Understanding the Latest Research on Feed Ingredients and Swine Biosecurity

09/23/22 • 22 min

The transmission of disease-causing pathogens via feed ingredients has garnered a tremendous amount of study in recent years. With the specter of African Swine Fever in the minds of every U.S. pork producer, understanding the survivability of viral pathogens in a variety of vectors is critically important to adequate biosecurity on hog farms.

Dr. Scott Dee is a veterinarian and research at Pipestone Applied Research. He and his colleagues have done as much or more study into the role feed ingredients play in virus transmission as anyone in the business. His most recent paper looked at a case study in which Senecavirus A was introduced into a historically-negative country via soybean meal imported from a positive country.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Dee about the findings from this case study, how they apply to U.S. swine biosecurity efforts, and what veterinarians and producers need to do more generally to achieve what he describes as “next-generation biosecurity”.

Topigs Norsvin’s approach of breeding pigs for enhanced, natural robustness to disease challenge is a viable solution for disease control. You can learn more about Topigs Norsvin and their natural breeding approach by visiting their website TopigsNorsvin.us.

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Selecting breeding stock for enhanced disease robustness

Breeding pigs for increased natural robustness to disease has become an important tool in the effort to raise healthier pigs in the modern swine production system. With a variety of disease pressures facing producers, using every tool in the toolbox is necessary to maintain profitability and strong animal welfare. One swine genetics company is focusing their research on ways to further enhance their pigs’ natural robustness.

Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger is a swine geneticist at Topigs Norsvin, where she’s spent the past four years applying her research to the genetic programs of one of the world's largest swine genetics companies. In this episode, Dunkelberger explains what she and her colleagues have learned about the role of genetics in managing swine diseases, and shares the results of some of her latest research into selecting for robustness to disease in the company’s breeding goal.

This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is sponsored by Topigs Norsvin. Swine genetics company Topigs Norsvin is renowned for its innovative approach to implementing new technologies and its continuous focus on cost-efficient and sustainable pig production. Research, innovation, and dissemination of genetic improvements are the cornerstones of the company. Topigs Norsvin’s approach of breeding pigs for enhanced, natural robustness to disease challenge is a viable solution for disease control. You can learn more about Topigs Norsvin and their natural breeding approach by visiting their website TopigsNorsvin.us.

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River levels complicate already complex set of challenges facing ag exports

Have you ever said the phrase, “If it isn’t one thing, it’s another?” Usually said in frustration while feeling like you're beset from all sides with challenges, it’s a phrase agricultural shippers are probably thinking lately, as the commodity logistics chain finds itself dealing with challenges related to ocean freight rates, container availability, possible rail strikes, not enough truck drivers, and now... not enough water in our inland rivers and waterways?

Several vulnerabilities in the supply chain were exposed during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and although the industry worked through many of those challenges with an impressive resiliency, there is little question that concerns remain. The availability of labor and the issues with ocean-going freight, for example, are still very much a challenge for the industry.

And now, due in no small part to the effects of climate change and erratic weather patterns, concerns have emerged about the volume of water in the U.S. inland waterway system, a system of rivers, locks and dams that have long been a competitive advantage for U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace.

In this episode we talk with Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, about the nature of the concern and what it means heading into harvest across the Midwest.