Nowadays, using animals as models for human biomedical research is an important part of scientific studies. In particular, pigs share a lot of gastrointestinal, anatomical, and pathophysiological similarities with humans, which means there is a lot we can learn from conducting research trials in...

One of the most difficult and unfortunate things in pig production is having to accept that pain is a reality when we are talking about certain practices. That is why, as responsible pig producers, we need to find ways to mitigate that pain as much as possible. In this episode, I talk with Dr....

Whole genome PRRSv sequencing is a topic that has already been discussed in more detail in some earlier episodes, with Dr. Linhares and Dr. Trevisan. But regardless of how important it is, its applicability at a university, inside a lab, may be different than its use for producers. So how does...

There has lately been an increased prevalence of a new salmonella serotype in the US. This monophasic serotype is one of the most prevalent and can be a concern for producers if pigs become infected. In today's episode, I talk with Dr. Fernando Leite about his work with a vaccine for this...

As we all know, pigs, just like humans, are susceptible to stress. Too much stress on a pig can cause it  to grow poorly and have more health complications. In today’s episode, I talk with Andrea Lutman about her work measuring stress factors in piglets at weaning, and working to...

As the old saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. That applies to ASF spread in the US too. Being prepared for ASF introduction and having the best possible plan in place to eliminate its spread is critical for our swine infrastructure. Hopefully we can do a better job at controlling it...

All of us have worked with people, so we know that not one person is the same as another. Each individual learns and implements their skills differently in their career – and workers in the swine industry are no exception. In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Sarah Probst Miller about...

Lawsonia intracellularis can have a significant impact on the capabilities of the small intestine of pigs. This can cause a wide range of effects, from weakened immunological function to reduced nutrient absorption and slowed growth. In this episode, Dr. Emma Helm explains her research...

Modified live virus vaccines are one of the best ways to prevent and control PRRSV today, but PRRS cases continue to be a problem. When testing for PRRSV though, its hard to tell if a positive test is from the live vaccine or from the wild type. In this episode Dr. Guarav Rawal talks about his...

Streptococcus suis is present in almost all pigs and is considered endemic in all countries with an extensive swine industry. However, not all forms of Streptococcus suis in pigs are inherently pathogenic. In today’s episode with Dr. Jessica Santos-Streauslin, we talk about...

What causes ear tip necrosis in pigs? For years the answers have varied widely from genetics to mycotoxins as well as many other hypotheses. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Matheus Costa about his research determining the causative agent for ear tip necrosis. Several past hypotheses have been...

With ASF so close to our borders, we need to make sure we are prepared for if it spreads to the U.S. because if it crosses our borders, we need to act fast. One of the main factors contributing to the success of containment is speed, so identifying its presence on your farm must be quick. In this...