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Control sow health challenges with a practical option

In an industry where health challenges can determine the difference between profitability and loss, why not use a treatment that is effective against important pathogens and is administered efficiently?

Sows are the bedrock of the pork supply chain, and their longevity directly affects a farm’s ability to stay in business. However, the pathogens that cause both swine respiratory disease and porcine proliferative enteritis taunt pork producers.

“Illness in a sow isn’t a matter of getting her recovered to perform for a few months; it’s a matter of her being able to perform for years. So, if she does fall ill with SRD or ileitis, it’s crucial to get her treated as soon as possible before lung or intestinal lesions can form,” says Pharmgate Technical Service Veterinarian Jeff Okones.

Using a water-soluble antibiotic is just the way to do it, he says.

Why water?
Antibiotics administered via water are beneficial due to their speed, flexibility and effectiveness, says Okones.

Water-soluble medications answer the call effectively and efficiently because one person can provide relief to an entire barn and one medication can quickly combat targeted pathogens.

Antibiotics delivered via water as a route of administration have increased by 4% from 2011 to 2020. In 2020, water as a ROA represented 30% of antibiotic administration.[1]

“Most sows will continue to drink water after they have stopped eating, so using water-soluble antibiotics can provide rapid relief for multiple pathogens,” says Okones. “Even healthy pigs consume twice as much water as feed, making water the ideal channel for delivering antibiotics.”

Luke Strehle, veterinarian at Nebraska Vet Services, reaches for Aivlosin Water Soluble Granules (62.5% w/w/ Tylvalosin as Tylvalosin Tartrate) because of its fast-acting relief.

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EveryPig: AI, Collaboration & Data Integration Shaping Swine Production | Brian Doyle | WPX 2026

Video: EveryPig: AI, Collaboration & Data Integration Shaping Swine Production | Brian Doyle | WPX 2026

What are the biggest technology trends emerging at the 2026 World Pork Expo?

Brian Doyle of EveryPig shares his early observations from the show floor, highlighting strong attendance, increased collaboration between technology providers, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern pork production.

Doyle discusses how better data integration between systems can create a single source of truth for producers, while AI-powered tools and intelligent agents help automate routine tasks, analyze large volumes of production data, and turn information into actionable insights that improve decision-making.

Topics Covered:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pork production

Data integration and interoperability

Technology collaboration

Digital farm management

Automation and intelligent agents

World Pork Expo 2026

Recorded at the 2026 World Pork Expo.