First TGE Outbreak In Three Years

After three years of Manitoba hog barns being free of Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE), the uncommon disease tested positive in a sow and nursery operation in southern Manitoba last May. “It was rather surprising, but good that it did not cause as much trouble as it could have. When it tends to hit it usually is

Pandemic Virus Swapping Genes In Pigs

The H1N1 swine flu virus has been spreading quietly in pigs in Hong Kong and swapping genes with other viruses, and researchers said the findings support calls for tighter disease surveillance in pigs before new bugs can emerge and infect people. The finding, published in Science June 18, supports the theory that flu viruses infecting


Long-Awaited Hog Recovery Finally Happening

Relief is finally in sight for Manitoba’s beleaguered hog farmers after a financial battering that’s lasted nearly four years. Producers can expect to see profit margins of $20 to $25 a hog for most of 2010, beginning this spring, according to a Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op outlook. The expected average fixed forward contract price from

Pork Sector Assesses H1N1 Damage

“H1N1 has been another poster child for active, ongoing risk management.” If there was any lingering doubt of the huge economic and psychological blow dealt to the pork industry in the wake of H1N1 influenza, it was quickly erased for those attending the Banff Pork Seminar, a leading seminar for the pork industry held annually


Swine Workers Encouraged To Get H1N1 Flu Shot

“Vaccination of swine workers may reduce the likelihood that H1N1 flu will be introduced into barns.” – DR. WAYNE LEES The Manitoba government is telling people who work directly with pigs to get the H1N1 flu shot. In a recent letter to the Manitoba Pork Council, the province recommended the move, not just to guard

U. S. House Cat Catches H1n1

A 13-year-old indoor cat in Iowa is confirmed to have had and recovered from pandemic H1N1 influenza, marking another species crossover for the virus. “Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill,” veterinarian Dr. Ann Garvey of the Iowa Department of


Pig DNA Mapped: May Help With Breeding, Vaccines

An international team of researchers said Nov. 2 it had mapped the DNA of a domestic pig, work they say that could help lead to better breeding techniques as well as improve vaccines against diseases such as swine flu. They plan to look for genes useful in pork production and immunity in pigs, which are

Pandemic H1N1 Hits Commercial U. S. Herd

The pandemic H1N1 influenza virus has been found for the first time in a commercial swine herd, the U. S. Agriculture Department said Nov. 2. The sick herd was found in Indiana, the USDA said, noting both the pigs and their caretakers have fully recovered from the virus, commonly called swine flu. USDA said the


USDA Finds More Show Pigs With H1N1 Flu Virus

Six pigs shown at the Minnesota State Fair last month have been confirmed as having had the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, the U. S. Agriculture Department said Oct. 29. The USDA said it is running confirmatory tests on samples from another six pigs that tested positive for the virus during preliminary tests. Some of those

Swine Fever May Impede Growth In Russia Herd

The spread of African swine fever, a deadly hog disease, to near St. Petersburg could threaten Russia’s attempts to become self-sufficient in pork production, the U. S. Meat Export Federation said Oct. 28 in a note to members. “If recent ASF outbreaks in Russia are as widespread as available information indicates, they could represent a