Though a pig fashion week would be an interesting, if not eccentric idea, the action week is actually about information.  The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting the second African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week, from October 10-14.

• Through the Protect Our Pigs campaign, the USDA is raising awareness and helping producers and veterinarians quickly find and share actionable information to defend their herds and livelihoods. 

You...

📉 Ukraine registered only 7 outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in 2022. That’s the lowest level in the past several years, and no industrial farms have reported outbreaks so far.

That’s great news, but still… it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. 
The pork shortage worsens there: shops in Ukraine are selling deep-frozen pork as there are almost no leftovers of chilled products. That’s because pig farms in Ukraine are located in areas of active hostilities or under temporary occupation.

In Brazil, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) has presented the Contingency Plan for African Swine Fever. It’s a document with the principles, strategies, and procedures for the containment and eradication of outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF). 

• Should an outbreak happen in the country, a state of zoosanitary emergency would be declared by MAPA and the activities described in the contingency plans would be put into motion.

Attention all personnel, this IS a drill!...

Dr. Paul Sundberg, the Executive Director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), says the continuous spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic, Southeast Asia, China, and Eastern Europe should serve as a reminder to North American pork producers of the need for ongoing attention to biosecurity. 

• Even though there are effective ways to prevent ASF from being introduced in North America, the problem is having them implemented 24/7! So it’s up to the producers to stay...

Do you know what are the key components that have to be considered when formulating high fiber diets for the gestating sow in the US?

• The level of total dietary fiber (TDF) can be low in US gestating sow diets, but adding greater levels may positively impact performance. 

The type of the fiber also plays a significant role in sow performance parameters. 

• Increasing soluble dietary fiber (SDF) boosts the fermentation and energy status of the sow.

Unfortunately, there are very few ingr...

In 2019, the US Department of Labor (DOL) allowed agricultural employers to hire non-immigrant foreign workers to carry out seasonal or temporary work,  but advocacy groups claim working and housing conditions are inadequate.

• Since the US Secretary of Labor and his team are dedicated to protecting farmworkers, regardless of origin, new changes are underway.

Safety and health improvements, updated bond requirements for labor contractors, state and local authority inspections, all-electronic...