May 2008
Swine Health

Porcine high fever disease outbreaks in Southeast Asia

Porcine high fever disease or PHFD syndrome has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality of swine herds in Southeast Asia.  The disease is of great interest to the U.S. pork industry since the associated high mortality and losses were first reported. The role of variant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus significantly increases the importance of gathering more data that helps researchers and producers better understand this virus. 

Recognizing the importance of this emerging issue, the Pork Checkoff’s swine health committee has discussed the urgency of understanding the etiology and epidemiology of PHFD and has maintained close communication with American and international researchers that have been monitoring the situation in the affected countries. In 2007, the Pork Checkoff sponsored a group of university and allied industry researchers to go on a fact-finding trip to China to learn more about the syndrome and its potential causes.  The swine health committee, on behalf of the pork industry, recognizes the need for research on this PRRS virus strain and the need to focus some of the industry’s swine health research priorities on the sequencing and overall characterization of the virus, the appropriate diagnosis of the variant strain of PRRS and its interactions with other co-infections.   It is imperative for the security of American swine herds to understand both the etiology and methods for control for PHFD. 

For more information regarding efforts to research PHFD syndrome and variant PRRS, please contact Dr. Lisa Becton at lbecton@pork.org.

May 2008
Animal Science

Pork Checkoff Develops Production Cost Factsheet

The Pork Checkoff has developed a factsheet to assist producers in this period of high feed and production costs. This list of “management tips” and resources were compiled by the Pork Checkoff to assist producers in identifying opportunities to increase efficiencies and reduce costs. 

This information was gathered from experts and producers across academia and industry and from many valuable industry based Web sites in the United States and Canada. These tips are not listed in any order of priority and implementation should be considered based on the needs of each individual operation. Included with many of the tips are links for additional information. These are by no means all-inclusive and there may be many other sources of information in addition to these we have identified in this document.

Many of these tips and many other suggestions for reducing feed costs and increasing efficiencies are available from sources including extension Web sites at many major universities. In addition, most of these tips are supported by fact sheets and references at the Pork Information Gateway: (PIG) at www.porkgateway.org and the Pork Checkoff’s Web site at www.pork.org. This document is available through the Pork Checkoff Web site by clicking on “Tips to Address High Feed and Production Costs”.

May 2008
Animal Science

Pork Checkoff Develops Alternative Feed Ingredients for Swine Rations

Increasing feed grain and supplement costs, along with the potential for feed grain inventories to be completely depleted due to increased demand, are significant issues for producers in the pork industry. Feed costs have historically represented 65 to 75 percent of the variable costs of swine production and are even more now for many producers. As a result, feed costs play a major role in determining the profitability of a swine enterprise.

While corn and soybean meal have been industry standards for supplying energy and protein, there are many suitable alternatives that meet nutritional requirements while reducing the cost of the ration and these may be included cost effectively as demand for corn and soybeans increases or as actual inventory shortages develop. Energy and protein are the main nutrient components in a swine ration. Grains such as corn, barley, wheat and oats have traditionally supplied energy, while protein has come from meals produced from oilseeds such as soybeans.

Price relationships vary greatly depending on seasonal variability, global and local markets. Pork producers must be able to evaluate the cost effectiveness and nutritional value of various feed ingredients in order to supply a nutritionally-balanced diet at a minimal cost.

Least-cost computer ration formulation programs are available to design rations that meet minimal nutritional requirements for the least cost. Feed manufacturers and producers should use these programs effectively to purchase and maintain inventories of ingredients. Many producers do not have the storage or processing facilities to include a large number of ingredients in the ration.

Many alternative feeds potentially cost effective and useful in swine rations are produced by the industries involved in grain milling, baking, brewing, distilling, packing and rendering, fruit and vegetable, vegetable oil, milk, egg and poultry processing. By-products from these industries are regularly used in manufactured feed to provide required nutrients at a reduced cost.

Many of the by-products from these processes can readily substitute for a portion of the energy or protein supply in a complete feed. The appropriate amount to use will depend on the cost, nutrient availability (digestibility), quality of protein, amino acid profile, palatability, presence of anti-nutritional factors, storage life, and age of the pig for which the feed is intended. For more information go to the www.Pork.org website or visit the Pork Information Gateway at www.porkgateway.org.

Alternative Feed Ingredients in Swine Diets

March 2008
Animal Science

Ongoing MRSA Efforts

The National Pork Board, in its role of addressing science-based research and producer education, and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), in its advocacy role, have coordinated efforts to address issues arising from the news that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been found in pig herds, and in pork producers, in Canada and Holland.  This multi-pronged response includes:

1. Development of a MRSA Technical Group that has met twice to advise the industry.  The group will work to assure that common methods are used in studies in the United States, Canada and Holland so that studies will be comparable.

2. Development of information, including background information on livestock-associated MRSA, which can be found at /Documents/PorkScience/StatementMRSPorkProducers.pdf.

3. Visits by NPPC, with support from Pork Checkoff science and technology staff, to key legislative staff to inform them about the scientific facts regarding MRSA and pigs.

4. A Pork Checkoff-funded prevalence study underway in U.S. packing plants. Pork Checkoff funds also will cover an on-farm pilot study.

5. Work by NPPC staff with key House Ag Committee members to request information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the relative impacts of pork production on human MRSA in the United States.  That letter confirms that pigs do not play a major role in MRSA in the United States.  Follow this link to view that letter,  /Documents/PorkScience/2008CDCHouseAgMRSALetter.pdf.  

6. Development of fact sheets on hygiene for workers in pork production facilities to avoid community-acquired MRSA in common shower and/or eating facilities.

7. Press responses and interviews with several national publications.

8. Staff monitoring of the popular press and timely responses to misinformation.

9. Staff monitoring of the scientific literature to better understand new developments with MRSA.

February 2008
Swine Health

Monthly Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease (PCVAD) Updates Available to Producers on the Web

Beginning in January, PCVAD updates will be available on www.pork.org.  The goal of the monthly updates is to help producers stay current about PCVAD information.  Examples of the possible updates could include a summary of investigative cases, new diagnostics available, a presentation addressing new management techniques to reduce the effect of PCVAD or the summary of a field study applicable to producers.  To access the information, producers can go to www.pork.org and click on the link to the right under ‘New’.  January’s article discusses the involvement of PCVAD in the High Fever Disease that has been reported to cause high mortality in China.  Staying informed of the diseases affecting hogs in other countries helps us prepare to keep foreign strains of disease out of the U.S.  And February’s article gives some background information about the PCVAD virus.

February 2008
Environment

Electronic Database of Environmental Research Available on Web

A link to a database of environment-related research has been posted on the Environment section of the Pork Checkoff’s Web site (/PorkScience/Environment/default.aspx).  The database was developed by Iowa State University and funded by the Pork Checkoff. 

Aimed at producers, researchers and all others interested in pork production-related environmental research, the database contains research papers and articles published since 1960.  Users can search by topic category, keyword, investigator, research institution, funding source, year of publication and more.  Simple and advanced search options allow the user to broaden or narrow a search according to specific needs. 

Full project title, research institution, funding source, approximate project cost, suggested citation, contact information for the principal investigator, a summary of the paper and an author’s abstract are presented for articles selected for review. 

A quick link to the database is posted on the pork.org Web site under New!

This database will provide a basis for turning already completed research into information that can be evaluated and used by producers on their operations as well as better target future investments in research to provide answers to producer needs and questions.

For more information contact Allan Stokes, Director, Environmental Programs at Astokes@pork.org.

January 2008
Swine Health

Biosecurity Handout Now Available to Youth Exhibitors

A new handout titled “A Champion’s Guide to Youth Swine Exhibition: Biosecurity and Your Pig Project” is now available to Youth Exhibitors. The handout addresses management practices which can be used by youth exhibitors to minimize their risk of transmitting disease onto their farm or to the commercial herds in their area. It includes biosecurity control points, information for purchasing the swine project, preparing for the exhibition, how to minimize disease transmission at the show and returning home while encouraging involvement of the veterinarian in the decision making process. The handout is available through the pork store at www.pork.org.

November 2007
Animal Science

SNP Chip development underway

A consortium from the USDA (ARS, CSREES), University of Illinois, Iowa State University and the National Pork Board is currently undertaking a concerted effort to encourage development of a high density (~50K) SNP chip for pigs. The consortium is hoping to have this research tool developed by mid 2008.

It is envisioned that this chip will be employed widely by the porcine research community to drive gene discovery and association analyses and eventually whole genome selection. The SNPs included in this chip project will be selected from those in public databases on February 1, 2008. The consortium would like to invite researchers interested in access to this technology to join their group. In addition, investigators possessing SNP information that has not been placed in public databases are encouraged to submit their information as soon as possible so that the most useful set of SNPs can be included in the final product.

At present, neither the cost per chip nor the commercial provider of the technology has been finalized. To help define both of these, the consortium is now seeking to quantify the likely demand for the finished chip. Please contact either Mohammad Koohmaraie (Mohammad.Koohmaraie@ARS.USDA.GOV), Max Rothschild (mfrothsc@iastate.edu) or Larry Schook (schook@uiuc.edu) if your research program/institution would consider purchasing and employing the 50K pig SNP chip. Also, please indicate the approximate number of chips required initially and per year so that we can include you in the mailing list concerning chip production and supply. Our aim is to achieve the maximum economy of scale across the pig genomic community and in turn achieve the lowest unit cost per chip. Please don't hesitate to contact any of the individuals included in this notice for additional information.

October 2007
Animal Science

Animal Science Committee Issues Initial 2008 RFP

The Animal Science Committee issued separate calls for research proposals in the following categories for 2008: sow lifetime productivity, genomics and nutritional efficiency. Each of these calls is subject to final National Pork Board and Agricultural Research Service funding approval. The Sow Lifetime Productivity research call is intended to assist producer with issues relating to sow lifetime productivity, longevity and mortality. This call will focus on economically important production traits including gilt development, genetics/adaptability, nutrition, reproductive physiology and management of breeding females. The nutritional efficiency research call will focus on mitigating costs and improving the efficiency of pork production through research to address issues such as feed conversion, alternative ingredients, and ration formulation.

The genomics call for proposals is a first for the NPB and the completion of the swine genome map (sequence) provides the starting point for understanding the genetic complexity of pigs and how genetic variation contributes to complex traits like maternal efficiency, nutrient utilization and disease resistance/tolerance. New research programs are now needed to identify individual traits and genetic networks which influence or control economically important traits such as nutrient utilization/efficiency, disease resistance, production and reproductive efficiencies, meat quality, and the interaction of these traits in production systems that ensure welfare and economic/environmental sustainability. This research will focus on the development of short and long term applications for the new technologies which will enable the pork industry to compete with other proteins in international markets. For example, genetic marker assisted selection programs to improve response to selection for conventional traits such as growth rate, feed efficiency and lean yield and enable accelerated selection for traits that are currently difficult to measure such as reproductive efficiency, feed efficiency, disease resistance and meat quality. Longer term programs will be developed that will dramatically enhance production efficiencies at the cellular level for all traits by improving nutrient utilization, mediating disease challenges, improving adaptability and survivability, increasing sow lifetime productivity, ensuring welfare and improving the nutrient profile and quality profile of pork.

October 2007
Animal Science

Animal Science Sponsors Discover Conference

The NPB Animal Science Committee (ANS) recently sponsored a Discover Conference, hosted by the American Dairy Science Association to promote dialog and interaction among industry experts around the world on the topic of sow lifetime productivity. Topics addressed included:

Keynote Speakers:
Sow Productive Lifetime: Have we a Problem? John Gadd, England

Segregrated Parity Structure in Sow Farms to Capture Nutrition, Management and Health Opportunities. Dean Boyd, Hanor USA

Expert Speakers:
Modeling How Long Sows Stay in Herd. Derald Holtkamp, Iowa State University

Revenue Opportunities in Sow Culling. Stephanie Rutten, University of Minnesota

Housing Systems Overview on SPL. D. Steven Pollmann, Murphy Brown LLC

Parity Segregation of Production Flows to Improve Profit - What we have Learned. Dean Boyd, Hanor USA

SPL: A Measure of the Animal’s Well-being. Stanley Curtis, University of Illinois

Behavioral Implications for Sow Longevity. Laura Boyle, Ireland

Sow Herd Assessments. Paul Yeske, Swine Veterinary Center, MN

Genetic Influence on Sow Productive Lifetime. Ken Stalder, Iowa State University

Selection for SPL:Where We Are and Where To Go? Timo Serenius, Finland

Got Markers? Retiring Sows at an Old Age. Scott Newman, Pig Improvement Company

Extending Sow Productive Life: The Science Behind Current Practices Designed to Maximize Breeding Herd Immunity. James Roth & Butch Baker, Iowa State University

A Review of Reported Causes of Sow Mortality. Locke Karriker, Iowa State University

Managing individuals in large populations to increase lifetime productivity. James Lowe, The Maschhoffs, Inc.

Gilt Development Techniques that Alleviate SPL Concerns. Joaquin Sporke, Chile

Gilt Isolation and Acclimation Management. Dale Rozeboom, Michigan State University

Influence of Stockpeople and Boars on Lifetime Reproductive Performance of Multiparous Sows – Practical Methods and Needed Research. Don Levis, University of Nebraska

Nutrition of the Developing Gilt for Optimal Lifetime Productivity. Lee Johnston, University of Minnesota

Gestation & Lactation Nutrition. Mike Tokach, Kansas State University

Feeding Systems & Management. Speaker TBA

On-Farm Training and Daily Scheduling to Optimize Sow Care. Tim Loula, Swine Vet Center

Evaluation of Body Condition and Feet and Leg Soundness on Sow Productive Lifetime. Ken Stalder, Iowa State University

Health Protocols on Sow Farms. Rodger Main, Murphy-Brown

Individual Sow Care & Treatment. Paul Yeske, Swine Vet Center, MN

The conference was developed to promote discussion and interaction among attendees and provided opportunity for ideas and concepts to be developed and shared. Conference notes and Power Point Presentations are available from the US Pork Center of Excellence. Contact Dr David Meisinger for more information at 515-294-7556 or email at drdave@iastate.edu.

The ANS committee has contracted the US Pork Center of Excellence to package the information gleaned from this conference in a management guide for producers. It should be available through the Pork Information Gateway in 2008. Please contact Mark Boggess, mboggess@pork.org or 515-223-2606, at the National Pork Board for more information.

July 2007
Animal Welfare

Swine Welfare Research Strategic Planning Workshop

On July 8, a swine welfare research strategic planning workshop was held in San Antonio, Texas. Twenty-five people including producers and researchers were in attendance. The goal of the workshop was to develop a strategic plan that identifies research priorities specific to the well-being of swine throughout production and to provide guidance for future National Pork Board research funding. Research priorities were developed in four areas; gestational sow housing, handling and transport, euthanasia, and production practices. Attendees also explored future topics of interest which included housing of sows during lactation. Many good ideas stemmed from this workshop that will aid the National Pork Board in future research funding. or call 515-223-2623 and register by phone.

For more information contact Sherrie Niekamp at the National Pork Board sniekamp@pork.org.

May 2007
Environment

What Is A CAFO

Under current federal rules a swine operation may be considered to be a CAFO if:

• The operation confines animals for at least 45 days in a 12-month period, AND
• There is no grass or other vegetation in the confinement area during the normal growing season.

AND any of the following conditions are met:

     The operation confines

• 2,500 or more swine weighing 55 pounds or more OR
• 10,000 swine weighing less than 55 pounds.

OR

     The operation confines

• 750 – 2,499 swine weighing 55 pounds or more OR
• 3,000 – 9,999 swine weighing less than 55 pounds

AND

• Pollutants are discharged directly to water of the U.S. through a man-made ditch, flushing system or other similar man-made device OR
• Pollutants are discharged directly into waters of the U.S. which originate outside of and pass over, across, or through the facility or otherwise come into direct contact with the animals confined in the operation

OR

• The operation has been notified by EPA or the state permitting authority that it has been designated as a CAFO.

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