New Biosecurity Resource Helps Producers Protect Pigs

Jul 08, 2022

The estimated economic impact over 10 years is $50 billion if African swine fever finds its way into the United States, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

swine

And the threat is not limited to foreign animal diseases. High costs from endemic diseases, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, also plague health and productivity on U.S. swine farms.

Developing a biosecurity plan and training farm employees on biosecurity practices are necessary steps to prevent high-consequence pathogens like these from entering and affecting swine farms. Now a “one-stop-shop” for the information and resources pork producers need for their on-farm biosecurity program can be found at a website created at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

“They say ‘what you don’t coach, you condone,’ and biosecurity is certainly not something the swine industry can afford to condone,” said Dr. Isha Agrawal, a doctoral student in the lab of Dr. Csaba Varga who led the development of the website.

The new Swine Biosecurity website features:

Dos and Don’ts of swine biosecurity
Six modules that explain swine health and biosecurity topics
Quizzes
Downloadable infographics to help train and educate farm employees
Downloadable signs to be posted on farms to identify bio-secure areas and other safety measures
More swine health and biosecurity resources for farmers

Source : illinois.edu

Video: CEOs of the Industry: John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems

CEOs of the Industry, Jim sits down with John McIntire, Partner at Pike Pig Systems, one of the most quietly impressive 26,000-sow operations in the U.S. John shares how he grew from operator to partner, how Pike built a people-first culture with long-tenured managers, and why they’re committed to weaning bigger, stronger pigs at 25+ days.

John breaks down how Pike stays efficient in a tough economic environment, the power of their shareholder-owned farm model, and how their work with PIC and a 240-head boar facility drives genetics and health outcomes. He also opens up about the innovations Pike adopts — and how they decide what’s truly valuable versus industry hype.

From Prop 12 and labor challenges to trade, consumer expectations, and sustainability, John chooses a hot-button issue and shares how Pike is preparing for the future. The episode closes with a rapid-fire “Fast Five” — mindset, leadership, daily habits, and three words that define Pike Pig Systems in 2025.

If you want a look inside a people-driven, purpose-driven, quietly elite pork system, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.