The next of the 2014 AASV Annual Meeting presentations is now available to watch online. Opening the Tuesday General Session, “Loos Tales and Loose Stools,” Trent Loos provided a few chuckles along with serious commentary about the disconnect between what consumers “know” and the reality of production agriculture. AASV members may view videos from keynote and general sessions of the AASV Annual Meeting going back to 2005 at https://www.aasv.org/members/only/video/
Monthly Archives: April 2014
PEDv Update – April 30, 2014
The New Case Report was not available from the NAHLN at press time. It will be posted on the AASV website upon receipt on Thursday.
Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters for Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Commercial Crossbred Pigs
Pork quality and carcass characteristics are now being integrated into swine breeding objectives because of their economic value. Understanding the genetic basis for these traits is necessary for this to be accomplished. The objective of this study was to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters for carcass and meat quality traits in two Canadian swine populations. Data from a genomic selection study aimed at improving meat quality with a mating system involving hybrid Landrace � Large White and Duroc pigs were used to estimate heritabilities, phenotypic, and genetic correlations among them. Data on 2,100 commercial crossbred pigs for meat quality and carcass traits were recorded with pedigrees compromising 9,439 animals over 15 generations. Significant fixed effects (company, sex and slaughter batch), covariates (cold carcass weight and slaughter age), random additive and common litter effects were fitted in the models. A series of pairwise bivariate analyses were implemented in ASREML to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters. Heritability estimates (� SE) for carcass traits were moderate to high and ranged from 0.22 � 0.08 for longissimus dorsi muscle area to 0.63 � 0.04 for trimmed ham weight, except for firmness that was low. Heritability estimates (� SE) for meat quality traits varied from 0.10 � 0.04 to 0.39 � 0.06, for the Minolta b* of ham quadriceps femoris muscle and shear force, respectively. Generally, most of the genetic correlations were significant (P < 0.05), ranged from low (0.18 � 0.07) to high (-0.97 � 0.35). There were high negative genetic correlations between drip loss with pH and shear force and a positive correlation with cooking loss. Genetic correlations between carcass weight (both hot and cold) with carcass marbling were highly positive. It was concluded that selection for increasing primal and subprimal cut weights with better pork quality may be possible. Furthermore, the use of pH is confirmed as an indicator for pork water-holding capacity and cooking loss. The heritabilities of carcass and pork quality traits indicated that they can be improved using traditional breeding methods and genomic selection, respectively. The estimated genetic parameters for carcass and meat quality traits can be incorporated into the breeding programs that emphasize product quality in these Canadian swine populations.
Pork Producers Seek Government Help in Expanding Truck Washing Capacity
Manitoba’s pork producers are hoping for federal and provincial government help to expand the province’s truck washing capacity. The Office of Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed the presence of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus at a high-traffic site in western Manitoba, bringing the total number of high-traffic or environmental sites that have tested positive to eight. Andrew Dickson, the general manager of Manitoba Pork estimates 40 to 50 trucks per week returning from the U.S. need to be washed but that number will increase dramatically if we have to start washing all of the trucks moving pigs within the province. [Source: Farmscape for April 29, 2014]
Influenza A Subtype H3 Viruses in Feral Swine, United States, 2011-2012
To determine whether, and to what extent, influenza A subtype H3 viruses were present in feral swine in the United States, USDA conducted serologic and virologic surveillance during October 2011-September 2012. These animals were periodically exposed to and infected with A(H3N2) viruses, suggesting they may threaten human and animal health.
New Demonstration Farm Showcases IMPROVEST®
Zoetis announced the opening of a demonstration farm in Greensburg, Ind. to broaden understanding on the use of immunological castration (IC) in U.S. pork production systems. The 500-head nursery-to-finishing facility, owned by Larry Rueff, DVM, provides a real-world setting for pork producers to see IMPROVEST® (gonadotropin releasing factor analog â diphtheria toxoid conjugate) in practice to better assess its merits as a production option. [Source: Zoetis News Release]
2014 North American PRRS Symposium and PED Update
This is the first announcement for the 2014 North American PRRS Symposium on December 5-6, 2014 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL. The conference will begin Friday, December 5, from 1 PM to 5 PM, with a poster session and reception to follow. The poster session will include mini-talks on selected abstracts. The conference will continue with an all-day session on Saturday, December 6. Topics include disease control in the field, vaccines, pathogenesis, diagnostics, epidemiology and the role of host genetics in disease resistance. A number of talks will be devoted to the latest developments on PED. Lunch on Saturday is included in the registration fee. Abstracts are requested for PRRS, PED and PCVAD.
Save the Date! Foundation Golf Outing August 21
The popular AASV Foundation Golf Outing is set for Thursday, August 21 at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Dike, Iowa. Golfers attending the outing can expect a warm welcome at this location, as the club is owned by AASV member Dr. Steve Menke, who practices in Ottumwa, Iowa. Dr. Menke’s son, Michael, serves as the club’s general manager.
What’s a Swine Vet Worth?
Isn’t that what we all want to know? Are your salary and benefits comparable to those of your colleagues? Are you paying your associate veterinarians enough to keep them from looking for greener grass elsewhere? What do you need to offer a young veterinarian to be competitive with other offers he/she is likely to receive? The answers to these questions start with your participation in the 2014 AASV Salary Survey! If you’re an “Active” AASV Member (non-retired veterinarian) in the US or Canada, please go to www.aasv.org/members/ (username and password required) to obtain a security code and access the online survey. It’s much simpler and less painful than the income tax returns you just filed, we promise. Once the data collection period has ended, the survey results will be pooled and shared with the AASV membership – and we’ll have the answers to our questions. The more participation, the more valid the results – so do your part and complete the survey today!
Operation Main Street Speaker Training Offered at WPX
AASV members like Drs. Rick Tubbs, Craig Rowles, Amy Woods, Jeff Harker, Peggy Anne Hawkins, and Gene Nemechek – to name just a few of the 75 veterinarians participating in Operation Main Street – are making a difference by sharing the facts about pig care and pork production with veterinary students, dieticians, and civic groups across the U.S. You can join your colleagues in the effort to counter misunderstanding and misinformation about the swine industry by becoming a trained Operation Main Street speaker. Two OMS speaker training classes will be held during World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa: