National Pork Board’s David Pyburn, DVM, talked with Pig Health Today about two initiatives under way to help regulators grade the pork industry’s commitment to responsible antibiotic usage.

The post Pork industry teaming with NAHMS, FDA to score antibiotic use appeared first on Pig Health Today.

Every year, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) infects an estimated 25% to 45% of sow herds in the US, according to Clayton Johnson, DVM, Carthage Veterinary Clinic, Carthage, Illinois.

The post What’s the best PRRS strategy for your herd? appeared first on Pig Health Today.

The number of swine influenza cases as well as the diversity of circulating flu viruses have increased in the past several years, based on experience at Iowa State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, according to Phillip Gauger, DVM, associate professor at the university.

The post Understanding swine flu’s diversity key to better control programs appeared first on Pig Health Today.

Improving transportation biosecurity may be the last frontier the swine industry needs to conquer to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. According to Butch Baker, DVM, the spread of porcine circovirus type 2 was transport-related, and for years it’s been known that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus was likely transmitted in dirty trucks.

The post Want better biosecurity? Start with your pig trailers appeared first on Pig Health Today.

While audits are part of doing business, many pork producers still worry about going through the process. Amber Stricker, DVM, steps in to help clients prepare for or undergo an audit, which is typically the Common Swine Industry (CSI) audit.

The post Veterinarian offers tips for surviving a CSI audit appeared first on Pig Health Today.

When PEDV devastated the US hog industry in 2013, the Pipestone System remained fairly unscathed, with only a couple of farms experiencing outbreaks. Their luck changed in January 2014.

The post PEDV outbreaks prompt a ‘CSI Pipestone’ investigation appeared first on Pig Health Today.

Effective control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) has to start in the breeding herd to prevent problems with the disease in finishers, according to Lucina Galina, DVM, director of technical services, Zoetis.

The post M. hyo: Control or elimination? appeared first on Pig Health Today.

The updated VFD rules that took effect in January 2017 haven’t required a big adjustment for the swine industry, but they have furthered the trend toward reduced antibiotic use — and the result has been some consequential disease problems, according to Joe Connor, DVM, MS, president of Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD, Carthage, Illinois.

The post New VFD rules affecting disease management for swine appeared first on Pig Health Today.

It takes 3 to 4 weeks for pigs to develop immunity against PRRSV after vaccination with a modified-live vaccine, so vaccinating early gives them the time they need to develop immunity by nursery age, says Keith Aljets, DVM, Veterinary Medical Center, Williamsburg, Iowa.

The post Iowa veterinarian sees benefits to early PRRS vaccination appeared first on Pig Health Today.

Around 50% of pigs weaned today likely are infected with a primary viral pathogen, like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) or swine influenza, reported Cameron Schmitt, DVM, Pipestone Veterinary Services, Pipestone, Minnesota.

The post Opportunistic pathogens prey on newly weaned pigs infected with a primary virus appeared first on Pig Health Today.