Research Examining Stress Hormone Levels in Hair Expected to Interest Breeding Companies

Apr 10, 2023

An international research effort which is looking at the potential of measuring hormone levels in the hair of pigs to identify genetic lines that will be less affected by stress is expected to be of particular interest to breeding companies.
Researchers with Iowa State University, the Universities of Saskatchewan and Alberta and CDPQ are collaborating on a project under which the levels of three stress hormones in the hair of pigs are being measured to evaluate the effect of stress on performance and on disease resilience.
Dr. Jack Dekkers, a distinguished professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University and the Principal Investigator, says, by correlating the levels of stress hormones in the hair to growth performance and disease resilience, it should be possible to identify genetic lines of pigs that will be more or less affected by stress.

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Video: Sapovirus in Weaned Pigs with Diarrhea - Dr. Talita Resende

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Talita Resende, Assistant Professor and Food Animal Diagnostician at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, explains how sapovirus affects suckling and weaned pigs with diarrhea. She discusses PCR interpretation, rotavirus and E. coli coinfections, intestinal sampling, and in situ hybridization for clearer diagnostic decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

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"PCR by itself may not identify the main culprit in enteric coinfections, so combined diagnostic methods can clarify farm-level disease investigations."

Meet the guest: Dr. Talita Resende / talita-resende-01188234 is an Assistant Professor and Food Animal Diagnostician at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Her work focuses on swine diseases, veterinary diagnostics, pathology, teaching, research, and service, with previous roles at The Ohio State University and universities in Brazil. Learn more from Dr. Talita Resende on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.