The AASV office will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Monday July 4th. The office will re-open on Tuesday morning.
Monthly Archives: June 2011
Protection of European Domestic Pigs from Virulent African Isolates of African Swine Fever Virus by Experimental Immunisation
African swine fever (ASF) is an acute haemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs for which there is currently no vaccine. We showed that experimental immunisation of pigs with the non-virulent OURT88/3 genotype I isolate from Portugal followed by the closely related virulent OURT88/1 genotype I isolate could confer protection against challenge with virulent isolates from Africa including the genotype I Benin 97/1 isolate and genotype X Uganda 1965 isolate. This immunisation strategy protected most pigs challenged with either Benin or Uganda from both disease and viraemia. Cross-protection was correlated with the ability of different ASFV isolates to stimulate immune lymphocytes from the OURT88/3 and OURT88/1 immunised pigs.
Comparison of Oral Versus Parenteral Iron Supplementation on the Health and Productivity of Piglets
The aim of this study was to compare oral iron supplementation in feed with a standard iron injection and assess the impact on the health and productivity of pigs. The reliability of a quick test (HemoCue) for the measurement of blood haemoglobin concentration was also investigated. Three pig herds, with a total of 88 sows and their piglets, were included in the study. Piglets in treatment group O were fed a special iron-rich feed on days 2 to 4, 5 to 7 and 8 to 12 of lactation using a specially designed feeding device. Piglets in group IM received 200 mg of an iron dextran complex intramuscularly at three days of age. Haemoglobin concentrations and performance of the piglets were compared between groups. The mean haemoglobin concentrations in pigs at weaning were 131.4 and 116.4 g/l for pigs in groups O and IM, respectively (P0.05).
California Non-Ambulatory Appeal to Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court is to review a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a National Meat Association (NMA)-American Meat Institute (AMI) lawsuit challenging a California law that bans the slaughter of non-ambulatory livestock of all species. The central issue in the case is the law’s failure to distinguish between livestock at rest, which is a common occurrence in swine, and livestock that have no independent mobility due to injury or other conditions.
Canadian Swine Health Board Offers Biosecurity Training Program
The Canadian Swine Health Board says its new national swine biosecurity training program will provide pork producers the tools they need to help protect their industry from new and emerging diseases.
People on the Move: Dr. Karen Lehe
Dr. Karen Lehe recently joined Novus International as a Technical Services Veterinarian. She will be working in a multidisciplinary team to promote the benefits of Novus’ products for the health, performance, and profitability of pork production systems. She was previously employed by Intervet/Schering-Plough. Updated contact information for Dr. Lehe is available at http://www.aasv.org/members/only/directory.php. Are you on the move? If so, let us know at aasv@aasv.org.
Time Running Out to Register for AASV Webinar: Euthanasia Solutions
The AASV’s Continuing Education Committee will be hosting its first in a series of members-only webinars on Wednesday, July 20, from 2:00-5:00pm CDT. Participants must register by July 6; late registrations will not be accepted. The webinar, entitled Euthanasia Solutions presented by Drs. Suzanne Millman and Locke Karriker, will provide an in-depth, focused look at swine euthanasia, including:Biology of euthanasiaPhysical methods of euthanasiaGas methods of euthanasiaThe human dimension
Call for Papers on Influenza in Pigs
The journal Influenza Research and Treatment has issued a Call for Papers for a special issue entitled Influenza in pigs.
PQA Plus® Advisor Recertification Training Offered July 12
Veterinarians and others who have completed Pork Quality Assurance Plus® Advisor Training under the National Pork Board’s PQA Plus® program during the initial training period in 2007-2008 need to attend a recertification session. The Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) at Iowa State University will hold one such training July 12 on the Iowa State campus in Ames. The session is filled on a first received, first accepted basis, so people should submit their preregistration and payment as soon as possible. The preregistration form is available online at http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/PQAPRecert071211.docx. It also is available by fax by calling IPIC at 515-294-4103. Questions? Contact Sherry Hoyer at IPIC by email at shoyer@iastate.edu.
FMD Pocket Guide Now Available for Purchase
AASV members in the U.S. recently received a copy of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) educational pocket guide. The laminated flipchart contains photos illustrating lesions associated with FMD in domestic and feral swine. This pocket guide was developed through a cooperative agreement funded by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and is the collaborative effort of AASV, ISU’s Center for Food Security and Public Health, National Pork Board and USDA APHIS.