Public Health
Metagenomics approach to delineate the impact of antibiotic administration route on gut microbial changes and antimicrobial resistome in nursery piglets
May 11, 2023By Raghavendra Amachawadi
This study was conducted in piglets to compare in-feed vs. in-water administrations of chlortetracycline (CTC) and or tiamulin on fecal prevalence and AMR profiles of gut commensals (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp.) and foodborne pathogens (Campylobacter and Salmonella) in nursery piglets.
Swine Health - Foreign Animal Disease
Risk Assessment for Importing Non-Animal-Origin Feed and Ingredients from ASFV-Endemic Regions
March 4, 2023By Cassandra Jones
Currently, there are industry wide concerns over African swine fever virus (ASFV) entry from a variety of different sources, including imported ingredients from ASFV positive countries. Data...
Swine Health - Foreign Animal Disease
Understanding the Survivability and Infectivity of African Swine Fever Virus in Various Environments
March 4, 2023By Dr. Megan Niederwerder
African swine fever (ASF) is the most significant foreign animal disease threat to the US pork industry. ASF virus (ASFV) not only causes high case fatality rates of infected pigs but is a...
Animal Well-being
Evaluation of transmammary-delivered firocoxib and a vapocoolant spray to alleviate pain in piglets after surgical castration and tail docking
January 20, 2023By Abbie V. Viscardi, PhD
This study aimed to assess a novel strategy for pain management of piglets after routine processing procedures. By providing the sow an analgesic drug that is able to cross the blood-milk barrier in the mammary gland, nursing piglets can be noninvasively provided pain relief transmammary prior to surgical castration and tail docking.
Animal Science
Optimizing late finishing pig feed efficiency, carcass yield, and economic return
November 30, 2022By Joel DeRouchey
The multi-facetted project focused on optimizing late finishing pig feed efficiency, carcass traits, and economic return through feeding practices is essential for the sustainability of pork production.
Swine Health - Foreign Animal Disease
Investigating Methods for Decontamination of Interior Surfaces (Cabs) of Transportation Vehicles
July 11, 2022By Jordan Gebhardt
It is widely known and understood that transportation vehicles can serve as a potential route of pathogen transmission within swine production systems. The movement of these vehicles within multiple...
Swine Health - General Disease
Evaluating the effect of natural planned exposure on gilt immunity and passive immunity in their piglets via genotype specific rotavirus A and C ELISA
November 24, 2021By Dr. Douglas Marthaler Ph.D.
Historically in the United States, RVA infections were considered the more prevalent. However, recent studies indicate RVA and RVC infections are more common in piglets <21 days of age. Some RVA...
Swine Health - Foreign Animal Disease
Evaluating the prevalence and distribution of African swine fever virus during feed manufacture, as well as feed mill decontamination measures
November 24, 2021By Dr. Cassandra Jones
The feed supply chain can be a significant risk of pathogen transfer. While historically, farms have evolved to have biosecurity limiting farm-to-farm interaction, there continues to be gaps in swine...
Animal Science - Swine Nutrition
Improving performance of finishing pigs with supplemental Val, Ile, and Trp: Validating a meta-analysis model
November 24, 2021By Jason Woodworth
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are a collective group of amino acids (AA) made up of Leucine (Leu), Valine (Val), and Isoleucine (Ile). These three AA all share the first steps of catabolism, and...