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Secure Pork Supply Plan / New PQA Plus 4.0 / Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome

SVC Newsletter – June 2019

Secure Pork Supply Plan

With the recent outbreaks and spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Europe and Asia there has been heightened attention to biosecurity in the U.S. pork industry. Efforts are being made on an industry level to reduce risk to our industry from international travelers and feed ingredients being brought into the U.S.

ASF is a double-edged sword for the U. S. industry. It is creating tremendous (potential) market opportunities for U. S. pork. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork. With estimates of at least 9 million sows lost in China (~1.5X the U.S. industry’s entire sow population), there will continue to be a hole in their domestic production for a long time to come. And reports would indicate that they are going to have a difficult time rebuilding their industry. The down side to ASF is that if the U.S. would get it, our exports would stop immediately. This would obviously be devastating for pork prices. And if the virus is detected in the U.S. , all pig movements would be stopped for at least 72 hours while officials work to determine the extent of the infection.

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This is where the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan comes into play. The SPS plan is essentially a detailed biosecurity plan for each of your production sites that you create with your veterinarian and submit to the Board of Animal Health for approval. It does take some time but would be well worth it in the case of an emergency shutdown since SPS herds will be the first allowed to resume normal operations. More information about SPS and also foreign animal diseases can be found at the following website or you can contact your SVC Veterinarian.


New PQA Plus 4.0

SVC veterinarians were recently certified as trainers of the new PQA Plus 4.0 program. Starting in June of 2019 this new version of the PQA program will be used for both individual certifications and site assessments.

The individual certification and site assessment both need to be renewed every 3 years. The biggest change with the new program is the individual certification process. This now involves watching 90 minutes of interactive videos with your trainer so make sure to allow for enough time when planning to re-certify. There are different video options for people being certified for the 1st time and people that are going through a re-certification.

Technically the PQA program is still a voluntary program but all major packers require suppliers to be certified and sites to be assessed.


Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS)

Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS) causes sudden death in finishing barns.

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The cause is not known for sure but an overgrowth of a Clostridium bacteria is one possible cause. Even high health flows of pigs are susceptible to this syndrome. Normally it is a large, healthy pig that is found dead from HBS making it a very frustrating and expensive problem. Some genetic lines appear to be more suscep-tible to HBS. Many different nutritional and management strategies have been tried to prevent HBS deads, including:

  • Fiber is generally a good thing for a healthy gut and HBS is no exception. Some research would indicate that maintaining fiber in finishing diets will reduce HBS deads. DDGs are the most common source of fiber but in some cases other options need to be investigated.
  • Disruptions in feed intake appear to lead to more HBS deads. This could be from feed outages, health challenges, or temperature/weather stress.
      • Stir fans and misters in finishing barns help keep pigs cool during hot weather which can lead to better average daily gain and fewer HBS deads.
      • There are barns where all of the HBS deads occur at the curtain end of the barn which would suggest that pigs that are not comfortable don’t eat consistently.
      • Some would also recommend running feeders a bit looser to ensure consistent feed intake.
      • Overstocking can also restrict feed intake.
  • Different feed medication programs have been tried to control this issue with results that have not been consistent.
  • Water treatments may help alter the microbes in the gut when an outbreak of HBS deads happens in a barn. Things such as apple cider vinegar, bleach, and antibiotics have been tried.

 


Congratulations Dr. Chris and Brooke Sievers!

Swine Vet Center extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Chris and Brooke Sievers on the birth of their son. Gavin Christopher arrived on June 16 at 5:26 a.m. (What a wonderful Father’s Day gift!) Gavin weighed in at 7lbs, 7oz. Both baby and mom are doing great.

Swine Vet Center wishes Dr. Chris and Brooke much joy and happiness in this new chapter in their lives!

 

 

No portion of this newsletter may be used/copied without written consent of Swine Vet Center

PHT+ NEWS FEEDwhat is this?

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: Essential nutrient often overlooked in pigs

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.

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.

Fostera® PRRS protects against diverse PRRS virus field strains

DISCOVERIES, Issue 19: PRRS has been described as one of the most important swine diseases of the last half-century. An estimated 20% to 25% of herds are still affected, and the syndrome remains the US swine industry’s most costly disease.

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.

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

TOOLBOX, Issue 19: An interview with
Jose Angulo, DVM,
PRRS Specialist,
Managing Veterinarian,
Zoetis 

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.

German researchers: Pigs, poultry not susceptible to COVID-19

Scientists in Germany have confirmed that pigs and chickens are not susceptible to COVID-19.

How stress hammers a pig’s intestinal system

Experts say some forms of sustained stress can weaken a pig’s immune system and make it more vulnerable to disease and performance losses.

Swine dysentery makes an unwelcome comeback

Just when US pork producers thought swine dysentery was a problem of the past, it has re-emerged for an unwelcome encore in a slightly different form.

Moving biosecurity from the farm to the feed mill

An effective biosecurity strategy is not a stagnant process. It is continuously influenced by changes in pig-flows, disease pressures, virus evolution, emerging health issues and more.

Ellis: No magic bullet to reduce pre-wean mortality

Pre-wean mortality has increased over the last 15 years, and it’s a major concern for US pork producers and veterinarians.

Outmaneuvering PRRSV requires a better understanding of genetic diversity

PRRSV is constantly evolving, resulting in an extremely diverse virus with multiple lineages, but building a better understanding of that genetic diversity is the next step to making real progress against the disease.

Deen: Apply old lessons to new technologies

Classical education emphasizes the need for industries to adopt new technologies to keep up with external demands and constantly changing economic environments.

Pollmann: Make the most of your human capital

The US pork industry is challenging under the best of circumstances, with enough variables to make even astute, savvy businesspeople cautious. However, one of the biggest components of a successful, healthy operation is human capital.

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