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Prepare for African swine fever and PRRS

African swine fever is not a question of "if" but "when" it reaches U.S. soil, following its relentless spread across Europe and Asia. Compounding this threat is porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, with documented airborne transmission over miles from infected facilities. High-density swine barns rely on continuous mechanical ventilation for animal welfare, but these same systems create ideal conditions for rapid pathogen dissemination, undermining food security and risking billions in losses.

The airborne reality

Modern swine production systems are optimized for efficiency but inadvertently designed for pathogen dispersal. Powerful ventilation systems that ensure animal welfare also exchange massive air volumes capable of carrying aerosolized viruses far beyond facility perimeters. PRRS transmission over miles from infected operations proves this pathway is real, documented and dangerous. With ASF approaching, the vulnerability is acute and the window for defensive action is closing.

The economics are compelling

Here's what matters to your bottom line: projected ASF introduction costs reach $5-15 billion in the first year alone. PRRS pressures mount annually through production losses, medication costs and depopulation events. Meanwhile, proven engineering solutions for swine facilities run $100,000-$300,000 per medium operation. That retrofit cost is a fraction of projected losses, and the ROI is undeniable.

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Trending Video

What Happens When Pigs Adapt to High Soybean Meal Diets? - Gustavo Lima

Video: What Happens When Pigs Adapt to High Soybean Meal Diets? - Gustavo Lima



In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University, discusses how grow-finish pigs respond to high soybean meal diets. He explains the initial drop in feed intake, changes in backfat, later adaptation, energy efficiency, amino acid utilization, and the rise in nitrogen excretion at higher inclusion levels. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/...

“Once they got adapted to the diet, they can handle higher levels of inclusion of soybean meal.”

Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima / gustavo-lima-a9867127 is a PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University whose work focuses on swine nutrition, ingredient characterization, energy metabolism, caloric efficiency, and applied data analysis. With more than 15 years of experience in swine production across Latin America, Gustavo also brings expertise in environmental control, performance evaluation, barn ventilation, and grow-finish housing. Learn more from Gustavo Lima on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.