Dr. Rodney "Butch" Baker Iowa State University

Publish Date: 11/03/2011

Risk factors for security of a farm and biosecurity of pigs on the farm are unique to that farm. Therefore, each biosecurity plan should be farm specific. The best plans are created by working with a swine veterinarian or veterinary consultant who has extensive knowledge of the farm, employees, and local risk factors.

Publish Date: 05/22/2013

In the past few years an expensive swine disease that had largely disappeared has begun to re-emerge in a few Eastern and Midwestern as well as Canadian swine operations. Swine dysentery (SD or bloody scours) is a “gut” disease which is very expensive to treat medically and difficult to effectively remove once pigs and facilities are contaminated. SD is carried by infected swine, other animals in contact with infected swine, as well as small amounts of manure adhered to equipment or clothing. Biosecurity steps that can reduce these exposure risks, and protect your facilities and investments should be immediately implemented to slow the spread of this disease. Your swine veterinarian can assist you in diagnostics and biosecurity plan formulation to protect your herd.

Publish Date: 01/03/2012

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is now called porcine circovirus disease (PCVD) in Europe, and porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD) in North America. Starting at the end of 2004, and particularly since the beginning of 2005, cases of PCVAD in Quebec increased dramatically. Simultaneously in Ontario and a little later in North Carolina, the same phenomenon of dramatic increase in PCVAD cases was observed. The disease has now spread to other parts of both Canada and the US. This fact sheet will cover what the condition looks like, what is causing it, how it gets transmitted and what reasons could explain why we now have such significant problems compared to what we had in the past.

Publish Date: 09/24/2007

Six main strategies or approaches have shown some value in the control of Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease (PCVAD): depopulation and repopulation, serotherapy, management and nutritional changes, the control of concomitant diseases that are aggravating the condition, genetics, and finally, vaccines.

Publish Date: 09/24/2007

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is now called porcine circovirus disease (PCVD) in Europe, and porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD) in North America. Starting at the end of 2004, and particularly since the beginning of 2005, cases of PCVAD in Quebec increased dramatically. Simultaneously in Ontario and a little later in North Carolina, the same phenomenon of dramatic increase in PCVAD cases was observed. The disease has now spread to other parts of both Canada and the US. This fact sheet will cover what the condition looks like, what is causing it, how it gets transmitted and what reasons could explain why we now have such significant problems compared to what we had in the past.