The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has announced plans to launch cattle and hog futures contracts by the end of 2026. ICE is one of the world’s largest exchange operators, owning the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and operating globally in futures, commodities and financial markets.
Read MoreCentral 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
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