Swine Health and Disease | diseases of swine, disease in swine, swine respiratory disease, PRRS, swine vesicular disease

Top Health Produces Consistent Throughput

Apr 15, 2008 - By John T. Waddell, DVM Sutton Veterinary Clinic Sutton, NE

Throughput, defined in terms of pork production, is the number of pigs or pounds of pork put through any given system, farm or facility. Efficiency of...

Variation: You Can Manage It, But You Can't Avoid It

Apr 15, 2008 - By John F. Patience Prairie Swine Centre Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Prior to the widespread adoption of all-in, all-out (AIAO) production systems, variation in growth was largely a cost. Pigs were sorted from pens when...

Economic Effects Of Variation

Apr 15, 2008 - By Brian Buhr Agricultural Economist University of Minnesota

In 1986, I had a hole-in-one at the Ames (IA) Country Club. As I was carrying on like a kid, my golf partner sat quietly in the golf cart. I thought maybe...

Porcine Circovirus Grows More Deadly

Mar 15, 2008 - By Joe Vansickle Senior Editor

Over time, the common virus has become noticeably more pathogenic. Circovirus, a virus that exists worldwide, has turned more dangerous as it has mutated...

Pork Checkoff Offers Monthly Porcine Circovirus Updates

Mar 15, 2008

Timely answers to questions about porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD) are available by simply clicking on the pork checkoff's new PCVAD Web...

Pleuropneumonia Remains Threat

Feb 15, 2008 - By Reed Leiting, DVM Worthington, MN

Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) is a respiratory pathogen of swine that remains a deadly threat. Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) is a bacterial...

Researchers Identify New Swine Flu Strain

Jan 15, 2008 - By Joe Vansickle Senior Editor

A team of scientists uncovers avian genes in swine influenza virus strain. Scientists in the United States collaborated in the discovery of a new strain...

Clearing Up the Confusion Over Pork Quality-Plus

Jan 15, 2008 - By Joe Vansickle Senior Editor

Fact sheet offers quick rundown of new industry program. Participation in the National Pork Board's Pork Quality Assurance-Plus (PQA-Plus) program, introduced...

USDA Unveils New Vision For Livestock ID Plan

Jan 15, 2008 - By Joe Vansickle Senior Editor

The new business plan provides a species-specific approach for each livestock group. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new business...