Identification of Factors Linked to Age at First Farrowing
Selection of gilts based on a few selected characteristics would increase the proportion of gilts that farrow and reduce age at first farrowing, according to researchers from North Carolina State University and Newsham Choice Genetics.

Antimicrobial Bans Could Hit US Exports
Exports of US livestock and poultry products are important both to farmers and to the US economy, however, the US market share could be threatened by imposition of controls on the use of antimicrobials in feed.

Salmonella in Livestock Production in GB - 2009 - Feedingstuffs
his 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 'Salmonella in Feedingstuffs'.

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.

Meat Industry Faces a Squeezed Middle Market
The meat industry faces three separate challenges – increasing and maintaining margins, accommodating greater uncertainty in the business environment and responding to market segmentation, writes Chris Harris, ThePigSite Editor in Chief.

Management Influences on Birth Weight, Phase 2
This is a report based on the field survey which has been performed on farms. This is not a scientific report in the sense that all kinds of literature has been included and so conclusions should be drawn with care, write Chris T. Opschoor, Saskia Bloemhof,...

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.

Precision Pork Farming, Advocacy to Drive New Generation Pork Industry
The big market factors may be largely beyond their control, but pork producers can apply fresh thinking to build a stronger economic future. New precision farming approaches, using advocacy more effectively and dramatically modifying financing approaches...

Pit Foaming and Manure Gases
Douglas Richards, Swine Grower Finisher Specialist, warns about the potential dangers of dealing with liquid manure in confined spaces like barns or pump out ports in the December 2010 Pork News and Views newsletter from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,...

Keep It Calm in the AI Area
BPEX offers tips on the design and management of the artificial insemination area in the latest publication in its Two-Tonne Sow (2TS) campaign.

Illinois Study Confirms Glycerin as Feasible Feedstuff for Pigs
An increased interest in biofuel production and a growing need to find cost-effective livestock feedstuff alternatives has led University of Illinois researchers to further evaluate the use of glycerin in swine diets.

US Pork Outlook - January 2011
Commercial pork production is expected to be slightly higher in 2011 than last year, according to the latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook from the USDA's Economic Research Service.

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'.

Feed Outlook - January 2011
Feed grain production for 2010/11 is estimated at 330.0 million tons, down 2.2 million from last month, according to the latest report from the USDA Economic Research Service.

More Declines in US Market Pigs (January 2011)
By Chris Harris, Editor-in -Chief, ThePigSite. Our snapshot of the ongoing global pig industry trends as reported in January 2011 Whole Hog Brief. To read the full detailed analysis including all the commentary and graphical data, subscribe to...

Iodine Value and its Impact on Pork Quality
Joel DeRouchey, Mike Tokach, Steve Dritz, Bob Goodband and Jim Nelssen of Kansas State University explain how 'pork quality' may be quantified in terms of the iodine value of carcass fat. Their paper was presented at the Swine Profitability Conference...

United Kingdom Pig Meat Market Update - January 2011
James Park, senior economic analyst with AHDB Meat Services Economic and Policy Analysis Group, explains the latest trends in the UK and EU. The decline in prices continued in the UK during November but levelled off in December. The EU average pig reference...

TOPIGS Research: Flushing Sows Gives Higher Piglet Birthweight
In an extensive study on pig farms, TOPIGS investigated the most important management factors influencing piglet birthweight.

World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - January 2011
While US supplies of corn, wheat and soy are expected to be down this month, global supplies of wheat are up, although coarse grain supplies and soybean production globally are lower, according to the latest USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand...

BPEX Export Bulletin - January 2011: Week 1
The British Pig Executive's (BPEX) Export Bulletin for January 2011 reports pig industry trends from around the world.

Staph aureus Found Along Pork Production Chain
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified at all stages of the production chain, according to recently published research from Germany, with contamination rates highest in nasal swabs and lower on carcasses, meat at processing...

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...