Central America is becoming one of the strongest growth markets for U.S. pork.
Read MoreManure pumping and land application are operational necessities, but research confirms they represent one of the most critical disease transmission windows for swine herds. Pumping and application activities are significantly associated with an increased risk of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreaks, according to research led by Dr. Ana Paula Silva, a research scientist at Iowa State University. Starting in 2022, Dr. Silva evaluated the link between manure handling events and herd disease outbreaks. Her findings demonstrate that the risk is not just theoretical—it is measurable, acute and highest within a five-week window following pumping and application. The study revealed that manure pumping was associated with 3.38 times greater odds of PRRSV outbreaks within five weeks following a pumping event. While pumping alone does not cause an outbreak, it creates a convergence of biosecurity vulnerabilities, signif
Read MorePleasant early-autumn weather can create a false sense of security, but fall farming activities and temperature swings often signal disease challenges ahead. September diagnostic data showed the typical seasonal rise in viral respiratory and enteric diseases, including increased detections of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), active porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) variants, and seasonal influenza. “People are harvesting, moving site to site and pumping manure,” says Dr. Lisa Becton, executive director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). “We observe a lot of fluctuations in temperature, so seeing more activity in viral disease detections is something to definitely watch. Fall can be a signal of what we may see in the winter. “ Grow-finish and wean-to-harvest facilities continue to be the most vulnerable sector for pathogen transmission and persistence, Becton says. Pathogen-by-Pathogen Breakdown Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) “PED
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