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Sow mortality records need an overhaul
The upward trendline of sow mortality needs to be addressed. But until farms have a clearer understanding of why a gilt or sow leaves the breeding herd, progress will be limited.
Herd-status classification is first step to Mycoplasma control
By Lucina Galina Pantoja, DVM, PhD, Director, US Pork Technical Services, Zoetis
Revised herd classifications expand the PRRS road map
The system used to classify breeding herds according to their PRRSV status has long helped swine veterinarians around the world to track the pathogen’s progress.
Understanding which farm factors drive Influenza infection
US producers and veterinarians have seen an influx of different types of influenza viruses in the last 10 to 15 years, and that is a major reason why influenza is more difficult to control.
Strep suis continuously challenges US herds
It’s not unrealistic to say that if you checked the nasal cavities or tonsils of any group of pigs, you would find Strep suis. It is on virtually every hog farm.
African swine fever, PRRS among hot topics at 2021 Leman Conference
Organizers are excited to hold the 2021 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in-person as well as virtually, on Sept. 18-21 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Novel machine-learning tool can predict PRRSV outbreaks and biosecurity effectiveness
In spite of advanced biosecurity protocols, the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) continues to plague global pork producers with unpredictable, seasonal outbreaks.
Early vaccination with Fostera® PRRS, long DOI can help stem PRRS losses in growers
DISCOVERIES, Issue 28: Vaccination as early as 1 day of age with Fostera® PRRS coupled with the vaccine’s long duration of immunity can help pork producers stem the significant economic losses in growing pigs caused by PRRS.
Water: An often-overlooked factor in pig health
Water doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it is abundant, easy to access and inexpensive, but that will change in the future, said John Patience, PhD, professor at Iowa State University.
Sow mortality trends: Experts dissect the current state of affairs
Keeping sow mortality rates in check is critical to a farm’s productivity and cost structure. Yet in recent years, the US pork industry has seen sow mortality rise.
3 steps to prepare your herd for influenza season
Pigs can contract influenza anytime during the year but more influenza circulates in the fall and winter months. That’s why producers should prepare ahead of the traditional flu season.
First-hand ASF experience offers lessons for US industry
Plan for the worst; hope for the best. That’s good advice for many situations but particularly accurate when it comes to African swine fever (ASF).
Forecasting swine disease outbreaks
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been working on a predictive model to forecast when a disease outbreak may occur on a farm.
Fostera® PRRS effective, lasting, safe despite ‘worst case’ challenges
DISCOVERIES, Issue 26: It’s well known that modified-live PRRS vaccines help reduce production losses in breeding herds with PRRS. But when the challenge is especially severe, how well and for how long will a PRRS vaccine perform?
Advances in sampling offer greater success in enteric disease control
Producers and veterinarians should “begin with the end in mind” when it comes to diagnosing disease and planning control strategies, according to Eric Burrough, DVM, PhD, associate professor and diagnostic pathologist at the Iowa State Diagnostic Laboratory.
Sundberg: Ramping up African swine fever preparedness and prevention
US producers have seen the devastating impact of African swine fever (ASF) in other countries. The ultimate goal is to keep it out of this country, so industry groups are ramping up preparedness and prevention protocols.
SRD pathogens remain highly susceptible to key antimicrobials
DISCOVERIES, Issue 25: Pathogens commonly associated with swine respiratory disease (SRD) remain highly susceptible to key veterinary antimicrobials,
Study sheds light on antimicrobial use in US wean-to-market pigs
The findings of a recent study show it’s feasible to obtain data on antimicrobial use while keeping information confidential.
Internal biosecurity essential to endemic disease control on pig farms
Establishing effective internal biosecurity protocols is critical to breaking the circular spread of influenza and other pathogens between sow farms and growing sites, according to Montserrat Torremorell, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota.
Performance — not serology or PCR — is best indicator of modified-live PRRS vaccine efficacy
TOOLBOX, Issue 24: Noel Garbes DVM, senior technical services veterinarian, Zoetis, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about measuring modified-live PRRS vaccine efficacy.
Rethinking colostrum management and piglet survivability
Colostrum is vital to piglet survival but managing intake may benefit from some fresh thinking, according to Kara Stewart, associate professor of animal science at Purdue University.
Processing fluids provide an option to monitor PCV2 and PCVAD
Effective PCV2 control relies on vaccination of healthy pigs before they become infected. This goal cannot be accomplished in unstable herds whose sows give birth to viremic pigs.
Highlights of flu-management strategies meeting now available
A special report from Pig Health Today, “Integrated Flu Management: New Strategies for Control,” reports on key presentations by experts in influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) and features highlights of a roundtable involving swine practitioners.
Rate of PCV2 recombination not widely recognized
TOOLBOX, Issue 16: An interview with Meggan Bandrick, DVM, PhD Associate Director, Global Biologics Research, Zoetis
Swine disease-outbreak investigations identify hazards and on-farm risk events
Biosecurity has become the all-inclusive protector of swine herd health. But even with all the biosecurity research, protocols and training, disease outbreaks occur regularly. Why is that?
Virus persistence challenges PRRS management strategies
Eliminating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from pigs might not yet be possible, but monitoring tools could help refine a herd’s PRRSV stability.
New PRRS 1-4-4 L1C variant presents dramatic symptoms, quick spread
A new variant of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 1-4-4 L1C strain is challenging veterinarians, diagnosticians and swine herds in the upper Midwest.
Mycoplasma elimination versus control: What course is best for your farm?
TOOLBOX, Issue 22: David A. Baumert, DVM, Senior Area Veterinarian, Pork Technical Services, Zoetis, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about Mycoplasma elimination vs control.
Deen: Batch farrowing requires ‘different mindset’
It appears batch farrowing is making a comeback, according to John Deen, DVM, PhD, distinguished global professor at the University of Minnesota.
Pigs with APP have less mortality, fewer lung lesions after treatment with Excede® for Swine compared to enrofloxacin
DISCOVERIES, Issue 20: Pigs with swine respiratory disease due to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae were treated with Excede® for Swine (ceftiofur crystallinefree acid) or enrofloxacin in a comparative challenge study.
Iowa scientists focused on diagnosing, managing Streptococcus suis in pigs
Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of S. suis.
Iowa scientist sees ‘a lot of genetic diversity’ in swine influenza viruses
According to research, swine influenza A viruses have become more complicated in recent years. There is a great deal of diversity within the influenza virus.
Three ways to assess your herd’s ‘positive welfare state’
The “Five Freedoms” have been the foundation for establishing sound animal welfare practices since they were developed in 1965. Now, more than 50 years later, researchers have additional tools and technologies to take that basic knowledge a step further.
Pork’s future relies on trust throughout the pork value chain
In the end, raising hogs is about producing pork, and continuous success depends on building customers’ trust, listening to expectations and meeting their needs.
Genetic diversity makes swine influenza a challenge for producers
Influenza A virus in swine is one of the primary respiratory pathogens challenging swine production systems in the US and around the world.
Decontamination protocols fail to disinfect incoming hog supplies
Biosecurity protocols are critical to keeping the US hog herd healthy, and one of the regular tasks is to disinfect a wide range of supplies entering the farm, but how effective are those protocols?
What they don’t tell you in veterinary school: Take care of yourself
A romanticized view of the veterinary profession, gleaned from sources like the famous Brit, James Herriot’s novel “All Creatures Great and Small,” doesn’t always mesh with the reality.
Pork industry makes progress on pain management
Pain management for pigs has always been a challenge, partly because it’s difficult to measure levels of pain and partly because there are no FDA-approved drugs labeled for pain management in pigs.
Can the processing-fluid toolbox expand beyond PRRS?
Piglet processing fluids have been shown to be a practical, time-efficient and affordable diagnostic tool for PRRS, and some indications suggest that PCV2 offers promise as well.
Take a process-driven approach to influenza control
US pork producers should strive to produce influenza-negative pigs if they want to see the benefits of increased productivity, reduced secondary infections and antibiotic use, reduced influenza dissemination, decreased influenza diversity and reduced risk of zoonotic infections.
Committing time, attention to pig’s first 24 hours key to health, uniformity
The farrowing room is a demanding place — one that needs to accommodate the divergent needs of a 500+-pound sow and her 10, 15 or 20 piglets weighing anywhere from 1.5 to 3 pounds.
COVID-19 impact on swine industry headlines 2020 virtual Leman Conference
COVID-19’s global-altering tentacles reached the 2020 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference scheduled Sept. 19-22. This year’s conference will be held virtually.
Researchers ‘look beyond the normal’ to identify emerging disease
The first case of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Strep. zoo) was identified in the US pig population last fall, and it’s not an organism to be taken lightly.
Addressing ‘unknown factors’ in sow mortality
Sow mortality has been on the rise in the US pork industry, reaching upwards of 15% in many sow-production systems, said Ashley Johnson, DVM, technical services veterinarian with Zoetis.
Swine Health Information Center: Preparing for emerging diseases
Whether the issue is an emerging disease such as porcine epidemic diarrhea or the threat of African swine fever, being prepared is key to minimizing the potential impact on the US swine herd and expediting the recovery.
Veterinarians, mind your mental health
Veterinarians deal with stress under the best circumstances. But in this time of difficult decisions for pork producers and those who service them due to COVID-19, maintaining mental health is even more of a concern.
Pen-side diagnostic comparisons for nursed-off sows and fallback pigs
For both the sow and piglet, an animal that does not perform to its potential or falls behind its counterparts will negatively impact the sow farm’s productivity and profitability.
Vaccine trial data versus lineage: What’s the best way to predict PRRS vaccine performance?
TOOLBOX, Issue 20: An interview with Eva Jablonski, DVM, PRRS Specialist, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis
Antimicrobial resistance causing few clinical problems in swine
Clinical problems in swine due to antimicrobial-resistant infections are rare. In fact, patterns of resistance in swine have been stable for a long time.
Comparing diagnostic sampling prospects from M. hyo-positive-source boar studs
Many sow farms have undergone M. hyo elimination within their breeding herd, which makes it critical to understand the potential transmission risk from boar studs.