Water-Based Foam Shows Promise as a Method for Swine Depopulation

Mar 27, 2023

Perhaps one of the most valuable lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that preparing for emergencies is very important when it comes to both human and animal health, says Jack Korényi-Both, a DVM candidate in The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and winner of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Top Student Presenter Award at the 2023 AASV annual meeting.

“In the case of emergencies (e.g., zoonotic diseases, environmental disasters, pandemics, etc.), animal depopulation may be needed to stop disease from spreading as soon as possible. However, the methods currently available for depopulation bring important challenges when considering animal welfare, logistics, equipment, and human mental health; and research in the topic of animal depopulation is largely lacking,” Korényi-Both explains.

Ohio State’s Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine has been trying to fill knowledge gaps regarding swine depopulation. Korényi-Both set out on a mission to do exactly that with a focus on better understanding he use of water-based foam for depopulation of swine.

Click here to see more...

Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.