this past March). Other legal focused groups recently added include The Brooks Institute and Legal Impact for Chickens.

The groups highlighted in this report represent a fraction of the activist landscape, yet together, based on the latest publicly available financial information, pull in more than $865 million a year — a significant jump from $800 million last year. As funding for activism grows, it’s more important than ever for those of us in the farm and food community to share our own stories. If we don’t speak up about what really happens on farms, we risk letting activist groups tell that story for us.

Want to learn more about protecting your farm or business from potential activist threats? Visit the Alliance website for more resources and information on proactive security measures.

Read more:
Jury Rejects ‘Rescue’ Defense: DxE Extremist Zoe Rosenberg Found Guilty in Chicken Heist

Jury Rejects 'Rescue' Defense: DxE Extremist Zoe Rosenberg Found Guilty in Chicken Heist

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:37:14 GMT

After stealing four chickens from a Sonoma County poultry facility two years ago, UC Berkeley student and Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) extremist Zoe Rosenberg, 23, has been found guilty of all counts, including felony conspiracy. She could now face up to four and a half years in prison for her role in the 2023 chicken heist.

Although her attorneys tried to paint the theft as a “rescue,” the jury disagreed, finding her guilty on all counts, including felony conspiracy, as well as the two misdemeanors for trespassing on various occasions and a third for tampering with a vehicle or its contents. She will be sentenced on Dec. 3.

Video footage captured by animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere shows Rosenberg entering the farm in protective gear, taking four chickens from crates on a truck bed and carrying them off of the property.

According to NPR , this decision could have ‘reverberating effects throughout the country, as DxE has escalated these missions – referred to as ‘open rescues’ – in recent years.”

Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO of Animal Agriculture Alliance , is encouraged the jury came to a conclusion so quickly in deliberations.

“The crimes committed by DXE extremist Zoe Rosenberg are just that – crimes,” she says. “This decision is a reinforcement that laws must be followed and cannot be bent because of extreme beliefs and ideologies.”

The jury’s verdict makes it clear that personal beliefs don’t justify breaking the law, says Herb Frerichs, General Counsel, Petaluma Poultry, in a release .

“DXE members admitted to planning and carrying out illegal acts — including break-ins, theft of private data, and stealing livestock — under the guise of activism and to gain publicity,” Frerichs says. “This kind of behavior has no place in any community that respects the rule of law. We fully support the right to free speech and lawful protest, but that’s not what this was.”

Rosenberg’s defense team is expected to appeal, creating the opportunity to set a legal precedent for the practice, NPR reports.

“The actions committed by Rosenberg and other members of DXE continue to pose a threat to the health and safety of livestock and poultry – the very animals that they claim to be protecting,” Thompson-Weeman argues. “We will be interested to see the outcome of sentencing and hope that it will leave animals safer from repeat offenders who put them at risk.”

Rosenberg was not taken into custody following the decision, NPR reports. However, Judge Kenneth Gnoss mandated she wear a GPS-equipped ankle monitor and stay 500 feet from Petaluma Poultry and all Perdue facilities. She was also ordered not to contact six individuals believed to be fellow activists.

“DxE’s stated mission is to end meat consumption by abolishing all forms of animal agriculture,” Perdue said in a release . “They regularly deploy illegal tactics that jeopardize community safety in service, undermining the economy and national food supply.”

Help Piglets Thrive: High-Dose Oxytocin Allows Sows to Pass on Greater Immunity

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Colostrum can be the difference between life and death for a piglet. As litter size increases, colostrum intake becomes even more critical, says Bryn Anderson, a veterinary student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Passive transfer of immunity is one of the most critical determinants of piglet survival and early growth, yet it remains highly variable in commercial systems,” she explained at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. “Piglets rely entirely on colostrum for immunoglobulins, but successful intake depends on factors like sow physiology, litter size and piglet vigor.”

She says this variability means that a proportion of piglets consistently fall short of adequate immune protection.

“There has been growing interest in whether management interventions—such as administering oxytocin—could stimulate more efficient colostrum release in the immediate postpartum period,” Anderson says.

“The idea is that oxytocin may help keep mammary tight junctions open longer after farrowing, extending the colostrum phase and allowing more immunoglobulins to pass into milk for piglets to absorb.”

Bryn Anderson

She set out to evaluate whether giving a higher dose of oxytocin would improve both colostrum quality and piglet immunoglobulin transfer, since even modest improvements could have meaningful impacts to any size of pork production.

Does Oxytocin Help?

In a systematic, controlled field trial at a commercial sow farm, Anderson enrolled 96 sows in her study and randomly assigned them to either receive a high dose of oxytocin 12–20 hours after farrowing or serve as untreated controls.

For each sow, colostrum samples were collected at approximately one hour and approximately four hours post-oxytocin treatment to measure quality using a Brix refractometer. From each litter, piglets were blood sampled at approximately four hours post-oxytocin treatment, and serum Brix values were recorded to assess adequacy of passive transfer. Piglets were weighed at birth and again at 24 hours to monitor growth. Colostrum intake was estimated using established intake equations based on weight gain, time after birth, and sow colostrum production dynamics.

“This design allowed us to capture both the sow-side effect (colostrum quality) and the piglet-side outcome (serum Ig levels and intake), while controlling for natural variability in parity, litter size and birthweights,” she explains.

Even with a relatively small sample size, she discovered that piglets from oxytocin-treated sows had significantly higher average serum Brix values and a significantly greater proportion reached the passive transfer adequacy threshold compared to controls.

“This shows that oxytocin can meaningfully improve early passive transfer, which is a critical determinant of piglet health and survival,” Anderson says. “The fact that significance was detected with only 96 sows underscores the strength of the effect.”

She says this highlights a potential management tool to increase the proportion of piglets achieving adequate immunity within the critical first hours of life.

“For producers, improving early passive transfer can reduce pre-weaning mortality, lower disease treatment costs, and improve overall herd health.”

Bryn Anderson

“Because commercial systems handle thousands of piglets, even modest improvements in passive transfer rates can add up to substantial performance and economic gains,” Anderson adds. “The study also demonstrates that oxytocin can deliver a measurable benefit even under real-world variability, which is encouraging for practical on-farm application.”

Anderson was one of seven finalists for the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize recognized during the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. She presented her research findings during a session at the conference.

Researchers in this study include Anderson, Josh Ellingson and Alvaro Franco, both of AMVC Management Services in Audubon, Iowa.

Sensors on the Farm: Reliable Data Helps Producers Make Better Decisions

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:11:24 GMT

While the world was in lockdown in 2020, Jim Ryken started developing BarnTalk with BarnTools co-founder Michael Hansen. Growing up in the swine industry, they understood the shortcomings of traditional alarm systems that were created to protect barns and the livestock and poultry in them. Not only were these systems built in the 1990s outdated, but they were lacking reliability and remote visibility.

Ryken went to work during the COVID pandemic while he was home with his 13-year-old son and 70-year-old dad at the time to build a modern alarm system for livestock barns.

“My dad didn’t have a smartphone then,” Ryken says. “I knew if I could explain BarnTalk in a way that both my dad and son could understand, then I should be able to go talk to anybody in the industry and not make them be afraid of this technology.”

BarnTalk is a wireless alarm system that runs off an app on a cell phone, Ryken explains. He spent a lot of time thinking about how to make a system that is easy for farmers who don’t have a lot of time to use.

“I kept looking at consumer-grade User Interface (UI),” he says. “I kept thinking there had to be a way to feed those systems into animal agriculture to help with technology adoption. It is complicated, but it doesn’t have to look that way.”

(BarnTools)

Ryken says BarnTalk was developed to help improve operational efficiency and give growers a practical tool for monitoring what’s going on in their barns, especially when they’re not there.

“We didn’t have wireless communication when the first alarm systems were built,” he says. “We wanted to create a wireless system to do everything producers need from an alarming perspective, but also provide real-time insight like is it too hot in my barn? Are my pigs getting enough water?”

Reliable Return on Investment

In short, this technology can provide peace of mind to growers who no longer live right next to the barn, Ryken explains. But first, they had to solve the problem of connectivity on the farm.

“A lot of our early work was finding the right gateway that connects to all the cell towers and provides a connection to the internet from these rural areas that was never there before,” he says. “Once we solved that problem, we focused on building an app and getting wireless sensors in the barn that were easy to install.”

BarnTalk uses a DIY approach, Ryken explains. By creating something that is easy to install and has a ‘pretty low cost of entry,’ they wanted to provide tools that are not intimidating from a technical perspective or that will break their pocketbook.

That’s one of the reasons why Greg Wulf, director of production at Murphy Family Ventures LLC in southeast North Carolina, invested in this technology.

“We appreciate the simplicity, reliability and excellent customer service,” Wulf says.

For Wulf, the return on investment is what he appreciates most about making this purchase.

“In our situation, we did not have alarms to notify us of problems with power, environment or water,” Wulf says. “Barn Tools helps us avoid losses caused by equipment malfunction or operator error by notifying us of problems. Our ROI comes due to loss avoidance.”

As BarnTalk caught on with growers, BarnTools made a strategic pivot away from the challenges of steel manufacturing for hog gates in 2020 and focused their attention on providing technology for the grower.

(Barn Tools)

Strategic Sensors

BarnTools recently launched a second-generation feed bin sensor, BinTalk Pro that gives farmers insight into how much feed is in the bin. The sensor takes a reading every 15 minutes to help producers quickly detect any potential concerns.

“With this tool, farmers can start problem solving sooner,” Ryken says. “Is the bin out of feed? Did the feed stop flowing? Am I seeing a rapid depletion of feed? Is the feed just disappearing and it shouldn’t be? The sooner farmers can know about these problems, the better they can react.”

Several bin sensors are in each bin and every sensor in the bin is connected through a cellular connection, Ryken explains.

“Instead of putting a SIM card in every bin, we use one SIM in the gateway,” he says. “It connects to the cloud and creates a wireless network on the farm, so all bin sensors report through it.”

He says this is how BinTalk Pro can take a reading every 15 minutes because it doesn’t need to ‘ring up the cell connection’ and send data all the time.

“We recognize the real-time advantage of knowing what’s going on,” Ryken says. “Most feed bin sensors take a reading once a day, or once every four hours. By taking a reading every 15 minutes, we can limit the time an ‘event’ affects your animals. We take what the sensor sees and turn that into smart alarms that we can send to the growers.”

But pork producers aren’t the only ones who can benefit. The integrator and feed mill benefit, too. Sensors can optimize feed deliveries, which cuts down on waste and fuel emissions.

“As a turn comes to an end, we can make sure we don’t overdeliver feed before animals are sent off to market and create a reclaim event,” Ryken says. “Bin Talk Pro is a tool that can be used by growers, but it can be used up the supply chain to improve all the things affecting the most expensive part of raising animals -- the feed.”

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

Water Watch

In the summer of 2022, Mike DeCap, vice president of crop and swine production at Grandview Farms Inc. in east central Iowa, says their farm became one of the first full-service adapters of BarnTalk.

“Getting updates every 15 minutes versus every four hours is the difference between seeing problems and solving them,” he says.

Grandview Farms strives to be on the forefront of technology to pick up efficiencies to raise a pound of pork and to protect their investments, DeCap explains.

“Once we met with BarnTools and learned that all employees could see into the finishers to visualize feed, temp, water and power, the decision was simple,” DeCap says.

Water meter sensors provide data to farmers every 15 minutes, too, Ryken says.

“It’s critical that your animals have the right amount of water and don’t run out,” he says. “If you have a water leak, you need to know about that fast or it could fill up your pit. Smart sensors notify you when leaks happen, so you don’t have to wait to find out when you get back to the farm the next morning.”

From a water perspective, Ryken is excited how sensors can help provide insights into pig health. BarnTools recently did some work with Brett Ramirez at Iowa State University. They watched a group of pigs get sick and how water consumption dropped off by about 25%. Within 48 hours, the caretaker had coughing pigs with scours, and the next day, some mortality.

“If you go back and look at the water data, two days before these clinical signs, we could have predicted this would happen,” Ryken says. “Water is such a powerful thing to monitor. I think it has the opportunity to change the way we medicate our animals whether that’s helping us medicate them earlier or treat them with something other than antibiotics to keep them from getting sick.”

He’s excited to see how data insight can continue to help the industry improve.

“We’re always listening to our customers about what data and sensors they need next,” Ryken says. “Sensors help us unlock potential in the industry that hasn’t been available before. There’s so much we can do with the data if we can get it off the farm. That’s really what we’re doing – helping get that data off the farm to ultimately help producers make better decisions.”

Keep an Eye on Conjunctivitis

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:39:08 GMT

Do you know how to recognize conjunctivitis (often referred to as “pinkeye”) in swine? A new publication from the Iowa Pork Industry Center is designed to help producers recognize the condition and what to do when it is detected in their herd.

Iowa State University extension swine veterinarian Chris Rademacher says many cases are observed during the late nursery to early grow-finish phase. It’s characterized by inflammation of the conjunctival membranes of the eye.

The inflammation can be caused by common infectious pathogens and non-infectious avenues such as high levels of dust or ammonia, elevated hydrogen sulfide levels, and allergenic bedding material.

Rademacher says it’s also a common complaint among producers, including those involved in swine shows.

“Both prevalence and severity in a group depend on the route of infection and transmission,” Rademacher explains. “For example, Chlamydia suis is a common agent, yet other viruses such as PRRS, Influenza A, and pseudorabies should be ruled out with veterinarian assistance.”

If you think your pigs have conjunctivitis, he encourages assessing environmental conditions, taking swab samples, and working with a veterinarian on the next steps.

Iowa State University researchers are currently looking for cases from which to collect swab samples as part of a study on which pathogens are most prevalent. Producers with potential affected sites can contact Megan Hindman by email at mpieters@iastate.edu for more details.

The publication, IPIC 211 , is available at no charge from the ISU Extension store.

In addition to Rademacher, authors of the publication include Megan Hindman, DVM, clinical assistant professor; Maria Clavijo, DVM, PhD, research associate professor; Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, PhD, Roy A. Schultz Professor in Swine Medicine; and Locke Karriker, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVPM, professor and chair, all from ISU veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine; and Michele Moncrief, DVM, post-doctoral research associate, Swine Medicine Education Center.

Hinn Wins Morrison Swine Innovator Prize for Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae Calculator

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:03:32 GMT

When Kaydance Hinn went to work for the Mycoplasma Lab at the University of Minnesota, she admits she didn’t even know what Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was, yet alone how to do coding. However, she learned a lot about both when the opportunity arose to assist with the state’s M. hyopneumoniae elimination initiative by developing a cost estimation tool to help producers.

M. hyopneumoniae, a bacterium that affects swine, results in significant production losses to the industry. The pathogen causes respiratory issues, which decrease the growth rate of pigs and negatively impacts animal welfare. As part of her summer project, Hinn went to work to create an estimation cost calculator for M. hyopneumoniae that allows producers to input their specific farm data to receive an estimated value of the cost of M. hyopneumoniae in their operation type.

Data was provided from several production systems and published literature across the U.S. In addition, she received a partial budget, which included data from various farms across the Midwest, from Paul Yeske, DVM, with the Swine Vet Center. The data served as the baseline for comparing M.hyopneumoniae production factors. Values also became the negative standard that producers could compare their data to, she says.

More information was obtained evaluating the effect of M. hyopneumoniae on sow farm production indicators. In addition, data were utilized from a large Midwest production system, examining M. hyopneumoniae with a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) co-infection.

“I utilized Dr. Yeske’s spreadsheet for the majority of the calculator’s content, including equations,” Hinn explains. “I used AI, Google Sheets and Google App Script to build the physical calculator. Producers can input their farm’s specific data, including piglets weaned per year, mortality rate, ADG, and elimination protocol information, if applicable. Then, the Google Sheet will complete the back-end calculations, and results will be displayed in an easy-to-use format.”

Hinn’s innovation and knowledge helped her win the coveted Morrison Swine Innovator Prize. She was one of seven finalists recognized during the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. She presented her research findings during a session at the conference.

“Producers can now see the economic impact of M. hyopneumoniae disease on their farm,” she says. “This information can educate producers about the benefits of undergoing elimination programs on sow farms, and eradicating this disease from not only their farms but also the state of Minnesota.”

Producers can also learn about the return on investment if they choose to undergo an elimination protocol.

“Elimination protocols have been proven successful and continue to maintain a negative status even in pig-dense areas,” Hinn says. “While these values are not exact, this calculator can help inform producers of possible opportunity losses that can be further discussed with their veterinarian. This information will aid in realizing the potential loss that M. hyopneumoniae is contributing to at their farm, and encourage producers to take the next steps in helping Minnesota eradicate M. hyopneumoniae.”

During the process of developing this calculator, Hinn says she learned that AI can be a great tool. She used it to guide how she set up the Google Sheet.

“I was also able to give it a prompt and it would create code snippets that I could include in the script,” she says. “However, AI can only do so much. Many times, bigger mistakes would be made if I was too trusting of AI, which would take me a long time to fix. Towards the end of the project, I did learn how to code some of it myself in order to alleviate this issue.”

Hinn’s calculator is currently live on the Minnesota Pork Board’s website.

Size Doesn't Matter: State Patchwork of Sow Housing Laws Hurts All Farmers

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:13:32 GMT

Nobody wins with a patchwork of differing and ever-changing state sow housing laws spurred by California Proposition 12. It doesn’t matter if you are a large-scale farmer or a small-scale farmer, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says everyone stands to lose.

“The issue goes well beyond animal welfare and safety — farmers’ top priority — and rather to the root of the Constitution’s interstate commerce regulations and how bending them can break a farmer,” NPPC said in a release.

Ohio pig farmer and National Pork Producers Council vice president Pat Hord spoke on the need for patchwork prevention in testimony before the House Agriculture Committee in July. Hord has chosen to retrofit barns to be Prop 12-compliant.

“Pork producers throughout the country have already collectively spent hundreds of millions of dollars converting existing structures or building new barns to continue selling pork in California,” Hord testified.

But he says his compliance with Prop 12 does not protect him from more financial burdens if patchwork laws are not addressed.

“Whatever I do today could need to be changed when a new state decides they want a different housing standard,” he said. “These are expensive changes, and some farmers may exit the business amid this uncertainty, which increases consolidation.”

The Practical Effect of Prop 12
NPPC recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the National Economic Council in response to a request from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Policy on the adverse effects of extraterritoriality, which is the legal concept that a state’s laws can apply to people or actions outside its borders.

“Extraterritoriality was specifically addressed by our country’s founders in the U.S. Constitution: A state law that has the practical effect of regulating wholly out-of-state commerce is invalid, regardless of whether it also regulates in-state commerce,” NPPC explained. “California imposed housing restrictions on its few pig farmers well before it passed Prop 12, meaning Prop 12 wholly regulates out-of-state pork production.”

For perspective, NPPC explains 99.9% of America’s sows are raised outside California, despite the state’s large appetite for the power protein.

“In other words, the practical effect of Prop 12 is that commercial pork activity outside of California must comply with that state’s regulations, making the initiative an extraterritorial regulation of the $27 billion interstate pork market — and driving up costs for farmers and prices for consumers,” NPPC said.

A Costly Precedent
Prop 12 has set a costly precedent for other states to pass similar but conflicting laws, imposing substantial burdens on the nation’s pig farmers in their wake, NPPC said. Farmers must either continue to comply with the various state laws or lose business in critical markets.

That’s why NPPC president Duane Stateler, a fellow pig farmer from Ohio, complied with the Ohio standard for pork housing. He understands what having to then comply with another state, and potentially others, means.

“What if you built a brand-new house — one you and your family had saved for, waited for and are proud and excited about — and you followed all the regulations to ensure it was built to code,” Stateler explains. “Then, six months later, a state outside your own says your electrical work is unacceptable and you need to fix it for your family to be able to stay in your home. And then, 10 months later, another state comes back and says you need to redo your driveway to adhere to their egress laws — and your HVAC is not, in their eyes, energy efficient enough? This is what pig farmers face every time a state passes an arbitrary law and we have to rebuild our barns or lose business into those states.”

NPPC urges U.S. decisionmakers to remember that real pig farmers across the country and all farms — small, large, Prop 12-compliant or not — lose when conflicting state regulations keep them jumping through regulatory hoops without cause.

“The Supreme Court was clear that the ball is in Congress’ court, and we need their help in keeping these farms in business and pork prices reasonable for consumers,” NPPC said.

6 Ways to Boost Mosquito-Borne JEV Preparedness and Response

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:39:10 GMT

Australian researchers have shared important findings about the spread of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in a newly published study entitled, “Epidemiology of JEV in Australian Intensive Piggeries.” JEV, a mosquito-transmitted virus that impacts domestic swine industries and human health, can lead to severe production impacts in commercial swine, including reproductive failure, reduced conception, abortion, mummified and stillborn piglets, shaker piglets, deformed and weak piglets, prolonged gestation and boar infertility.

Although the virus is present in the western Pacific and Asia, it has not been identified in the U.S., where it poses an emerging risk to pork production. Funded by the Swine Health Information Center, in collaboration with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, this study reveals lessons learned from the 2021-2022 Australian JEV outbreak.

Brendan Cowled of Ausvet Pty Ltd, led the study that sought to understand how and why JEV spread in Australian pigs and make recommendations to assist the U.S. industry in preparedness should JEV ever arrive in the country.

Recommendations for U.S. Preparedness and Response to JEV
1. Improve surveillance for JEV in the U.S. by educating swine farmers on how to recognize JEV and how to report it.

2. Explore the potential to include JEV testing in existing public health surveillance programs such as sentinel chicken flock and mosquito monitoring.

3. Develop comprehensive integrated mosquito management protocols for farms. This will improve carcass quality but will also help reduce the impacts of JEV (and potentially other arboviruses) should it ever emerge in the U.S.

4. Encourage open discussion between the swine industry, pharmaceutical industry, and EPA and/or FDA to consider pre-empt emergency registration of insecticidal treatments for use in a JEV outbreak. Collaborate with USDA for potential gaps in research to support the registration of a future swine vaccine from Australia or southeast Asia depending on JEV type.

5. Continue strategic discussions between the swine industry and USDA to assess the modernization of the red book for JEV (FADPrep JEV Response plan) based on Australian experience.

6. Ensure proactive engagement between public health authorities and the swine industry to share industry concerns, and to assess practical, evidence-based approaches with relevant health authorities in advance, to minimize industry impacts whilst effectively managing risk.

“In the event of JEV becoming established in the U.S., it may be possible to develop machine learning or other AI approaches to predict the occurrence of seasonal JEV outbreaks,” the article advises. “These should be developed if JEV is established to provide early warnings, allowing proactive application of surveillance and control activities such as mosquito mitigation (e.g., insecticidal use) or vaccination of breeding stock (if/when a vaccine becomes available).”

Learn more about the qualitative and quantitative assessment here.

As JEV’s global range expands due to changing weather and migratory patterns, SHIC says Australia’s experience offers critical lessons for commercial swine industries like the U.S.

It's Time to Set Your Standards for Pig Health

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:27:50 GMT

Adequate. Mediocre. Tolerable. These are not adjectives we want to use to describe the standards we have for aspects of our business. So why would we ever accept these terms when it comes to the standards we have for pig health?

Maybe we don’t think of having standards for health. Or maybe we don’t have the right vision of where our standards should be. Let’s take a little deeper look and evaluate how we think about swine health standards.

Defining our standards does not need to be complicated. Here are three key components that are integral to systems that have high standards of health:

Sow farm health/wean pig health
System design
Biosecurity

Boiled down, this simply asks: What is the pig’s potential? Is the system built to reach that potential? Can we protect its health so it can thrive?

Wean Pig Health Starts at the Sow Farm
Starting with sow farm health, this is arguably the easiest place to define a standard. Over time, that standard has evolved as we’ve gained more information and improved our health management strategies. For a while, being PRRS-negative was the benchmark—and not much more. With what we know today, it’s time to set a higher standard for the health of the pigs we choose to raise.

The data is clear—starting with a pig that is not only PRRS-negative but also negative for Mycoplasma and influenza, and free from specific bacterial pressures, offers significant biological and economic advantages. Add to that a later weaning age—24 days—and you’ve got a pig set up for success. If we want to run more productive and more profitable farms, it’s time to raise our standards.

Your System Design
Next, we look at system design. To maximize the potential of our pigs, the system must be built to minimize the impact of health challenges. This is often the hardest area to define standards—most systems aren’t built from scratch. They’re pieced together over time and are constantly a work in progress. It’s great to have goals for what our system would look like if we were starting from a blank canvas. The key is to pull the most critical elements from that ideal design and establish them as our must-have standards.

To reach their full potential, farms need systems designed for all-in, all-out flow with single-age groups on site. This setup offers the best opportunity to manage and reduce disease transmission between groups. This often can mean evaluating:

Size of your sow farm relative to the size of your wean-to-market sites
Total turn time of your system from the first delivery to the last market pig sale
Total wean-to-market spaces in your system
Size of your wean-to-market sites
Management, feeders, nutrition, ventilation, etc., that influence pig performance

There are many elements we can evaluate, but this is a great place to start and commit to as a standard for your system design.

Commit to Biosecurity
Finally, we must protect the health we’ve invested in—and that comes down to biosecurity and keeping disease out.

In general, biosecurity standards in our wean-to-market systems are lacking. Too often, we rely on general practices or a loose understanding of what we should be doing, without committing to real, enforceable standards. Yes, biosecurity is a complex topic with many moving parts—more than we can cover here—but that doesn’t make it optional.

What we can do is commit to making biosecurity evaluation a standard. That means taking a hard look at our systems and creating clear, enforceable rules that we’ll live by, day in and day out. Often, an outside evaluation can expose simple opportunities to teach, implement, and improve.

Making that outside review—and the commitment to wean-to-market biosecurity—a standard for every operation is a step we can’t afford to skip.

High standards drive us forward, helping us achieve our full potential. This is especially true in pig production and pig health. Farmers should regularly evaluate the health standards on their farms and ask themselves—is it time to raise the bar?

Latvia Confirms African Swine Fever on 20,000-Head Pig Farm

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:31:17 GMT

Baltic Pork Ltd., a 20,000-head farm in central Latvia has confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The farm is located in Laubere Parish, Ogre Municipality, the Food and Veterinary Service (FVS) reports to the Baltic News Network . The FVS is a state authority under the Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for national supervision and control of the food chain and the veterinary sector.

In order to prevent further spread of the disease, all pigs at the facility will be culled, FVS says. The agency is carrying out disease control and containment measures at the affected site, as well as an epidemiological investigation.

One of the major efforts has been setting up a quarantine zone around the infected farm. Within this area, FVS will step up inspections of pig health and compliance with biosecurity requirements, the article said. Pig and pig product movement have been restricted in the quarantine zone.

“The FVS stresses that the risk of ASF introduction into farms is currently particularly high – the virus is present in the environment and can easily be brought into facilities via footwear, clothing, equipment, or transport,” Baltic News Network reports. “Pig keepers are reminded that regardless of the size of the holding, the only way to protect pigs from infection is strict compliance with biosecurity rules.”

Baltic Pork board member Daiga Ļubka explained in the article that the outbreak is very serious and the impact and scale of losses isn’t known yet. They need time to determine the numbers and assess the situation.

Baltic Pork breeds crossbred pigs from Landrace, Yorkshire and Duroc lines, which are mainly sold on the Latvian market, the article said. The piglets raised by the company are also sold to grow-finish farms and some are exported.

Latvia has had eight ASF outbreaks in domestic pig farms this year.

• In May 2025, ASF was discovered in a backyard farm with 36 pigs in Džūkste Parish, Tukums Municipality.

• In early July, ASF was found in a smallholding with six pigs in Glūda Parish, Jelgava Municipality.

• At the end of July, an ASF outbreak was confirmed at a farm with 55 pigs in Rosme, Iecava Parish, Bauska Municipality.

• In mid-August Nygaard International Ltd., a farm with 4,900 pigs in Ģibuļi Parish, Talsi Municipality, confirmed ASF.

• In late August, ASF was confirmed in a household farm with 65 pigs in Babīte Parish, Mārupe Municipality; another with three pigs in Dāviņi Parish, Bauska Municipality; and in yet another smallholding with three pigs in Babīte Parish, Mārupe Municipality.

In 2024, ASF affected seven farms and 585 domestic pigs across Latvia. Ten years earlier, ASF was first confirmed in Latvia in June 2014, when three wild boars tested positive near the Belarusian border.

ASF is a deadly disease of swine, though it poses no human health or food safety risks. It is devastating to the global pork economy.

A Better Pig and A Better Future: Roots Run Deep for Matt Culbertson

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 18:45:38 GMT

Matt Culbertson’s high school graduation celebration was interrupted by a disease outbreak on his family’s farrow-to-finish farm, later confirmed as his first experience with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“It was surprising and devastating,” Culbertson says. “At the time, we weren’t really sure what to expect over the next two weeks, let alone the next 30 years.”

As the chief operating officer of PIC today, Culbertson can’t remember a day of his life that wasn’t centered around the pork industry.

“I was born and raised in the swine industry,” he says. “My dad worked for George Brauer, one of the original pioneers of the confinement movement within the swine industry in the early 1970s. In the mid-1970s we moved up to Geneseo, Ill., and my dad began to run a farm that was originally built by George’s brother in partnership with him.”

Matt’s dad, Dave Culbertson, (far right) appeared on the February 1971 cover of Hog Farm Management with George Brauer (middle) in a story about confinement.

(Provided by Matt Culbertson)

His bedroom window looked out over their farrowing house, Culbertson adds. He started working for his dad by the time he was in first grade – doing any job he could to be helpful on the farm. Although his parents knew their son was destined to work in the pork industry, they urged him to get outside of his comfort zone to make sure he really wanted to land a long-term career in it.

Culbertson pursued an animal science degree at Oklahoma State University, where he solidified his passion to go put his practical swine background to use in a future career. Read on to learn more about his 15-year career with PIC – from his business philosophy to his views on the future of the U.S. pork industry.

Q. Describe your path to PIC.
A. After getting my degree at Oklahoma State, I went to graduate school for swine genetics at the University of Georgia. After completing a PhD, I moved back up to the Midwest and worked for Heartland Pork for five years, where I experienced a rapidly growing swine production enterprise. I then moved my family to North Carolina, where I had the opportunity to work for Murphy Brown/Smithfield Foods for 10 years running their internal genetics, nutrition, veterinary medicine and aligning various integration activities. This gave me a great opportunity to see a bigger slice of the pork chain from start to finish. In 2010, I went to PIC where I’ve held various roles from sales to global product development to technical services. Two years ago, the opportunity arose to be chief operating officer and lead our global PIC business through – what I think – is a pretty exciting and transformational time for our business and for the global industry.

Q. Tell me about your business.
A. I would like to believe when somebody talks about PIC, they say our primary goal is to help make our customers as successful as possible. Obviously, we’re a swine genetics business, and that starts with providing an improving pig from generation to generation. That definition of improving is dependent upon the customer’s targets for success. In some markets, it may be around cost of production, and for some, it might be around carcass yield and value. By deepening our relationship with our customers, we can tailor our product and our genetic improvement to help build the initial foundation for driving their success going forward. We combine that with technical support and a supply chain that strives to meet customer needs for high-health, high-quality animals and on-the-ground customer support.

Q. What is your “why”?
A. My ‘why’ is to make a better, more successful global pig industry going forward. When I think about how to do that – and this goes back to the experiences and motivations I saw from my father growing up – it’s to continue to provide innovation to the industry. For PIC, that’s innovation around creating a better pig and providing technical support that goes along with that to allow people to achieve results they didn’t think were possible.

Q. Describe a typical day on the job.
A. Although there is no typical day, most days involve a mix of interacting with global customers, listening and understanding their needs, and exploring with our team how our business can help them fulfill those needs. My focus is on how we deliver value to customers and continue to innovate through technology and people development for the future.

Q. How does your company work with its customers.
A. We want to be involved in our customers’ operations as much as possible. Genetics is different from other inputs that go into the production system – it’s a much longer-term business relationship. We obviously want to supply great pigs but we also have a true desire to understand how our animals are performing in their system, both strengths and challenges, and then working cooperatively and proactively on the challenges.

Q. How has the swine industry changed since you started your career?
A. There has been a tremendous amount of transition over the last 20 to 40 years. I think one part of that is the structure of pig farming operations. They’ve become much larger in size and more specialized. That increased specialization and increased size has occurred against a changing landscape of the availability and type of labor we see in farms across the globe. My story of growing up on a pig farm and only ever working with pigs is not the story for the majority of the employees coming into the swine industry today. We need to help them understand how rewarding a career in the swine industry is so they have the continued desire to grow and become motivated leaders in the future. It’s also changed the demand for and impact of specialized expertise that fuels innovation across health, production management, nutrition, facility design or other strategies that allow good production practices to be consistently and efficiently implemented.

Q. What are the greatest opportunities in the swine industry?
A. For me, the swine industry is highly personal because I grew up in it, and it’s all I know. But beyond that, producing food for people across the globe is personally motivating. As I travel around the globe and see differences in food availability and security, and the efficiency with which it is produced, I think there’s a tremendous opportunity to have a positive impact.

Q. What are the biggest challenges the industry faces?
A. One challenge that we need to continue to actively recognize and lean into is how we grow and develop the human capital needed for our industry in the future. I think it’s important for all of us to help develop the next generation of leaders so that they can continue to evolve and improve the foundation that hopefully we’ve helped build to this point.

I think the other thing that is increasingly complicated is the global aspect of health and disease. The unfortunate reality is that foreign animal diseases, like ASF, continue to spread across the globe. This is combined with the increasing challenge of many common production diseases, like PRRS, which don’t seem to be getting more predictable to manage. The public has an expectation for their food to be safe, efficient and produced in a way that aligns with their values. We need to continue to invest in an innovation pipeline that enables us to meet the consumers’ demands of the future.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?
A. The thing I enjoy the most about my job is the people. We have a tremendous team of intelligent, high-energy, high-integrity people at PIC across the globe and that energizes and motivates me to continue to do what I do. That is multiplied by the wide range of different customers and others within the swine industry who I get to interact with. I tell people that the swine industry, for me, is much more than a job.

Q. Who inspires you?
A. The greatest inspiration I draw from is my dad. He’s the one who taught me the basics of swine production. He’s the one I witnessed walking through a transition from outside dirt lots to inside sows in large groups of pen gestation with natural service to implementing artificial insemination with gestation stalls and large-scale breeding barns. And at the same time, he invested in the community that we lived in, in the team of people that were long-term employees on our farm, and in service back to the industry from cooking pork chops at the county fair to being president of the National Pork Board. He set a tremendous foundational example for me within the pig industry and as a husband and father.

Q. What is your business philosophy?
A. My business philosophy is to set strategic targets for the future and then surround myself with energetic, intelligent people who think differently but are motivated by the belief in doing big things. There will always be ups and downs on any given day. That’s to be expected, and that’s okay. I was drawn to PIC in part by the motto ‘never stop improving.’ That requires a recognition that you’re not perfect when you wake up in the morning. If you were perfect, you wouldn’t need to focus on the ‘improving’ part. That really speaks to me, both as an individual and as a leader aligning our business and team around having the freedom to take chances, to do what’s right for the right reasons and to focus on that from a growth mindset.

Q. What will the business look like 20 years from now?
A. PIC is wrapping up its 63rd year in business. We were started by a group of pig farmers who believed they should be able to use science to make a better pig to improve their operations. What exactly that science looks like has evolved dramatically over those 63 years, from simple weights and measures to large scale utilization of computing technologies to things like genomics and gene editing. In 20 years, I hope PIC is still known for focusing on customer success and keeping an open eye toward innovations that will allow us to develop a better pig at an increasing rate.

Q. If you could go back and do something differently in your career, what would it be?
A. I don’t know that there’s anything I would fundamentally go back and do differently. There were challenges I didn’t expect at certain points, but ultimately, I learned as much from those experiences as I did in the things I enjoyed the most. From a career progression standpoint, I’ve been given dramatic opportunities to do things I wasn’t prepared to do at every stop along the way. Those things sometimes went well but sometimes it took a try or two to get it to the point of going well. I do think they were all necessary to contribute to the perspective and understanding I have today.

Q. What advice do you have for someone interested in doing what you do?
A. When opportunities present themselves, don’t be afraid to take a step. Not every step is straight up a ladder. Sometimes the steps broaden your perspective and allow you to experience new areas of the industry or new areas of the business. This helps you become more balanced as a potential candidate for future roles but also expands your knowledge base.

Q. How does the threat of foreign animal disease impact the future of the U.S. pork industry?
A. I believe we’re at much greater risk of introduction of foreign animal disease (FAD) than the majority of our industry does, and that’s in part driven by my experience watching the spread of FAD across the globe. I believe the absence of FAD across the Americas is a huge competitive advantage when it comes to export markets, predictability of operations and the predictability of supply chains. However, that always has the potential to be disrupted by a bad day. If a FAD outbreak did occur within the Americas, it would be very difficult to fully eradicate it back out within a reasonable period.

Don’t Stress Out Your Wean Pigs This Fall

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:22:03 GMT

Stress isn’t good for any stage of the pig’s life, but weaning is certainly a time where lowering stress on the pig is not just a good idea – it’s critical. From the right diet to the right environment, it’s essential that employees are ready to help pigs get off to the best start possible.

“Those piglets are used to having full bellies coming off of their mom at weaning, and so as they transition into the nursery, being able to fill those stomachs and digestive systems with food is very critical,” said Joel DeRouchey, professor at Kansas State University, at the Annual Swine Conference hosted by Carthage Veterinary Service. “Once pigs eat more, they’re going to have a better average daily gain the rest of their lives, and we know that their digestive health is going to be better.”

How Clean is Clean?
When it comes to getting pigs started right in the barn, one area that needs talked about more is sanitation, DeRouchey says.

Although it’s clearly not overlooked, he says studies show opportunities for improvement.

“There are many ways that we clean barns after a group leaves and before the next set comes in,” he says. “I think we need to get back to the basics, making sure not only the pens are clean, but particularly focusing on any rubber or plastic mats that are used group to group, and especially the watering devices, are also clean.”

Data has shown that the watering device, before sanitation, has some of the highest counts of E coli, he points out.

(Source: K-State University)

“We want to make sure, as pigs leave and before the next group comes in, we’re using a hot water treatment as well as a degreaser to get rid of the film and extra biosolids that are present in those pens,” he explains. “If we go through that process, do a good disinfection, and then allow that room to dry, we have a greater opportunity to prevent different enteric bacteria from passing from group to group.”

Ideally barns should dry for over 24 hours, he says. This can be a challenge for many producers as they turn barns, but DeRouchey points out that this drying cycle is needed to kill bacteria.

“Bacteria live on and need a wet condition with a food source like fecal matter,” he says. “Any time we have a dry, hot condition, they die on the surface, resulting in a significant reduction in the enteric bacteria that can be present and survive during that period of time.”

Set the Stage for Profitability this Fall
Preparing your barn to be a great environment for your new pigs is essential to capture the most profitability possible.

“If we rush that process – if we’re too tight in terms of the pigs getting out and the next pigs coming in and don’t allow for proper drying time, if we don’t allow ourselves to make sure that the bins are adequately stocked with the phase one diet, or if we have a lot of residual feed from the previous group of pigs that may get blended in and hurt their performance – we will add stress that the pig doesn’t need,” he says.

He also reminds producers to check their ventilation heading into a new season. Fall can be one of the most challenging times to get ventilation right.

“The nights are cooling off and the days can still get warm, but maybe not as warm as we’re accustomed to,” DeRouchey says. “Make sure your ventilation curves are reset for fall ventilation, that any natural ventilation of our curtains are in the right condition and that they’re functional going up and down. Make sure fans are in the right operating condition. We want to provide the right environment going into fall and set the pigs up for success when they’re first put into the barn.”

Stop the Patchwork: Proposition 12 Threatens American Agriculture

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:18:51 GMT

As a pork producer and CEO of a fifth-generation family farming operation in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and surrounding states, I understand what it means to live with business uncertainty. Weather. Diseases. Labor shortages. Our industry faces significant hurdles each day as we work to bring safe, accessible food to American tables. However, what I don’t accept is added uncertainty and threats to my farm coming from expensive and arbitrary production standards brought on by California Proposition 12 and similar laws.

Left unchecked, a patchwork of conflicting, Prop 12-style regulations around the country would also lead to even more consolidation of the industry, as pork producers are forced to constantly reconstruct their operations—or, even worse, close their doors forever. Moreover, producers who can afford to comply experience losses in productivity, and at the same time, they bear the costs of increasing their square footage. And when activists are again successful at persuading a state to adopt anything different than Prop 12’s housing requirements, the wholesale revision of farm practices and contracts will start all over again.

The House Agriculture Committee recently convened a hearing on Prop 12, and I had the opportunity to testify about why a patchwork of Prop 12-style laws are an existential threat to our livelihood. As the vice president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and a farmer with Prop 12-compliant barns, I stressed to the committee that my operation, even with our ability to produce for California’s retail market, is at risk if other states make additional, conflicting demands on producers.

Two bills that would bring immediate certainty to the industry have been introduced in Congress. The “Food Security and Farm Protection Act”—introduced by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Roger Marshall (R-KS)—and Rep. Ashley Hinson’s (R-IA) “Save our Bacon Act” both seek to prohibit state or local government interference with commerce and agricultural practices outside their jurisdiction. Passing either of these bills on their own, or incorporating them into a “Farm Bill 2.0,” would protect producers from a potential 50-state patchwork of conflicting laws.

Regardless of the legislative approach Congress selects, bipartisan support remains key to getting a Prop 12 fix across the finish line. It is notable that both the committee chairman and ranking member voiced concerns regarding the impact of Prop 12 during the hearing. Additionally, the continued efforts by President Trump’s team, following those initiated by the Biden administration, demonstrates a sustained commitment from the White House, regardless of party in power, to provide market stability for pork producers.

Congress has the authority to pass legislation to fix a patchwork of state laws like Prop 12. NPPC will continue to work with members on both sides of the aisle to find a solution that creates certainty for producers by preventing additional states from moving the goal posts.

Pat Hord is an Ohio pork producer and serves as vice president of the National Pork Producers Council.

The Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture: Today’s Sow is Changing Everything

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:22:15 GMT

She’s resilient under pressure. She’s prolific. She’s efficient. Today’s sow is pretty incredible and arguably one of the most valuable investments on your farm.

“Today’s sow is a true testament to the power of genetic improvement,” says Erin Brenneman, a day one farrowing specialist and education and event coordinator at Brenneman Pork. “Over the past few decades, focused selection for key maternal traits such as prolificacy, uniformity and piglet viability has transformed the modern sow into one of the most efficient and productive animals in agriculture. She is a cornerstone of modern agriculture, driving performance from farrowing to finish with consistency and power.”

Brenneman says the consistency of today’s sow has made a big difference in the industry and is a great improvement over years past.

“Production systems today are running in warp speed — with staffing issues, aging facilities, changes in legislation and standard operating procedures (SOPs),” adds Amanda Uitermarkt, USA technical director for JYGA Technologies. “Our sows have continued to show us they can produce well under a very wide variety of conditions. With the many advances in technologies and precision, we are more closely dialing in requirements of sows, minimizing wastage and improving productivity.”

The prolificacy of today’s sow is noteworthy. Just 25 years ago, Joe Popplewell, manager of POD Business for The Pork Group, Pork Division, remembers talking about 30 pigs per sow per year as something that may never happen, even though it was discussed.

“The top farms in the world today are doing 35+ pigs per sow per year,” Popplewell says.

Kevin Stuckey, sow division manager for Cooper Farms in Oakwood, Ohio, says the efficiency of today’s sow stands out to him as one of her superpowers.

“She has the capacity to produce these large litters of heavy pigs with less feed than was needed only a few years ago,” Stuckey adds.

Stuckey joins along with Uitermarkt, Popplewell and Jeremy Robertson, head of live production at Brenneman Pork, to discuss challenges and opportunities surrounding the modern sow.

What is the biggest challenge facing the U.S. sow herd today?
Popplewell: Herd health and keeping a solid workforce intact are the biggest challenges facing the U.S. sow herd. Keeping disease out of our sow herds is critical to stay in business. Costs continue to increase (insurance, utilities, labor, etc.) and subsequent margins continue to shrink. So, staying healthy and having a high level of production is critical for success.

Robertson: The pace of genetic improvement with changing health challenges is creating a difficult evolving landscape. Efficiency-driven swine genetics are moving at record speeds outpacing current nutrition, rearing and caregiving practices. Today’s sow herd is seeing record numbers of total born pigs driving demand on sows, nutrition and staffing to raise these large litters while improving loss. Imposing health challenges along with the demand on the herd is impacting throughput within the wean-to-finish phases.

Stuckey: At the barn level, it’s keeping our herds healthy. Compromised health is such a limiting factor to production. At the industry level, it’s securing enough demand for the quantity of pigs we can produce.

Uitermarkt: Survivability. We are losing too many sows (and gilts) too early in life. We are missing key steps in the gilt growth and management process that inhibits their long-term retention in the herd.

What is one of the best sow management tips you could offer another producer?
Popplewell: Invest in the best people and best biosecurity you can afford. Genetic companies have made sows prolific, so if we keep them healthy and can manage them, the rest of it is detail.

Robertson: Show up at the slat level. What does this mean? Regardless of the system, everything comes back to the owner of the pig. Understand the moving pieces of your business, understand your production numbers and, importantly, costs. Be your own best advocate continuously learning how to innovate and adapt.

Stuckey: Take care of the sow and she’ll do a lot of the pig raising for you.

Uitermarkt: Use data to make educated decisions but never stop teaching and emphasizing animal husbandry. All the data in the world can’t help our sows when we miss all the clinical signs when she’s having problems. In some cases, we have dialed in too well on tasks and goals, and we miss caring for animals as individuals. Take time to look at water nipples and make sure they have been used recently. Be observant to an off-feed sow breathing heavily at two days post-farrow. Walk pens daily and try and catch early-onset of lameness before she has to be removed from the pen.

Why does sow care need to be emphasized now more than ever?
Popplewell: Because of her prolificacy, she must have excellent care. My farm pickup is very dependable, requires little care and gets me from point A to point B, but it does it slowly, deliberately and without much comfort. A high-end sports car will get me there much faster and has a lot of cool gadgets, but I have to make sure it’s tuned up regularly or it won’t perform at that level.

Robertson: Topics such as nutrition, caregiving practices, housing demands and oxidative stress, combined with herd health, have evolved with genetic improvement and the sheer amounts of requirements from today’s genetic lines. We are seeing higher productivity from sows in a short time demanding daily care that does not allow sows to have a bad day. There are too many areas of modern sow production that have not evolved at the same pace, leaving more questions than answers. The one thing we do know is the best sow care can provide the best recipe setting the sow up for success — regardless of the demand of her production phase.

Stuckey: Today’s sow is so efficient and high performing that the gap between success and struggle has narrowed. Systems like Prop 12 can add to that challenge.

Uitermarkt: Our staff on farms are further removed from practicing animal husbandry, and the ratio of animals to staff is always pushed. Utilize tools and technologies that will allow you to spread more skilled labor over more sows. Let technologies and reports assist you in focusing on the animals that need assistance.

What’s something we need to talk more about when it comes to the modern sow?
Popplewell: There was a book called “Stockmanship” by Peter English, Gethyn Burgess, Ricardo Segundo and John Dunne. On the first page inside the book, it has a graphic labeled, “The Forgotten Pillar.” At the top is animal production. The pillars are genetics, management, nutrition, administration, housing and health. On the corner is a stockman in coveralls and boots holding up the corner of the building. I think that needs to be talked about more. SOPs are critical, particularly in large systems. Things need to be repeatable. I guarantee the people raising 35+ pigs per sow per year are following SOPs but are also practicing excellent stockmanship. I believe that is what differentiates excellent from good.

Robertson: Lactation is one of the most demanding phases of a sow’s life. Her body is under tremendous stress as she transitions from giving birth to feeding a large, hungry litter. How she’s supported during this time directly impacts not only the health of her piglets, but also her own ability to stay healthy, maintain condition and ultimately rebreed. If we neglect this phase, we compromise her lifetime productivity.

Stuckey: Training and making sure our people know the “why” of what we do. Making sure they are engaged.

Uitermarkt: Sows are biological animals with inherent variation. We’ve created SOPs with the assumption all sows will respond the same to feeding levels, treatment protocols and farrowing techniques. We can better educate that the variation within sow herds exists, and better benchmarking on individual animals and herd variation can assist us in providing better sow care.