The following is a real case. Two sow farms receive a shipment of gilts from the same supplier. Approximately 7 â 10 days later, the farmers notice vesicles appearing on the snouts of 3 â 5% of the sows and gilts in both herds (click here to see photos of the lesions). No fevers or inappetance were observed and there were no foot or oral lesions present. A shipment of feeder pigs left that morning for a finisher located in another state. Youâre the veterinarian. What are your rule-outs and next steps?
Monthly Archives: October 2012
2013 AFRI Foundational Request For Applications
USDA-NIFA is announcing funding opportunities for animal health, animal welfare, food safety and nanotechnology research applications. Application information is available online.
Schultz Receives ISU Alumni Award
Roy Schultz, DVM, was honored with the William P. Switzer Award in Veterinary Medicine during an awards ceremony held at Iowa State University on Friday, Oct. 26. The Switzer Award was established in 1998 to recognize exemplary individuals who have made significant contributions to society through their achievements, or have made major contributions to the enhancement of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Researchers Examine Role of Temperament in Sow Lameness and Longevity
Researchers with the Prairie Swine Centre are confident, by considering temperament when selecting gilts for breeding, pork producers can develop genetic lines that are better suited for group housing systems. As part of multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research initiative being conducted on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc, scientists at the Prairie Swine Centre are focusing on the role of temperament in contributing to sow lameness and longevity. Dr. Jennifer Brown, a research scientist in ethology with the Prairie Swine Centre, says studies around animal temperament and personality are just in their early stages.
Expression of Kyphosis in Young Pigs is Induced by a Reduction of Supplemental Vitamin D in Maternal Diets and Vitamin D, Ca, and P Concentrations in Nursery Diets
Kyphosis is an idiopathic disease characterized by abnormal, outward spinal curvature. A spontaneous outbreak and subsidence of kyphosis over a 4-mo period in the University of Wisconsin Swine Research and Teaching Center herd coincided with an accidental omission of vitamin D(3) in 1 of 2 premixes used in sow diets. This experiment was designed as a controlled study to confirm that vitamin D deletion from the premix used previously in sow diets would induce kyphosis in their offspring. Crossbred (Landrace × Large White), multiparious sows (n = 8) were fed corn-SBM diets supplemented with either 325 (+D) or 45 (-D) IU vitamin D3/kg diet from breeding through lactation. The vitamin D concentrations duplicated formulations of diets fed during the earlier spontaneous outbreak. At weaning (approximately 4 wk), pigs were fed diets devoid of supplemental vitamin D and formulated to supply either 120% (HCaP) or 80% (LCaP) of required Ca and P concentrations until wk 9. At wk 9, all pigs were fed the HCaP diet until wk 13. No evidence of kyphosis was observed in pigs at weaning. Pigs produced by -D sows and fed LCaP diets exhibited a 17% incidence (4/23 pigs) of kyphosis at wk 9. At wk 13, the incidence of kyphosis had increased to 32% (6/19 pigs). Unexpectedly at wk 13, pigs produced by +D sows and fed LCaP diets exhibited a 26% incidence (5/19 pigs) of kyphosis. None of the pigs fed HCaP diets from wk 4 to 13 displayed kyphosis, regardless of maternal diets. Evidence of kyphosis was detected at a younger age if pigs were produced by sows fed -D diets. Whole body and femur bone mineral content determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs fed LCaP vs. HCaP diets, but pigs produced by -D sows were more severely affected. Femur bending moments were reduced (P < 0.05) at wk 9 and 13 in pigs fed LCaP vs. HCaP diets. At wk 13, pigs produced by -D sows and fed LCaP diets had reduced (P < 0.05) bone mineral density and femur yield bending moment compared with pigs from +D sows fed LCaP diets. In conclusion, the 20 to 30% incidence of kyphosis induced by altering vitamin D, Ca, and P concentrations in maternal and nursery diets mimics the incidence observed in spontaneous outbreaks in afflicted herds. A reproducible vitamin D-induced kyphosis in young pigs offers a suitable model to study the skeletal tissue characteristics, fetal skeletal tissue development, and potential treatments for pigs and human patients afflicted by this disease.
Position Announcement: Technical Services Veterinarian
Newport Laboratories has an immediate opening for a Technical Services Veterinarian. The position will join Newportâs FACS (Food Animal Care Specialists) team, consisting of DVMs and Research and Development Scientists, and will work in collaboration with sales, marketing and regulatory affairs professionals. The position will work with an emphasis on swine with interest and knowledge in beef and dairy.
Position Announcement (Veterinary Students): Swine Medicine Education Center Student Summer Projects
The Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC) is accepting student applications for four summer research positions. The SMEC will have a variety of research projects and educational material developmental projects for veterinary students to lead. These projects are an excellent opportunity for students to interact with faculty and the SMEC including access to production facilities at AMVC in Audubon, Iowa. Furthermore, these projects are typically designed to find answers to complex problems or to gain additional evidence for particular methodologies placing students in the position of pioneering new approaches to clinical swine medicine.
Pay it Forward: Be a Mentor!
The AASV Foundation is pleased to announce that the National Pork Industry Foundation has renewed funding for the NPIF Internship Stipend for 2013. This program, now in its fifth year, provides internship opportunities to six veterinary students who are interested in swine medicine but have limited means to gain experience early in their education. The AASV-SRC is seeking six US swine practitioners to be mentors for the students. Commitments include answering one student’s questions regarding the industry throughout the year and hosting the student for a minimum of 1 month in the summer. If you are interested in being a practitioner mentor, please contact Dr. Nathan Winkelman at 320-393-7447 (office) or 320-760-0318 (cell) or nwink@jetup.net.
2013 Carlos Pijoan Graduate Student Fellowship
The University of Minnesota is requesting applications for the 2013 Carlos Pijoan Graduate Student Fellowship in Swine Medicine. This endowed fellowship provides support for applied research in swine health for a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine.
Leadership Opportunity for AASV Student Member
The AASV Student Recruitment Committee is accepting applications from veterinary students interested in serving as the Alternate Student Delegate on the AASV Board of Directors. This student will represent student interests and serve as a non-voting member of the AASV board. This experience will provide the student with a unique perspective of the inner workings of the AASV. The term of service is 2 years; the first year as alternate student delegate, and the second year as the student delegate.