Articles

Hans Nauwynck defines himself as a veterinary virologist, a person who works in a laboratory setting, doing precise work, like a surgeon, aiming to gain a better understanding of how animal viruses interact with their target cells. But it is much more. His deep understanding of the biological behavior of viruses allows him to fluently explain many of the “whys” that are so important for a better understading of the pathogenesis of viral diseases and the development of effective control strategies.

Communication in the swine industry today faces a double challenge. On the one hand, there is a real need to transparently show the sector's work to an increasingly distrustful consumer, who is either uninformed or saturated with emotional messages. On the other hand, we must do so in a changing digital environment, which rewards the authentic, the emotional, and the useful.

One of the major challenges during weaning is post-weaning diarrhea, impacting nearly 25% of piglets in European countries. A promising strategy to boost resilience and help piglets navigate the stress of weaning can be, among others, the use of phytogenics.

Spanish slaughterhouses are between a rock and a hard place. The heat will accentuate the supply shortage. Pig prices are increasing or staying the same, pork prices are decreasing, and consequently, margins are deteriorating.

This is how one of the Tosh Pork farms in the United States works, combining technology, production efficiency, and social commitment. In this first article, we present the structure, work culture, and overview of U.S. swine production.

The study confirms the negative impact of both chronic and acute heat stress on feed intake in lactating sows and validates nutritional and management strategies to mitigate it.

Who talks about inflammation? We all might mention it when we exercise too much – aching joints, stiffness – or is it just we are all getting older…? But we do not really talk about inflammation much. And certainly, when we think about our livestock, we do not really mention it at all. Well…we should.

PRRS control measures also reduce the opportunities for different wild-type viruses to recombine and create more aggressive strains.

Genetic mutation and evolution of PRRSV can occur across all genes. Unlike ORF5, which only represents about 4% of the PRRSV genome, NGS can recover a whole PRRSV genome to be used in epidemiological investigations.

In this commentary, we review various issues affecting the swine market: the blackout in Spain, corporate concentration, the evolution of carcass weights, Trump's policy....

How does heat stress affect our pigs? This four-part question-and-answer series will give us an in-depth understanding of this key aspect of pig production.

Weaning is one of the most difficult periods in a pig’s production cycle. A deeper understanding of the challenges piglets face, as well as the short- and long-term consequences of low feed intake, can help nutritionists formulate their diets to better support growth and improve health.

Two models of exoskeletons were tested on farms to evaluate whether they improved working conditions during piglet vaccination.

The market is hyper-reactive, reacting to every piece of news in one direction or another. Let's try to focus on it.

Mammals, such as pigs, have a keen attraction to sweet tastes. They are able to perceive the five basic tastes: umami, sweet, bitter, sour, and salty. Sugars such as sucrose, glucose, and lactose are especially attractive to them. This trait seems to have evolved as a natural mechanism for detecting high-calorie energy sources.

In 2024, the Latin American swine industry continued to show outstanding performance, reaffirming its potential, resilience, and capacity to adapt to the challenges facing the sector in a complex market environment. However, given the current geopolitical circumstances, reconfiguration of international pork trade flows in Latin America is expected in 2025 as a result of retaliation against the tariffs imposed by the United States.

The past five years have been a turbulent period for the UK pork industry, shaped by the intersecting challenges of Brexit, COVID-19 and global economic and geopolitical pressures.

Customs tariffs have major consequences and affect pig farms worldwide.

The use of dietary fiber in sow nutrition is rapidly evolving and is now considered a functional component in nutrition due to its effects on gut functionality, microbiota balance, and the modulation of digestion and metabolism.

The first three years of the Danish PRRS reduction strategy have shown that it is possible to control and reduce the prevalence of PRRS in Danish pig production.

Phosphorus is an essential mineral for bone mineralization, energy metabolism, and nucleic acid synthesis. Therefore, strategies to maximize the utilization of phosphorus present in cereals and legumes used in swine nutrition are important, such as the use of phytases. This data sheet describes the structure, types, mechanism of action, and application of phytases.

We are sharing an example of a sow card used to record basic breeding sow data, which is essential on all farms regardless of their size.

In the first two months, the outbreak caused more than 600 abortions and more than 150 sow deaths, destroying the weekly batch structure.

The pig price in Spain is well above the rest of the European countries. The reality is that this price is only possible at the expense of negative margins in the slaughterhouses.

Do we know how to communicate the main objective of correct data collection? What clues can make us suspect that the data are not being properly recorded?

For pigs to grow and be productive, their nutrition must provide the intake of energy and nutrients necessary for maintenance and production. The most important nutrients are proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Ingested and recycled proteins will be used for tissue growth and repair, enzymatic and hormonal functions, transport of substances, immune responses, water and electrolyte balance, muscle contraction, cell signaling, and pH maintenance.

We analyze the two most relevant respiratory viruses in the swine population.

Although the large influx of news makes it seem otherwise, it really has only been 50 days since the new U.S. President, Donald Trump, was inaugurated.

During a recent visit to a pig farm in Sweden, 333 had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the Moving Floor system, an innovative technology for improving pig welfare and reducing emissions.

Of the pillars of commercial pig production, nutritional management, is based on its impact on the total final production cost. In Brazil, it represented 73.16% of the total production cost in 2024 on average, according to data from CIAS (2024, EMBRAPA). In this way, constantly updating the energy and nutrient requirements needed to optimize production outcomes is a focus of attention and a goal of ongoing scientific research.

In 11 of the 15 countries analyzed, 333 users expected higher prices than were actually achieved.

This article describes some practices for improving environmental control and the costs involved in their implementation.

Uniformity and quality play a key role in the success of both the feed mill and the farm. The quality of swine feed starts with proper diet formulation, which must meet the animal's nutritional needs at every stage of its life, and a proper mixing process ensures uniform nutrient distribution and directly impacts production performance, animal health and welfare, and economic efficiency.

The relatively short but very intense lactation period is undoubtedly a key phase in pig production for both sows and piglets. The fragility of the piglets and the significant demands that sows face at this stage make early detection of problems essential. Do we understand what the animals are telling us?

Biorefineries have the potential to add value to organic matter, nutrients, and water from livestock manure.

This data sheet presents a brief compilation of scientific studies that have evaluated the effect of formic acid, lactic acid, and propionic acid on pig gastrointestinal health and production performance at different stages of production.

At the risk of being proven wrong by the end of 2025, we will try to break down what we think this year has in store. It's not about using a crystal ball, but rather analyzing the data we already have and weighing its importance. At the end of the year, you can compare and see whether we got it right or missed the mark.

Beta glucans are an excellent bioactive compounds that can help us enhance passive immunity in a profitable and practical way.

The appearance of a case of foot and mouth disease aggravated the fall in the German pig price with direct repercussions on prices in neighboring countries.

Aerosol models may open a new range of possibilities for addressing knowledge gaps concerning M. hyopneumoniae infection and disease, treatment, and control.

From their respective academic and on-farm positions, Josep Gasa and Josep Casanovas discuss a study on the performance and welfare of sows exposed to auditory environmental enrichment.

After interpreting the lesions we must proceed to sample collection.

A study conducted by IFIP (France) has compared three sensor methods based on near infrared spectrometry (NIRS), electrical conductivity and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry.

This is how to assemble an "emergency" ramp using the insulation panels left over from the construction of the nursery.

Analyzing the swine industry's life cycle and implementing sustainable measures from feeding to processing drives a change towards a more environmentally friendly industry and better animal welfare.

The global swine industry is dynamic and constantly advancing. One of these advancements is the significant increase in sow productivity. This is evidenced by the increase in the number of piglets born and, consequently, in the number of piglets weaned. This progress also poses new challenges, especially regarding the most important superfood on the farm: porcine colostrum. This leads us to ask if improving colostrum quality is possible through specific nutritional strategies.

To identify the keys to success in managing sows in breed and release systems, France's Chamber of Agriculture of the Brittany Region surveyed farmers who implemented this system. The results identified three strategies that producers use the week after weaning.

Beta glucans can boost the vaccinal response, thus helping to achieve an optimal vaccinal response. If they are supplied during enough time to cover the whole vaccination programme this strategy could be an option to improve the vaccine response.

The price is not expected to change in the coming weeks, provided nothing extraordinary happens.

Our experts Sara Mazo and Francisco Ruíz review the economic policies implemented during Trump's first term: protectionism, tariffs, and deregulation of the energy and agricultural sectors.

Sánchez-Osorio describes the characteristics of the different terminal boar lines developed by Topigs Norsvin for each type of market, prioritizing lean yield or meat quality.

With current data, we will review the quantitative impact of some of the most relevant factors for sows in the lactation phase.

In the fifth installment of the manual we address the examination of the organs of the abdominal cavity.

This article describes the main characteristics of commercial vaccines to combat PRRS.

Three different motivational drivers have been identified, each corresponding to a specific behavioral pattern: two-phase, sudden-forceful, and obsessive.

This year's edition of the Swine Conference in honor of Dr. Allen D. Leman was a special 50th Anniversary event and took place September 21-24 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention Center in Minnesota, USA.

Gene editing represents a significant technological advancement that we must thoroughly understand due to its potential impact on the swine industry. Will there be animals resistant to viral diseases?

Animals tell us how they feel, but do we understand what they are telling us?

A better understanding of the modulatory effects of functional amino acids and polyphenols may support nutritionists in formulating more adapted diets and contribute to the development of nutritional strategies to improve animal performance, well-being, and health.

For several reasons, Poland has not managed to control ASF in wild boars and pigs. What measures has this country implemented during these 10 years and why were they insufficient?

Data sheet with the nutritional value (table comparison) and most recent studies about corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

Moving away from weekly batch management improved Time to stability, Time to baseline production and Total Piglet losses per 1,000 sows after a PRRS outbreak.

Why induce puberty? If I do choose to induce puberty, what do I need to do, and when?

In the fourth installment of the manual, we address examining the thoracic cavity organs.

We are launching a series of articles that will delve into a new practice that has already been implemented on several farms in Spain and is being adopted by others: 5-week batches.

The constant search for solutions to challenges in management, health, reproduction, nutrition, and feeding—and their interactions—should be a technical principle if we aim to maximize the genetic potential of our farms.

September is ending, leaving behind a trail of staggered decreases in the pig price in Spain. This is nothing new; many years tend to be like this.

On December 30, 2024, soybeans will be added to the products covered by the new European regulation against deforestation, creating uncertainty in commodity trade.

Transporting semen doses from boar studs to farms is a step that requires careful consideration due to factors such as temperature fluctuations and vibrations which can affect the quality of the doses.

The overall risk of a PRRS outbreak is 12 times higher during the first 15 days after pumping manure than the rest of the year.

A good start in post-weaning feed intake and including creep feed and palatable diets is crucial to optimize piglet health and performance.

This article describes the main characteristics of commercial vaccines for combatting porcine parvovirus.

A review of vaccine administration routes, administration methods according to the type of animal, and how to manage vaccination supplies.

This article demonstrates the effects of drinking water temperature and feeding management in sows to optimize performance in farrowing and lactation.