Last week a game-changer was announced that could quite possibly reinvent the pork industry. Dr. Randy Prather, Professor of Animal Science at the University of Missouri and Director of the National Swine Resource and Research Center, has spent over a decade putting the pieces together to finally provide an answer to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus. The results … Read More
Breakthrough Tech Tackles Pig Disease PRRS
A team of researchers at the University of Missouri and global agricultural biotechnology company Genus and Kansas State University have developed pigs that are resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (“PRRSv”). The production of PRRSv resistant pigs is a significant breakthrough in combating this devastating porcine disease, and Genus is excited to be progressing the development of this … Read More
Swine Health Info Center Tackles Emerging Diseases
The Swine Health Information Center is funded by the National Pork Board with checkoff money and is devoted to swine diseases circulating internationally and emerging diseases in the United States, targeting research on those diseases, and fostering producer to producer communications. During the recent NAFB Trade Talk, I spoke with Dr. Paul Sundberg, Executive Director for the center to learn … Read More
BIVI Talks Swine Health at #NAFB15
Dr. Eduardo Fano the Technical Manager Americas for Swine Marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim recently attended the National Association of Farm Broadcasters and made time to talk with Jamie Johansen. With a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Fano’s work has focused on respiratory deceases in hogs. When asked about the greatest challenge facing pork production Dr. Fano stated Porcine Respiratory … Read More
New Online Quiz Tests Antibiotic Knowledge
As part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, The Center for Accountability in Science has developed a new quiz to help educate consumers about antibiotic use in people and animals. The quiz was created following a survey by the World Health Organization (WHO); the results of the survey show that most individuals know very little about antibiotics and how they should … Read More
NFU Opposes Namibian Beef Imports
Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union (NFU), has urged the Obama administration to oppose a proposed rule that would make Namibia eligible to export meat to the United States. The opposition is due to a recent outbreak of Foot-And-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Southern African nation. “The fear over FMD is warranted,” said Johnson in comments submitted to … Read More
Zoetis Releases Equine Leptospirosis Vaccine
Zoetis announced the introduction of an exciting new vaccine this week. Lepto EQ Innovator is the first and only vaccine licensed for use in horses to aid in the prevention of leptospirosis caused by Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona, known as L. pomona. Equine leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by members of the Leptospira species of bacteria. Leptospira interrogans … Read More
Swine Health Series Focuses on Influenza
The latest At The Meeting (ATM) audio program with moderator Bob Morrison, DVM, PhD, provides listeners with a review and discussion of the influenza virus, an ever-evolving threat facing swine producers. The Swinecast series includes information on how the virus is identified, effective sampling and vaccination protocols used to protect against it, and also features disease, research and practical producers … Read More
Bayer Releases Antibiotic-free BRD Treatment
Bayer Healthcare has formally launched a product that will be very exciting for dairy producers across the country: the product is Zelnate, the latest non-antibiotic innovation to help treat Bovine Respiratory Disease(BRD) due to Mannheimia haemolytica. The DNA Immunostimulant is not a vaccine or an antibiotic, though it will work well as a supplement to those products. Zelnate is the … Read More
Swine Health Information Center Launches Website
For swine producers finding the latest information on diseases in the U.S. just got a little easier. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has created a website to make getting information about emerging issues that threaten swine herds. The site, www.swinehealth.org, will help veterinarians, pork producers, researchers and others with an interest in the health of pigs stay abreast of … Read More