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Monthly Archives: May 2012
2012 Podcast Series: Dr. Chad Hastad
During the AASV Annual Meeting, 30 veterinary students interviewed conference speakers to gain additional information about their presentation topic. The next of these MP3 audio interviews is now available to members on the AASV website at https://www.aasv.org/members/only/pod/. Student member Ethan Spronk interviewed Dr. Chad Hastad who discussed “Strategies to maximize pig performance: Role of feed and feeding events in wean-to-finish production” in the Pre-Conference Seminar, “Preventing Profit-Robbing Events in Growing Pig Populations.” Watch for additional podcast interviews in the coming weeks!
PRRS Corner: PRRS Incidence Pilot Project
For some farms and systems, this was a bad year for PRRS. But we really have little idea how bad it was for the industry â and hence there is much rumor and speculation. At the request of the AASV PRRS task force, we started a pilot project in December, 2011 to try and measure PRRS incidence; that is, the rate of new infection. We contacted several large systems and asked if they would be willing to share their PRRS status of sow farms on a weekly basis. Five systems agreed and compose 192 sow farms with approximately 500,000 sows. They are not a random sample and donât reflect the industry. But the PRRS picture they have reported is strikingly similar to each other and leads to various questions on mechanisms for dissemination of PRRS virus. As of this week, 49% of farms within this cohort have recorded having a new virus infection since July 1, 2011. The incidence accelerated in mid-November and subsided in late March. Interestingly, there was a second mini-epidemic starting in late April that is currently subsiding. Looking back at historical data within these 5 systems, the pattern is similar. To emphasize, these farms are a select group of systems that are not representative of the industry. They are sharing their PRRS data on a voluntary basis. Click here to see the incidence chart. We appreciate the support of the systems involved, and funding from NPB, USDA PRRS CAP and SDEC.
Basic Veterinary Immunology and Principles of Vaccination Online Course has received RACE CE Accreditation
Veterinarians and technicians seeking continuing education hours now have convenient online access to “Basic Veterinary Immunology and Principles of Vaccination”. The course, which provides basic information on veterinary immunology and vaccination to aid animal health, provides 17 continuing education hours. The course is approved and listed on the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) website of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
National Hog Farmer names 2012 Masters of the Pork Industry
National Hog Farmer magazine has named three AASV members, Jim Lowe, Steve Pollman and Paul Yeske, to its list of 2012 Masters of the Pork Industry.
FDA Announces Availability of the NARMS Strategic Plan 2012-2016
The FDAâs Center for Veterinary Medicine announced today the availability of an updated National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Strategic Plan, a dynamic roadmap which outlines the programâs commitment to sustained food safety through monitoring and research. The draft Strategic Plan was originally issued in January, 2011. Todayâs Plan has been updated based on input from many sources including that received in a previous request for comments, from a series of public and internal meetings, and from conversations with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Accreditation Renewal
The U.S. Department of Agricultureâs (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that its National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) will begin the veterinary accreditation renewal process this summer for some accredited veterinarians. See http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/nvap_renewal.shtml.
African Swine Fever spreads throughout Africa, Russia
The African Swine Fever (ASF) virus is not a new disease. In fact, it has been around for decades. However, the bleeding disorder has recently been showing up more often, rearing its head in regions where it has not been seen before. With growing presence in Africa and Russia, the European Union (EU) could be the next nation to be affected by ASF. [Agri-view, May 24, 2012]
AASV to Hold Session at World Pork Expo
The AASV will hold a members-only session again this year at the World Pork Expo. This year’s session, chaired by AASV Vice president Michelle Sprague, will examine the issues associated with sow gestation housing and recent FDA actions.
Obituary: Dr. David L. Pence, D.V.M
Dr. David L. Pence, D.V.M., 64, of Ankeny, fought the good fight against Acute Myeloid Leukemia, MK+. David had been at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN since December 6, 2011, and came home to live out his last days on April 9, 2012. While at Mayo he received such wonderful care, especially from Dr. Patnaik, Dr. Singh, and their entire medical team. He passed away on Saturday, May 12 at his home surrounded by his loving family. The funeral was held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 517 SW Des Moines St., Ankeny, on Sunday, May 20.