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Agriculture This Week: Farming always evolving

When you have grown up on a farm in the 1960s and ‘70s it is almost beyond belief the changes in farming we see today. 

It was a mixed farm for me, and that meant pigs and grain. 

In my youth I hauled a lot of ground grain to feed the pigs using cleaned five-gallon pails that originally were filled with some weed spray, or another. 

Looking back over some 40-years it seems like it was such a crazy thing, but repurposing the pails was pretty standard. I’m pretty sure potatoes came from the garden to the cellar bin in similar pails. 

Of course I clearly recall Dad taking plugged nozzles off the sprayer, his gloves getting soaked in the process, and then simply blowing out the nozzle with his breath. 

Knowing what we do now it’s a wonder what health problems were caused in a time we didn’t know better, or were reluctant to change. Dad lived to a considerable age, his heart giving out one day, but one wonders. 


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Genetic Resistance to Post-Weaning Diarrhea - Dr. Vahab Farzan

Video: Genetic Resistance to Post-Weaning Diarrhea - Dr. Vahab Farzan



In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Vahab Farzan from the University of Guelph explains why post-weaning diarrhea remains a major challenge for swine production. He discusses genetics, gut microorganisms, immunity, diagnostics, and targeted vaccination strategies to improve disease prevention. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Some pigs are genetically resistant to pathogenic E. coli because they lack the specific receptors required for bacterial attachment.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Vahab Farzan / vahab-farzan-b076445 is a Research Scientist, Adjunct Professor, and Associated Graduate Faculty at the University of Guelph. With a DVM, MSc, and PhD, Dr. Farzan's research focuses on infectious diseases in swine, including bacterial pathogens, gut microorganisms, epidemiology, and strategies to improve animal health. Learn more from Dr. Vahab Farzan on The Swine it Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.