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Small Pests, Bigger Threats: Flies and Gnats Spread Swine Rotaviruses and Sapovirus

Annoying. Bothersome. Irritating. Inconvenience. Pest. No matter how you describe Musca domestica, aka the house fly, and its friend the gnat, one thing's for sure - they are a nuisance and pose a threat to your swine herd.

Everyone knows the small stature of flies and gnats and their ability to fly allows them to easily enter and exit barns and vehicles while bringing with them viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. For the first time ever, a study led by Allison Knox of the Walcott Veterinary Clinic in Walcott, Iowa, shows the ability of house flies and gnats to transmit rotavirus and sapovirus in swine nurseries.

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Inside the Barn: A Conversation with Scott Unke | World Pork Expo 2025

Video: Inside the Barn: A Conversation with Scott Unke | World Pork Expo 2025

At the 2025 World Pork Expo, Rachel Fishback sits down with Scott Unke from Ag Property Solutions (APS) for a grounded, producer-first conversation about barn design, innovation, and navigating aging infrastructure.

Scott shares how APS puts real on-farm needs first — not just what looks good on paper. He talks about balancing practical innovation with simplicity, avoiding tech overload, and making smart updates when full rebuilds aren’t feasible.