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This month, we congratulate Doc Tim for being the recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Pork Board Distinguished Service Award and we discuss the importance of record keeping for the swine industry.

SVC Newsletter – February 2021

Tim Loula, DVM earns MN Pork Board Distinguished Service Award

It is with great honor that we at Swine Vet Center get to congratulate Dr. Tim Loula for being the recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Pork Board Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond to ensure the success of pig farming and pork production in Minnesota.

Dr. Loula, or “Doc Tim” as he is known by the many he has mentored, grew up in Northfield, MN and spent summers helping out on his cousin’s dairy farm. He also spent time riding around with a general practice veterinarian which allowed him to experience firsthand the life of a livestock veterinarian. Loula attended the University of Minnesota Veterinary College and while there, traveled to farms and meetings with Dr. Al Leman. It was there his passion for pigs led him to become a swine practitioner. It was also during his time at the University that he met his wife and #1 supporter of 40+ years, Ruth.

After graduation in 1978, Dr. Loula began working at the Nicollet Vet Clinic in Nicollet, Minnesota, where his focal point was on the swine portion of that mixed animal practice. It was there that Loula saw opportunities to improve the swine industry with new ideas for that time, such as multisite production, raising pigs indoors and using modern European genetics. Swine became his true focus when he partnered with Dr. Paul Yeske and started Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minnesota, a practice devoted exclusively to the swine industry, that has now grown to 14 veterinarians serving clients all over the Midwest.
Whether standing in front of a crowd of distinguished professionals and colleagues at leading industry meetings, or behind a farrowing crate teaching a new employee how to split suckle, Loula has always been a great teacher and communicator.

Tim has a voracious appetite for learning and keeps up to date with the swine industry, but his interest doesn’t stop with pigs. He also stays abreast with what’s new in the rest of the world, and with this knowledge and dedication he has been able to help implement new and innovative ideas for individual systems and the industry as a whole. Being in the “top 10%” and “move the carrot” are things most of us have often heard him say— and it’s been the way he has been able to keep himself and his clients continually moving forward, never satisfied with the status quo.

Dr. Tim Loula, the 2021 Distinguished Service award winner, is a tireless leader who has helped to shape the swine industry into what it is today. His contributions to Minnesota as well as the rest of the country have benefitted pig farmers, veterinarians and researchers alike, helping to feed the world with safe, delicious and nutritious pork!

The Importance of Record Keeping

There’s a line in a movie that goes something like “If nobody sees it, it didn’t happen.” Well, the same could apply to records. If nobody records it, it didn’t happen and eventually inaccuracies are going to catch up with you and your herd.

Good records have been the cornerstone to many of the improvements made in the swine industry over the last decades. Many important decisions like breeding targets, farrowing targets, culling, veterinary/treatment decisions, gilt acquisition, pig flows and others are all dependent on accurate records.

The following are suggestions for making your records more accurate and useful.

Record right away — It’s important to record data right away. Relying on memory and telling yourself you’ll take care of it later is a big reason for inaccurate records. The industry is moving more and more towards pen side electronic record with either QR (Quick Response code) readers or RFID (Radio-frequency identification) tag readers. This is to ensure records are recorded right away and you have the most up to date decisions being made.

Necropsies are important — When deciding on death reasons, getting to the bottom of the case will always improve the accuracy of the mortality reason.

Keep it simple — Too many options when it comes to death reasons can lead to confusion and guessing. Keeping a simple list of the main death reasons will make it easier and more accurate.

Notes to self and others —Not all records need to make it to the computer. There are many things that should be written down as a way of communicating to others and yourself, special things that might be happening to a room/barn. High-low temperatures, whole litter treatments, sows that are actively farrowing, reminders you need to do something later or even a warning sign on a crabby sow to keep your coworkers safe. These are all important messages that make your barns more efficient.

Separate sow deaths from euthanasia deaths—This becomes important information when considering the timing of the cull truck and different accommodations could be considered if too many animals are euthanized vs being put on the cull truck.

White boards—White boards can tell you at a glance how you’re doing and can be a quick and handy way for everyone at your barn to see how things are going. Progressive producers are switching to TV’s in the breakroom with up to date information on all key performance indicators.

Training staff on records—It is not only important to show everybody how to record all aspects of our production but to teach them the reasons behind the information so they understand it. Explaining that mortality reasons will have an impact on vaccinations, medication in feed and how we flow our pigs will give everybody more reasons to record accurate information.

Erysipelas and ileitis vaccine reminder

After the record cold temperatures we’ve had this chilly February, it’s a nice break to think ahead to the vaccinations your pigs will need to protect them from summertime diseases. Your Swine Vet Center veterinarian would be happy to develop a vaccination plan to keep your hogs safe.

 


 

SVC Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

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PHT+ NEWS FEEDwhat is this?

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,

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.

Why monitor swine herds for PCV2?

TOOLBOX, Issue 23: Noel Garbes DVM, senior technical services veterinarian, Zoetis, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about monitoring swine herds for PCV2.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What’s in a name? Understanding how flu viruses are identified can help fine-tune swine vaccine strategies

By Micah Jansen, DVM, Veterinary Manager, US Pork, Zoetis

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.

Scientific foundation explains efficacy of Excede® for Swine against SRD pathogens

DISCOVERIES, Issue 22: A robust body of research explains the efficacy of Excede® for Swine (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) against four of the bacterial pathogens associated with swine respiratory disease.

Individual sow care offers benefits throughout the farm

Pig health and performance begin with the sow, which is why it’s critical for caregivers and production managers to evaluate each sow’s health, body condition, comfort, behavior and well-being as part of their daily routine. “By training workers, we can help them reduce sow mortality rates and culls, improve sow performance, stabilize the health status […]

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.

Herd-status classification is first step to Mycoplasma control

By Lucina Galina Pantoja, DVM, PhD, Director, US Pork Technical Services, Zoetis

Negotiating extra label drug use rules

TOOLBOX, Issue 21: Rick Swalla, DVM, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about regulations concerning extra label drug use.

Mix it up: Resuspension times for injectable antibiotics can vary widely

DISCOVERIES, Issue 24: An analysis of three similar injectable antibiotics used for swine respiratory disease pathogens demonstrates that resuspension times can differ substantially.

Torremorell: Proven benefits of influenza vaccination

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.

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.

Ct values predict PRRS nursery mortality, can guide vaccination decisions

DISCOVERIES, Issue 18: Obtaining cycle threshold (Ct) values based on processing fluids provides a practical way to identify neonatal pigs at risk for nursery mortality associated with PRRS and can help determine when vaccination is worthwhile.

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.

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.

High prevalence of PCV2 recombinants highlights importance of broad vaccine coverage

DISCOVERIES, Issue 21: A recent analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genetic sequences shows that up to 25% of field strains are recombinants of diverse genotypes, highlighting the importance of broad protection when selecting a PCV2 vaccine.

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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.

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Fostera® PRRS protects against diverse PRRS virus field strains

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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.

Neonatal pigs with low levels of viremia may benefit from PRRS vaccination

TOOLBOX, Issue 19: An interview with
Jose Angulo, DVM,
PRRS Specialist,
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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.

Rate of PCV2 recombination not widely recognized

TOOLBOX, Issue 16: An interview with Meggan Bandrick, DVM, PhD Associate Director, Global Biologics Research, 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.

Watch your Strep: Keep your guard up for this evolving bacterium

Few things remain the same for long on a hog farm. By the very nature of today’s production system, pigs are continuously moving on or off a site. One thing that remains constant is Strep suis.

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.

Comparing PCV2 gilt vaccination protocols and progeny status

Porcine circovirus type 2 is the principal etiological agent of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), which can cost producers an estimated $3 to $4 per pig.

Automatic foggers fall short in disinfecting hog-farm supplies

Preventing fomites from carrying pathogens into hog farms is a daily biosecurity priority, but how effective are typical disinfection protocols?

Gebhart: Cracking the Strep suis code

Streptococcus suis (Strep suis) is becoming more prevalent and more complex in US swine herds. The coccoid-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium is also a zoonotic disease, capable of transmission from pigs to humans.

Study compares PRRSV antibody-sampling options for sows

When it comes to porcine reproductive and respiratory virus it’s important for the veterinarian and farm personnel to know the health status of a herd or barn.

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St. Peter, MN 56082

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