As Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) spread rapidly throughout the swine producing areas after it was introduced to the United States last year, a key to controlling the disease has focused on how it is spread. At the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina last week, Bob Morrison with the University of Minnesota said they recently concluded … Read More
PED Diagnostics Update
The U.S. hog industry has learned a great deal about Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) since it was first discovered here in the spring of 2013 and producers got an update on that during the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica North Carolina Swine Health Seminar this week. Dr. Rodger Main, Director of Operations for the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, says … Read More
BIVI CEO Kissel Meets North Carolina Hog Producers
Dr. Albrecht Kissel moved from his native Germany to Missouri in 2011 to become the president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) and this year he had the chance to attend the company’s annual North Carolina Swine Health Seminar. Trained as a veterinarian, Kissel has been with BI since 1993 and he shared a little bit about BIVI and … Read More
Gesdate App Puts Herd in Your Hand
A new iPhone app called GESDATE for swine producers to digitally track breeding, gestation, farrowing dates, litters, vaccinations, and more. From conception to sale or harvest day, GESDATE moves swine operations to a new tier of herd organization and management, giving producers unprecedented real-time access to farm data, and introduces a remarkable farm staff collaboration tool. All of these features … Read More
Join the #RealPigFarming Conversation
The National Pork Board has launched a new campaign called #RealPigFarming, that uses major social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to educate the general public about the pork industry. Cindy Cunningham with the Pork Board explains that the campaign involves real pig farmers – from their barns, from their chores everyday, when they’re outside working. “They’re posting information about … Read More
Feeding for 30® Forum Focus on Sow Longevity
Sow longevity was the focus of the Feeding for 30® Forum at the recent World Pork Expo. This third annual forum was hosted by Purina Animal Nutrition, DSM Nutritional Products and Zinpro Corporation. During the forum, producers and industry representatives discussed the importance of a balanced herd parity structure, gilt development, nutrition and feeding, and management for achieving greater sow … Read More
USDA Approves VaxLiant Adjuvants for Vaccines
USDA has just approved six adjuvants from VaxLiant that can be added to vaccines to help improve the resulting immune response in cattle and swine. “What this means is that companies can bring new vaccines to market using a shorter timeline, since we already have conducted the research needed to confirm safety for these ENABL adjuvants,” says Steve Schram, VaxLiant … Read More
Researchers Study New Animal Deworming Agent
After two moderate doses of a bacteria-derived protein were fed to worm-infected swine in an experiment, all intestinal roundworm larvae in the swine were damaged or destroyed and the infection was nearly completely eliminated, according to U.S. Department of Agricultur (USDA) and University of California-San Diego scientists. The research team included microbiologist Joseph Urban and his colleagues at the USDA … Read More
Merck Adds to Swine Technical Services Team
Merck Animal Health announced that Mark Engle, D.V.M, MS, has joined the company as a senior technical services manager for the Swine Business Unit. Dr. Engle received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Iowa State University and his master of science from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Engle has worked in private practice and swine farm management, as well … Read More
USDA Approves First PEDv Vaccine
USDA this week granted the first conditional license for a vaccine against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) to Harrisvaccines of Ames, Iowa. The vaccine, utilizing Harrisvaccine’s SirraVaxSM RNA Particle Technology, had already been available by prescription only, but now the conditional approval allows it to be sold directly to swine producers battling PEDv. The vaccine is used on sows who … Read More