Guelph Trial Reveals Benefits of Two-Dose PCV2 Vaccination
A two-date vaccination protocol against porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) resulted in higher average daily gains, more pork sold and more money to the producer, according to Professor Cate Dewey of the University of Guelph. Jackie Linden, Senior Editor of The...

One Virus Gene May Explain Poor PRRS Vaccine Efficacy
The highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) in the field in China were revealed to be distantly related to vaccine strains in work at Lanzhou, which may explain the poor protection offered by some vaccines.

Mastitis, Metritis, Agalactia (MMA)
Mastitis, metritis and agalactia, commonly referred to as MMA, is a complex syndrome seen in sows shortly (12 hours to three days) after farrowing. The clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and control of MMA are described in Knowledge Transfer Bulletin...

Chlamydiaceae Infections in Pigs
Chlamydiaceae infections in breeding sows, boars and piglets occur more often than thought, according to a recently published review paper.

Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Outdoor Swine Production
Production systems that allow animals to have outdoor access could increase the risks of animals to be infected with T. gondii, warns Wayne Du, Pork Quality Assurance Program leader with the Ontario agriculture ministry in Pork News and Views...

Stomach Lesions Slightly Reduced by Feeding Cracked Corn
Feeding finishing pigs with cracked maize at a level of up to 40 per cent had no effect of growth rate but worsened feed conversion and dressing percentage without significantly reducing stomach lesions, according to research presented at last...

The Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines
Practical tips on administering medications orally, by injection and in the drinking water in a Health bulletin that is part of the BPEX 2TS campaign.

Vaccination for the Smaller Pig Population - Part 2
In the second of this two-part series, pig veterinarian, Mark White, advises on vaccine handling and application for a small pig herd as a Health Bulletin from NADIS.

South Korea's FMD Outbreak to Impact Global Pork and Grain Trade
The present foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Korea could mean greater demand for US pork products but lower demand for US corn into next year, according to a report from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

Antibiotics Improve Nursery Pig Performance and Profit
Adding antibiotics to the nursery diet improved pig performance and economic return, according to research presented at last year's Kansas Swine Day.

Taiwanese Study Gives Greater Understanding of App
The mechanisms underlying Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) exotoxin ApxI in cytokine induction have been investigated by researchers based in Taiwan.

Researchers Investigate Immune Responses to Respiratory Viruses
PRRS virus-induced immunosuppression exacerbates the inflammatory response to porcine respiratory coronavirus in pigs, according to new research from the state universities of Ohio and South Dakota.

Salmonella in Livestock Production in GB - 2009 - Pigs
This annual publication from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency provides data on Salmonella reports from livestock species in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). This article covers the chapter entitled 'Reports of Salmonella in Pigs'.

Analgesics in Farrowing and Castration
Preliminary data indicate no economic benefit from providing analgesia to sows at farrowing or to piglets at castration, writes Ed Barrie, Sow Weaner Pig Specialist at Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), reviewing research...

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Virulence May Be Linked to Iron Regulation
Researchers in Copenhagen have found by comparative analysis of gene expression of six different serotypes of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) that they could identify common core genes involved in iron regulation.

Pig and Cattle Diets to Control Salmonella
Researchers in Ireland's Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown and University College Dublin showed that manipulating diet can reduce the survival of Salmonella in pig faeces, but overall control of Salmonella in cattle and pigs requires additional measures....

UK Pig Disease Quarterly Surveillance Report: July to September 2010
In its latest quarterly report, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency highlights that beta-lactamase-resistant Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae has been isolated from a pig with pneumonia and that malignant catarrhal fever has been identified in...

Secondary Infection with Streptococcus suis Serotype 7 Increases Virulence of Highly Pathogenic PRRS
Highly Pathogenic PRRS virus (HP-PRRSV) infection increased susceptibility to S. suis serotype 7 (SS7) infection, and co-infection of HP-PRRSV with SS7 significantly increased the pathogenicity of SS7 to pigs, according to researchers in China....

Effects of Environmental Enrichment and Loose Housing of Lactating Sows on Piglet Performance
Enrichment of the pre- and post-weaning environment improves performance and health of newly weaned pigs, according to researchers in the Netherlands.

UK Pig Disease Quarterly Surveillance Report: April to June 2010
In its latest quarterly report, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency reports that pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus outbreaks continue to be diagnosed, often associated with Streptococcus suis infection in rearing pigs, and that there have been...

Vaccination for the Smaller Pig Population - Part 1
In the first of this two-part series, pig veterinarian, Mark White, describes the basic principles of vaccination in a small pig herd as a Health Bulletin from NADIS.

Study Confirms Need for Molecular Surveillance of Swine Flu Viruses
Swine influenza viruses isolated in 1983, 2002 and 2009 in Sweden exemplify different lineages and confirm the need for continued molecular surveillance according to researchers working in Sweden and Hungary.

Rodent Control in Livestock and Poultry Facilities
This Factsheet by Brian Lang from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) explains rat and mouse behaviour as a means for better rodent control.