What better place than Denver to support the AASV Foundation? Denver’s beginnings were all about gold. In 1858, a small group of prospectors from Georgia discovered gold at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The gold rush that followed brought both prospectors and speculators to the area, and “Denver City” was born. After the Civil War, the discovery of silver brought a second onslaught of fortune seekers. With that history in mind, bring your own sacks of gold and silver to Denver and support the AASV Foundation! The AASV Foundation Auction Committee invites you to relax and enjoy the mountain scenery and vibrant way of life so evident in the Mile High City.
Monthly Archives: November 2016
News from Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University
To help meet industry need, Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) at Iowa State University has added one more Pork Quality Assurance Plus 3.0 advisor certification session on Wednesday, Dec. 14. With the introduction of this new program by National Pork Board earlier this year all PQA Plus advisor certifications done under the former 2.0 program expired Aug. 31. A maximum of 30 spots are available for this session.
UMN-CVM Offers Graduate Fellowships
The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce the awards of the 2016 graduate Pijoan and Leman Fellowships to Dr. Amanda Sponheim and Dr. Jorge Garrido in the areas of Mycoplasma and influenza research, respectively. Interested in pursuing graduate education in swine health and productivity? The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine has available two Fellowships, the Carlos Pijoan Fellowship and the Leman Fellowship to pursue a MS or PhD in the areas of swine production and medicine. Students will be exposed to a science based interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving encompassing the areas of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, population health, swine productivity and disease prevention, control and elimination, and will join a vibrant and passionate group of faculty and graduate students devoted to tackling significant problems that impact swine and human health.
Research Proposals Sought for Funding in 2017
As part of its mission to fund research with direct application to the profession, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation seeks research proposals for funding in 2017. Proposals are due January 16, 2017, and may request a maximum of $30,000 (US$) per project. Up to $60,000 will be awarded across two or more projects. The announcement of projects selected for funding will take place at the AASV Foundation Luncheon in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, February 26, 2017 (awardees will be notified in advance).
Position Announcement: Manager II/Associate Director – Livestock Clinical R&D
Zoetis, the leading animal health company, seeks a veterinarian with a minimum of 5 years cumulative experience in either U.S. livestock (bovine and/or swine) production and/or private livestock practice experience and/or livestock product development experience. The successful candidate will lead and manage livestock (cattle and/or swine) clinical research and development studies and/or projects/programs in compliance with appropriate regulatory requirements. The person will provide expertise in the areas of study conduct, species/therapeutic area and clinical program. For more information or to apply, please go to: https://zoetis.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/zoetis/job/Kalamazoo—Downtown-Portage-Street/Manager-II—Associate-Director—Livestock-Clinical-R-D_JR00001029.
$5000 Scholarships Available to Sophomore and Junior Vet Students
The AASV Foundation is pleased to announce that Merck Animal Health has renewed its support for the $25,000 AASVF-Merck Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Now in its second year, the program seeks to identify and assist future swine veterinarians with their educational expenses. Applications are due December 31, 2016 for scholarships that will be awarded in early 2017.
Merck Animal Health Calls for Swine PhD Award Submissions
Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada) is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2017 High Quality Pork Ph.D. Award in support of research in swine health, production and welfare. Merck Animal Health will award one recent doctoral graduate in veterinary or animal science the opportunity to present their research to an impressive number of industry specialists at upcoming MSD Animal Health High Quality Pork meetings to be held in Europe, the Americas and Asia in 2017.
Systematic Epidemiological Investigations of Cases of Senecavirus A in US Swine Breeding Herds
Epidemiological investigations were conducted on a case series of six Senecavirus A (SVA)-affected breeding herds in the United States to determine potential routes of introduction and enhance the swine industry’s knowledge of SVA’s clinical presentation and spread. Each SVA-affected herd was evaluated using a standard form to ensure that all relevant data were collected. The form was used to guide a detailed discussion about the clinical presentation of SVA and risk events that occurred in the 4 weeks prior to the first observation of clinical signs with the herd veterinarian and farm personnel. Each event was then subjectively assigned a risk level of low, medium or high likelihood for SVA introduction by the investigation team. The clinical presentation of SVA varied by case. All SVA-affected herds (six of six) reported increases in pre-weaning mortality and sow anorexia. Vesicular lesions were observed in four of six herds, and mild-to-moderate neonatal diarrhoea was observed in three of six herds. No gross anatomic or histologic lesions were observed in neonatal pigs that tested positive for SVA via PCR. Multiple potential routes of introduction were identified. Events subjectively rated as high risk for SVA introduction were on-farm employee entry (six of six), carcass disposal (four of six), cull sow removal (three of six) and breeding replacement entry (two of six). Non-swine domestic animals, rodents, other visitors, repairs outside swine barns, feed delivery, weaned pig removal and semen entry were assigned a high risk level in one of six herds. Cases occurred in breeding herds of all sizes with variable biosecurity in both swine dense and swine sparse areas. Baker KL, Mowrer C, Canon A, Linhares DC, Rademacher C, Karriker LA, Holtkamp DJ; Systematic Epidemiological Investigations of Cases of Senecavirus A in US Swine Breeding Herds; Transbound Emerg Dis. 2016 Nov 25. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12598. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 27888583 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12598
Checkoff Unveils Updated On-Farm Euthanasia Guide
The newly revised On-Farm Euthanasia of Swine Recommendations for the Producer (English and Spanish), produced by the Pork Checkoff and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, is now available in both print and electronic versions. According to Sherrie Webb, Checkoffâs director for animal welfare, the changes to the guide were made in light of new research data on various euthanasia methods, many of which was found through Pork Checkoff-funded work. These changes, along with field experience with the current commercially available equipment allowed for fine tuning of the recommendations. Webb says notable changes include electrocution, which is now acceptable for pigs older than three days of age and the non-penetrating captive bolt, which is now acceptable as a single-step method for pigs up to 70 pounds, if the appropriate force is achieved. The timely euthanasia definition also was updated to be consistent with the Common Swine Industry Audit. Additional updates were made to streamline the guide to make it easier to read.
FDA Releases 2014 NARMS Integrated Report; Finds Measurable Improvements in Antimicrobial Resistance Levels
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released its 2014 National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Integrated Report, highlighting antimicrobial resistance patterns in bacteria isolated from humans, retail meats, and animals at slaughter. Specifically, the report focuses on major foodborne bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics that are considered important to human medicine, and on multidrug resistant organisms (described as resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics). [Source: FDA, November 18, 2016]