As a swine veterinarian, being prepared isn’t just about checking boxes – it’s about being informed, staying connected and keeping ahead of the curve. The more informed, connected and prepared we are, the stronger we all become to serve our producers and pigs. 

AASV Annual Meeting 

At National Pork Board (NPB), we are intentional about showing up and being present to share our expertise in animal health. NPB was proud to attend the 2025 American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ (AASV) 56th Annual Meeting that recently took place in San Francisco, California for swine veterinarians and veterinary students.  

The annual meeting is always a highlight for members and each year, it attracts more than 1,000 swine veterinarians and veterinary students from across the globe. This is a clear indicator that the experiences and topics delivered are both impactful and valuable for veterinarians, animals, farmers and ultimately: consumers. This year’s seminars covered multiple topics, including current issues in swine welfare, the use of artificial intelligence in the industry, PEDV elimination, global swine challenges and influenza insights. 

The AASV annual meeting focuses on providing continuing education and networking as well as opportunities for students to meet and engage with practicing veterinarians. This component is key for encouraging and supporting the next generation of swine veterinarians and advocating for the industry.  

Be the Pig’s Champion 

Advocating for pigs and swine health is more critical than ever. This year, AASV presenters addressed the theme “Be the Pig’s Champion.”  

From commercial pigs to show pigs and niche market pigs, swine veterinarians are champions of pig health and wellness. NPB’s team of swine veterinarians stays up to date with industry trends and challenges and are in constant communication with producers and industry stakeholders to address issues. NPB has a voice to share on behalf of U.S. pork producers that promotes the health and wellbeing of pigs while encouraging science-based approaches to issues.  

Veterinarian Roles in Pig Welfare 

Veterinarians are uniquely trained and serve as technical experts in evaluating the health and performance of pigs. Swine veterinarians and industry leaders are committed to staying ahead of emerging disease threats, biosecurity advancements and real-world solutions for protecting our industry. Disease pressure, whether endemic or foreign animal, is a continuous challenge for producers and veterinarians.  

Producers manage endemic diseases daily while also preparing for the threat of an FAD. To alleviate pressure, knowledge gaps related to disease must be addressed through research. At NPB, I lead the Swine Disease Research Task force, a partnership of producers, subject matter experts and veterinarians to identify and fund research to help producers in their day-to-day lives.  

AASV PEDV Elimination Task Force 

I am proud to serve as a co-lead with Dr. Paul Yeske of the AASV Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) Elimination task force. The task force is focused on laying the foundation for a potential elimination program for PEDV. The task force is small, but its membership includes industry leaders Drs. Mary Battrell, JQ Zhang, Darin Madson, Pete Thomas, Tyler Holck and Paul Yeske. Dr. Bill Hollis commissioned the task force to debate knowledge gaps, tools for disease control, and to serve as subject matter experts to outline a PEDV category for U.S. SHIP.  

At AASV, the task force hosted a PEDV Elimination session where presenters discussed the path toward PEDV elimination in Manitoba, methods for estimating PEDV prevalence, elimination protocols, a transport survey and case study, and concluded with an engaging Q&A panel. It was a professionally fulfilling session focused on cross-industry collaboration and underscores the importance of our task force’s efforts to move the needle in PEDV elimination.  

Subscribe to Swine Health Bulletin 

NPB has a new Swine Health Bulletin newsletter for swine veterinarians that features insights on FAD preparedness, endemic disease management, research developments and practical steps to protect the industry. I’m confident this will become your go-newsletter for science-backed insights on emerging disease threats, industry updates and practical strategies to keep swine herds and the industry protected. 

I invite you to join NPB’s network of Swine Veterinarians today.