PED Virus Cases Grow

Jul 18, 2013

U.S. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Cases Rise

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A new report issued by the National Pork Board says there were more than 330 confirmed cases of the pig virus – porcine epidemic diarrhea, spanning15 U.S. states, with the highest concentrations in Iowa and Oklahoma. This was last updated July 8. The first PED virus case was detected in May.

The virus isn’t new and has been discovered in many other countries, especially in China, South Korea, Japan and along with several European countries. It is classified as a production-related virus and is not considered a trade-restricting disease.

Hog producers should be vigilant if they see signs of illness in their pigs and notify their herd veterinarian imminently. Laboratory testing is the only way to determine if PED virus is present. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Swine Veterinarians, and the National Pork Board have been closely monitoring the disease and advising producers on ways to prevent the disease from spreading.

More information about PED and disease updates can be found on the American Association of Swine Veterinarians website.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.