USDA: Reused tote bags likely cause of PEDv entry into US

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released a root cause investigation report that identified reuse of contaminated flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), also known as tote bags, as the most likely cause for how the swine enteric coronavirus disease (SECD) viruses -- including porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus and swine delta coronavirus -- entered the United States.
APHIS examined seventeen potential root cause scenarios, looking to see if they meet all four criteria needed to bring the virus from an overseas location to U.S. pig farms, as well as if there was evidence to support the scenario.
While the investigation did not uncover definite proof for any route of entry, a small number of scenarios were deemed plausible, with reuse of FIBCs being determined as the scenario that best fit the criteria for virus entry into the U.S.
FIBCs are commonly used to transport many types of material including sand for flood control, soybeans, pet treats, or almost any kind of bulk material. They are designed to be reused.  It is not a common practice to clean and disinfect these FIBCs between uses in the United States.
Evidence collected as part of the investigation suggests that the FIBCs could be potentially contaminated in their origin country and, upon arrival in the United States, are likely being reused. If a contaminated FIBC was used to transport bulk feed or ingredients to the swine feed mill networks, a small bit of contaminated material could have been mixed into feed destined for many locations and spread the virus onto farms.
APHIS completed follow-up testing in an attempt to provide evidence for this scenario. This follow-up testing further supports the hypothesis that PED virus could easily remain stable through the time needed to travel to the United States and infect pigs.
The first cases of novel SECD were confirmed in the U.S. in April 2013. SECD viruses quickly spread to many swine premises throughout the country, killing 7 million piglets within the first year and causing tremendous hardship for many American pork producers. APHIS, the states, and the swine industry have worked jointly to slow the spread of these diseases, including enhancing biosecurity practices.  APHIS also issued a federal order on June 5, 2014 requiring the reporting of SECD cases to assist with tracking and understanding these viruses. The number of new cases has dropped dramatically in the past year.

Fire claims Cooper Farms barn, pigs

A farrowing barn in Grover Hill, Ohio, Farms was destroyed and all of the animals inside were killed in a fire that took place during the early morning hours of March 8. The barn was owned by Cooper Farms.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and a dollar estimate on the losses was not yet available.
A Cooper Farms spokesperson told the Paulding Progress that the White Oak sow farm’s manager, who lives on the site, was woken up by the sounds of the fire. He called for help, with fire departments from Grover Hill, Oakwood, Paulding and Scott responding.
The barn lost was a 400x75-foot wood frame barn with metal siding that was built in 2000. The barn housed 380 sows and their offspring
“The fire was contained to one of the two barns, leaving the main barn of 2,200 sows unaffected, thanks to quick action by our team members and the local fire departments,” Cooper Farms stated in a news release.
No other employees were at the barn at the time the fire was discovered, said the company spokeswoman.
Founded in 1938, Cooper Farms is a vertically-integrated company dealing in the pig, turkey, egg and feed industries.

USDA defines PEDv infection stages, establishes protocols

As the USDA has worked through some of issues surrounding a federal mandate on porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus and swine delta coronavirus, the agency has set labels and protocols for the different phases of infection. The new labels will assist the pig industry with diagnostic sampling, as well as reporting the viruses.
The goal was to create a uniform language for producers, veterinarians and laboratories classify the viruses. These definitions are designed to help producers understand when and what will be required of them if they experience a PED virus outbreak or reoccurrence. 
The defined stages of disease infections, according to Michigan State University Extension, include:


• Suspect – Observation of acute contagious (spreading) watery diarrhea on a farm. When the suspect stage is discovered, the action necessary is to contact the herd veterinarian and complete sampling for diagnostic positive.
• Presumptive positive – There are no clinical signs, but diagnostic test indict positive animals. When the presumptive positive stage is detected, producers and veterinarians should submit diagnostic tests with national premises ID number and other required information to the USDA or a state veterinarian.
• Confirmed positive – Positive diagnostic tests and observed clinical signs are found, based on colonic PCR samples. When this stage is found, like with the presumptive positive stage, diagnostic tests with national premises ID number and other required information should be sent to the USDA or state veterinarian.  Also, a health management plan should be implemented and completed at the infected site. Finally, required documentation should be provided to the state veterinarian’s office, which will then be documented and forwarded to the USDA.

US pork production forecasts lowered for 2014, 2015

The USDA in its July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report lowered its forecasts for 2014 and 2015 U.S. pork production. The report was released on July 11.
2014 U.S. pork production forecast
The USDA in July projected that 22.76 billion pounds of pork would be produced in 2014, declining from its June projections of 22.82 billion pounds.
The agency lowered its forecast as it has witnessed slower-than-expected expansion in farrowings during the second quarter of 2014. USDA in its report said there are implications of hog slaughter being later in 2014, but strong hog prices and lower feed costs are expected to provide incentives to feed hogs to heavier weights.
2015 U.S. pork production forecast
The July WASDE report calls for 23.24 billion pounds of pork to be produced in 2015. This reflects a decline from the projection of 23.31 billion pounds of pork anticipated when USDA completed its June report.
The USDA said the forecast is lower because supplies of market hogs will remain relatively tight.
Ending stocks steady for 2014 and 2014
Despite lower expectations for U.S. pork production in both 2014 and 2015, USDA did not change its monthly forecasts for ending stocks of pork for either year. Ending stocks for pork in 2014 remained steady at 525 million pounds, while ending stocks for 2015 were also unchanged at 580 million pounds.

Pork Checkoff launches social media outreach program

The Pork Checkoff launched RealPigFarming, a new social media outreach program to share real stories from real farmers with consumers. This new initiative is a social movement to create and own the conversation around modern pig farming.
The goal of the project is to empower pig farmers to have meaningful and impactful conversations on social media with consumers about what happens on their farms. Choosing to tell the story of #RealPigFarming via social networks helps bring consumers and pig farmers together in a way that was not possible just a few years ago. In networks that are powered by images and videos, producers can tell their story in multiple different ways.
An elite team of social media “agvocates” called Social Forces has been selected for this mission. This team includes not only producers from more than 10 states, but animal science and agriculture students from colleges across the U.S. The Social Forces team is being asked to go above and beyond when telling their farming stories on social media.
The Pork Checkoff is encouraging everyone who has a passion for agriculture or a positive story to share about real pig farming to please use the #RealPigFarming in status updates, tweets, Instagram photos, blogs, vlogs and any other social media update.

Repeat PEDv outbreak confirmed at Indiana farm

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has proven more difficult to contain than veterinarians earlier thought, as one Indiana farm confirmed a second outbreak of PED virus. The farm did not want to be publicly identified, but authorized its veterinarian, Matt Ackerman, to speak on its behalf.
The state and federal effort to stamp out PED virus had operated on an assumption that a pig, once infected, develops immunity and will not be afflicted by the disease again for at least a few years, according to a Reuters report. Likewise, farms that had endured the disease were not known to suffer secondary outbreaks. The Indiana farm is the first to publicly confirm a repeat outbreak.
In the Indiana case, genetic sequencing showed the "exact same strain" of PED virus hit pigs at the farm in May 2013 and again in March 2014, said Ackerman, who collected samples from the farm. Piglets born to sows that were infected for a second time have a death rate of about 30 percent, compared with a nearly 100 percent death rate among newborn piglets during the first outbreak, he said.
Ackerman did not know why the sows on the Indiana farm were re-infected after being exposed to the virus during the original outbreak last year. At the time, they were about six months to a year old. The sows are having piglets and passing limited immunity on to their offspring, he said. Ackerman added that the farm does an “excellent job of sanitation,” making it more puzzling as to how a repeat outbreak of PED virus could occur.

In pork production, quality more important than quantity

While it is difficult to predict the future, it’s inevitable that it will take the swine industry some time to recover. With more than 6,600 cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus confirmed in 30 states thus far, March hog inventories were 3.7 percent lower when compared to March 2013, and this drop came despite farrowings that were 2.8 percent higher.
A recent USDA report showed April total pork inventories at 584.1 million pounds, up 8.6 million from March but down 116.9 million from April 2013. Even though the industry continues to produce larger litters, the number of pigs reaching market weight has been severely impacted by the disease outbreak.
With the goal of getting more piglets per sow, piglet quality is often sacrificed. More often, producers must contend with piglets that have lower birth weights, and as a direct result, require extra care and effort to reach full value in the market. Pushing piglets along quickly can also leave them with lower immune strength and greater susceptibility to health challenges. Lower quality pigs stay in production longer, adding to the cost of producing meat.
“We have to stay focused on producing pigs of higher value if we are to maintain optimum sow productivity,” said Russell Gilliam, U.S. swine business manager for Alltech. “We need to be careful not to produce pigs that require additional feed, care and costs.”
Starting with a quality piglet can make a vast difference in health care costs, additional feed, and the increased cost of extra days before market. As the saying goes “you are what your mother ate,” piglet quality begins with sow nutrition. One of the staples in proper sow nutrition is mineral management. The fundamental objective of mineral nutrition is to build optimum reserves that will support the pig in times of stress, prevent inadequacies and maximize health and performance.
While inorganic minerals are poorly absorbed, stored and utilized in the animal, organic minerals offer a more natural form for the animal and can perform even when supplemented at lower levels. Recent studies on the inclusion of Alltech’s organic trace minerals in sow diets showed considerable gain in performance and profitability for both sows and piglets. Data has shown that pigs with enhanced mineral status at birth and weaning, have reduced pre-wean mortality, higher piglet performance and weaning weight, and increased immune status. The trial work also showed a response in a mineral enhanced sow improves productivity and reduces mating intervals.
“When efficiency and value matter most, it is good to know that less can equal more, and it can be done the natural way,” Gilliam said. “The application of Alltech’s Mineral Management Program consistently delivers optimal results in swine operations in North America and around the world, while being a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly program.”

Tyson CEO: Hog supplies to drop 4-5 percent in 2014

Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson Foods, expects hog supplies to decrease by 4-5 percent during the Tyson Foods fiscal year 2014. However, Smith looks for higher hog weights to partially offset the smaller hog numbers for an anticipated 4 percent decline in pork production in 2014.
Losses from porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus are the main reason for the expected decrease in hog production. Speaking May 5 during an earnings call with shareholders, Smith said hog supplies will likely be further reduced in June through August, but the situation should ease by October.
Smith did not speculate too much further about pig production in the future, as PED virus, which can have as much as a 100 percent mortality rate in piglets and has no reliable cure, continues to spread through the United States and Canada.
“You’d like to think with cheaper grain prices that you’d start to see some herd expansion, but it’s difficult to see what the impact of that would be in light of PED. We continue to see a good number of accessions each week,” Smith said. “Supplies should be up next year, but a little too early to tell yet.”

PEDv, COOL law highlight pork industry testimony to Congress

Hog farmers are dealing with a deadly pig disease and the threat of trade retaliation against their products, both of which will have a negative impact on the U.S. pork industry, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) told congressional lawmakers April 30 in testimony before a House Agriculture subcommittee.
In a hearing on the state of the U.S. livestock industry held by the Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development and Credit, NPPC President Dr. Howard Hill, a veterinarian and hog farmer from Cambridge, Iowa, detailed the effects on hog farmers of the U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) law and of the porcine endemic diarrhea (PED) virus.
PED virus, said Hill, has killed about 7 million pigs in 30 states, losses that likely will reduce slaughter in the summer of 2014 by more than 10 percent. Such reductions would push U.S. hog prices up by 15 to 25 percent and force consumer pork prices up, according to economist Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics in Adel, Iowa.
Additionally, reduced hog numbers mean less feed, less medicine, fewer veterinary services and shortened hours at packing and processing plants, Hill testified.
NPPC wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a thorough investigation on the pathway PED virus and another virus used to gain entry into the U.S. swine herd, to conduct more research on the viral propagation of the diseases and to commit more resources to determining the pathogenesis of and ways to control the viruses.
The U.S. pork industry also urged USDA to “take a thoughtful and measured approach” to developing the PED virus reporting program it announced earlier in April. Hog farmers need a program that is “practical, workable and that can be successful,” Hill said.
COOL, which requires meat to be labeled with the country where an animal was born, raised and slaughtered, caused the Canadian pork industry to reduce production as U.S. hog farmers sought to avoid the costs and complications associated with the law, Hill pointed out. Additionally, the statute prompted Canada and Mexico to bring trade cases to the World Trade Organization, which is expected to rule on them this summer.
Should the WTO decide that the COOL law doesn’t meet U.S. international trade obligations, Canada and Mexico would be allowed to place retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products. NPPC is urging Congress to consider a legislative fix to the labeling law.

USDA now requiring reporting of PED virus cases

The USDA will require reporting of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus and swine delta coronavirus (SDCV) in hopes to slow the spread of this disease across the United States, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced April 18. USDA is taking this latest action due to the devastating effect on swine health since PED virus was first confirmed in the country in 2013.
"USDA has been working closely with the pork industry and our state and federal partners to solve this problem. Together, we have established testing protocols, sequenced the virus and are investigating how the virus is transmitted," said Vilsack. "Today's actions will help identify gaps in biosecurity and help us as we work together to stop the spread of these diseases and the damage caused to producers, industry and ultimately consumers."
In addition to requiring reporting of PED virus, USDA will also require tracking movements of pigs, vehicles, and other equipment leaving affected premises; however, movements would still be allowed. USDA is also working with industry partners to increase assistance to producers who have experienced PED virus outbreaks in other critical areas such as disease surveillance, herd monitoring and epidemiological and technical support.
As part of USDA's coordinated response, USDA's Farm Loan Programs is working with producers to provide credit options, including restructuring loans, similar to how the Farm Service Agency successfully worked with livestock producers affected by the blizzard in South Dakota. In the case of guaranteed loans, USDA is encouraging guaranteed lenders to use all the flexibility available under existing guarantees, and to use new guarantees where appropriate to continue financing their regular customers.
USDA is already providing assistance to researchers looking into this disease, with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) working with the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa to make models of the disease transmission and testing feedstuffs. This modeling work is contributing to some experimental vaccines to treat animals with the disease. ARS also has a representative serving as a member of the Swine Health Board. USDA also provides competitive grant funding through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program and anticipates some applications on PEDv research will be submitted soon. In addition, USDA provides formula funds to states and universities through the Hatch Act and National Animal Health Disease Section 1433 for research activities surrounding this disease.
In conjunction with the pork industry, state and federal partners, the USDA is working to develop appropriate responses to the PED virus and Swine Delta Coronavirus. A question-and-answer sheet on the new PED virus reporting requirement is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website. A summary of USDA actions to date is available also available online.

PEDv Update features news, updates on pig epidemic

News and developments on the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus epidemic are added regularly to the PEDv Update page.
A new feature, PEDv Update, has been added to WATTAgNet.com that contains the latest news and updates on the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus epidemic that is severely impacting the North American and world pork industries.
As new developments and news are added on this issue they will be added to the PEDv Update page. This gives users of WATTAgNet.com the ability to quickly find all the news and information on this important topic in one place

PED virus woes prompt USDA to lower pork production forecast

The USDA has lowered its forecast for U.S. pork production in 2014, largely due to the loss of piglets to porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. In the April 9 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, the USDA estimated that about 22.7 billion pounds of pork would be produced in 2014, backing down from its March projection of 23.4 billion pounds.
The April 2014 WASDE report also indicated that U.S. pork production in 2014 would decline from the 2013 U.S. pork production amount of 23.2 billion pounds.
According to the April 2014 WASDE report, pork producers had indicated intentions to increase sows farrowing in the period from March through August, but the loss of piglets to PED virus is expected to result in lower slaughter during the remainder of 2014. Carcass weights are forecast higher, but those gains will not be sufficient to offset the reduced slaughter numbers.

US hog and pig inventory lowest since 2007

The United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1 was at 62.9 million head, the lowest it has been since 2007. The swine inventory numbers were released in the USDA Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, released on March 28.
The hogs and pigs inventory number of 62.9 million head is a 3 percent decline from March 1, 2013, and a 4 percent decline from December 1, 2013. Shayle Shagam, USDA livestock analyst, said the report clearly reflects that porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has impacted U.S. swine numbers.
The USDA Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report also showed the average pigs saved per litter was 9.53 for the three-month period from December 2013 through February 2014, a year-over-year drop of almost five percent, close to what most analysts were expecting, Shagam said in a USDA radio interview. PED virus had not yet been discovered in the US during the December 2012-Feburary 2013 period.

Questions about pig losses to PED virus send hog futures soaring

Uncertainty surrounding total swine herd losses to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PED virus) has sent lean hog futures for spring and summer contracts to record-high levels, but it's possible the markets have overreacted, said Chris Hurt, Purdue Extension agricultural economist.
PED virus is a virus of swine that is fatal to nearly 100 percent of infected piglets that are less than two weeks old. There is no vaccination or treatment for the disease, which poses no threat to human health or food safety.
While PED virus can be devastating to individual swine herds, Hurt said it remains to be seen whether slaughter supplies will fall enough to warrant the $10 to $14 per-hundredweight surge in spring and summer futures prices over the past two weeks.
"So far this year the number of animals coming to market has been very close to the numbers indicated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's December Hogs and Pigs report," he wrote in a weekly outlook report. "When adjusted for the number of slaughter days compared to last year, the slaughter count so far is down 0.5 percent. However, market weights have been higher by about 2.5 percent, thus causing total pork production to be up by about 2 percent."
According to Hurt, the futures market suggests that lean hog prices could average about $112 per hundredweight for the period of March through August. This compares with an average of $88 per hundredweight for the same time period last year.
If fear of low slaughter supply is the cause of the price jump, Hurt said it means traders expect hog slaughter supplies could be down by as much as 7-10 percent.
When compared with USDA's December inventory count, those numbers indicate that slaughter supplies for the second quarter of 2014 will be down only 0.5 percent. Third-quarter supplies will come primarily from winter farrowings, which is where the most uncertainty comes into play.
"Winter farrowing intentions were up 1.3 percent, but since (PED virus) kills baby pigs and is most prevalent in cold months, the number of pigs weaned per litter could be down sharply," Hurt said. "This is where no one knows for sure."
The USDA will provide an updated inventory report on March 28, which will provide information on the number of pigs that survived the winter.
If lean hog slaughter supplies end up dropping by only 3-4 percent instead of the larger losses markets might be expecting futures prices could come down.
The bigger question, Hurt said, is how PED virus will affect the financial well-being of the pork industry as a whole this year.
"The initial answer might be somewhat surprising," he said. "(PED virus) will likely increase economic returns for the U.S. industry."
Demand for pork tends to hold fairly steady, and consumers are slow to reduce their pork use even in short supply situations. According to Hurt, hog prices tend to increase by at least 2 percent for every 1 percent that the quantity drops.
"This means that total revenue in the industry will likely increase due to (PED virus) and more than offset the losses from the disease," he said.
The outcome for individual hog producers won't necessarily mirror that of the overall industry. Producers with herds severely affected by PED virus with more piglet deaths than the national average, could end up with net financial losses, Hurt said. High hog prices could offset pig losses for producers with an average number of piglet deaths.
"PED virus could actually be a financial windfall for producers who are able to avoid the disease," he said. "At the farm level, current futures markets are suggesting a live price for 2014 at a record high of $76 per hundredweight compared with $64 last year. This will provide record-high industry revenues and the highest profit per head since 2005." 

Pork industry launches three-prong strategy to stem spread of PED virus

The National Pork Board has announced additional funds earmarked for research in the fight against the further spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PED virus), which was first identified in the United States in May 2013. The funds - $650,000 through supplemental funding approved by the Pork Checkoff and $500,000 through a new agreement with Genome Alberta, will provide new opportunities for research.
"This has become one of the most serious and devastating diseases our pig farmers have faced in decades," said Karen Richter, a Minnesota producer and president of the National Pork Board. "While it has absolutely no impact on food safety, it has clear implications for the pork industry in terms of supplying pork to consumers. Our No. 1 priority is to address (PED virus)."
Additionally, the Pork Checkoff announced a new collaboration with a number of industry players, including the National Pork Producers Council, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, the American Feed Industry Association, the National Grain and Feed Association, the National Renderers Association and the North American Spray Dried Blood and Plasma Protein Producers, which is made up of five member-companies throughout the United States and Canada.
Working together, this project will align swine, feed and veterinary groups to bring an even higher level of collaboration in the fight against the disease. Now active in some parts of Canada, PED virus continues to cause a heavy loss of piglets on farms across the United States.
"I am hopeful others will join our coordinated effort to specifically define risks and share information to contain the further spread," said Richter. The new effort was announced during the annual National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City March 6-8.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, PED virus has surfaced in 26 states. Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics and a Pork Checkoff consultant, estimates the loss of more than 5 million piglets in the past several months, with 1.3 million lost in January alone.
"Losses of this magnitude will ultimately have a consumer impact through a reduction in supply," Meyer said. "Some pork supply will be made up through producing higher market-weight hogs and through other loss mitigation actions, but today we are already seeing summer pork futures climb to record levels."
Part of the Pork Checkoff's supplemental funding of $650,000 will be used for feed-related research to better understand thepotential role feed may play in PED virus transmission. Also, a portion of the funding will be used to identify ways to increase sow immunity and to better understand transmission and biosecurity risks. This brings the current level of Pork Checkoff-funded research to approximately $1.7 million since June 2013.
"That investment will be centered on further containing (PED virus) with a specific focus on feed research and related issues, building the immunity of breeding herds and biosecurity measures," said Dr. Paul Sundberg, vice president of Science and Technology at the National Pork Board.
In a related move, Genome Alberta is cooperating with the National Pork Board to identify research gaps in understanding PED virus and stem its spread. Genome Albert has committed approximately $500,000 toward a coordinated U.S./Canadian effort and is seeking additional funds from Canadian, provincial and regional agencies.

New, non-PEDV coronavirus detected in pigs with diarrhea

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is informing pork producers and veterinarians that a new coronavirus has been detected in pig fecal samples from four swine labs in Ohio by Dr. Yan Zhang, a virologist from ODA's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL). The virus cannot spread to humans or other species and poses no risk to food safety.
The farms from which the samples were taken experienced outbreaks of a diarrheal disease in sows and piglets in January and early February of 2014. The clinical signs of the disease were similar to that of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), which are both caused by coronaviruses. Electronmicropy of fecal samples from the four farms showed the presence of coronavirus-like viral particles. In one of the four farms, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for TGEV and PEDV currently circulating in the U.S. were negative, but all 10 samples were positive for a new virus. PEDV and the new virus were detected in fecal samples from the other three farms.
Sequence analysis of the new coronavirus shows that it is a deltacoronavirus, distinct from PEDV and TGEV. The new virus has been designated as Swine DeltaCoronavirus (SDCV). Further study is needed to confirm whether this virus is the cause of diarrheal disease in affected pigs.
The ADDL offers PCR tests that can detect PEDV, SDCV and TGEV.

Zoetis announces research partnership with Iowa State University to help control porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in the United States

Zoetis Inc. has announced a research partnership with Iowa State University (ISU) to identify and test a vaccine candidate to help control porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in the United States.
"Establishing this partnership further affirms our commitment to fighting this devastating virus," said Gloria Basse, vice president, U.S. Pork Business Unit, Zoetis. "We look forward to working with the top researchers at Iowa State University to share knowledge and expertise as we make every effort, together, to help veterinarians and producers fight PEDV."
New cases of PEDV continue to mount. Since the beginning of December, more than 100 new cases have been reported each week. PEDV now has spread to swine farms in 23 states since April 2013, with documented farm cases in the thousands. Losses from PEDV are significant and have been measured on some farms at 100 percent mortality for infected piglets up to 3 weeks old.
"We know how devastating this virus has been to the swine industry," said Jianqiang Zhang, MD, PhD, assistant professor, ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. "We are eager to work with Zoetis and advance the research we've begun to find a solution."
The development of a vaccine candidate is one element of Zoetis' ongoing efforts to support swine veterinarians and pork producers control PEDV. In 2013, Zoetis began a collaboration with the University of Minnesota to develop a diagnostic test for PEDV.
While research and development of solutions continue, it's important for producers to remain vigilant with their biosecurity practices to deter the spread of PEDV. Follow these practices recommended by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians:

• Label and use chutes for loading and unloading. Use the loading chute only for animals that are leaving your farm. Healthy animals unloaded into the loading chute could be exposed to the virus.
• Wash and disinfect all unloading chutes and driver areas as often as possible. Use a 2 percent phenol-based disinfectant in the areas where drivers walk to enter the chute, from point of entry to the top and all areas where the chute contacts the truck.
• Require all trailers used for picking up animals to be cleaned and disinfected before arrival. Be sure to allow enough time for the disinfectant to dry completely before use.
• Provide coveralls and boots for employees to wear while on the farm. These materials should stay on-site and be washed routinely.
• If your farm allows guests, provide clear direction for where they should report upon arrival. Also, provide them with coveralls and boots before they enter any facilities.

US pork production forecast lowered amid PEDV concerns

The USDA in February lowered its forecast for U.S. pork production in 2014, citing reports that indicate porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) continues to spread. The latest projection was released in the February 10 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
PEDV, which has been confirmed in 23 U.S. states, has been depleting herd sizes, as it can have a 100 percent mortality rate in piglets, and it takes affected farms months to return to normal production rates.
According to the February WASDE report, an estimated 23.4 billion pounds are expected to be produced in the United States in 2014, which is a drop from the 23.6 billion pounds forecast in the January WASDE report.
Along with the lower forecast for U.S. pork production comes an anticipated increase in pork prices. February projections for annual barrow and gilt prices are 61-65 cents per hundredweight, a 1-cent increase from the January projections.

Iowa Pork Regional Conferences offer risk and financial management information

Iowa pork producers are invited to learn more about preventing losses, limiting liability and conducting barn walk-throughs at the 2014 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences, scheduled for February 24-28. They'll also hear about factors affecting operations' financial status and get updates on a variety of health and disease issues. The Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC), Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach co-sponsor this annual series at different sites around the state.
The dates of February 25-28 follow the same schedule at all four locations with sessions held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. There is no cost for those who preregister and pork operation employers, managers and staff are encouraged to attend. Walk-in registration is $5 per person, payable at the door.
Conference dates and locations are as follows:
● Monday, Feb. 24 - Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College, Building A, Room 119C
● Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Carroll, Carroll County Extension Office
● Wednesday, Feb. 26 - Nashua, Borlaug Learning Center
● Friday, Feb. 28 - Iowa City, Johnson County Extension Office
Mike Brumm, Brumm Swine Consultancy, will walk producers through steps they can take to be better prepared to prevent losses due to barn system failures and limit liability issues. He'll also draw on his experiences with Midwest farms to share his view of the ideal barn walk-through.
Iowa State extension livestock economist Lee Schulz will talk about the factors affecting the bottom line, review forecasts for input costs and market hog value, and present ideas on possible profit opportunities in the coming year.
At their respective locations, ISU extension and outreach swine program specialists will provide updates on ventilation management, euthanasia techniques and antibiotic use. They'll also share upcoming educational opportunities in these and other areas, and will lead PQA Plus 2.0 training sessions for attendees from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the day of each session. The training is free for those who pre-register.

Impact of PEDV on US pork industry continues to grow

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) continues to be a very critical health issue for the U.S. swine industry. According to Bob Thaler, South Dakota State University Extension swine specialist, some estimates show as many as 3 million pigs were lost to PEDV in 2013.

"The first cases were reported this May, and as of December 1, 2013, there are 1,512 cases in 20 states in the U.S," Thaler said. "The disconcerting news is that this is an increase of 140 new locations from the week before, which is the largest 1-week jump in cases."

While South Dakota has only two reported cases, Thaler said multiple cases have been reported in Iowa and Minnesota - with Nebraska reporting its first cases the end of December.

"Outbreaks of PEDV can be devastating. There is 100 percent mortality in newborn pigs, and this typically creates a five-week hole in pigflow because there are no pigs to wean,"Thaler said. "Pigs in the early nursery phase don't experience the high death loss, but it does cause severe diarrhea so many pigs are stunted and nursery performance suffers."

As pigs get older and their own immune system becomes functional, Thaler said there is little to no death loss, and most pigs experience just a one week lag in growth performance.

"One of the good things about PEDV is it appears that the virus itself is not an airborne threat," he said. "However, it is very easily transmitted by manure and if a virus-contaminated piece of manure were to be small enough to get aerosolized, then PEDV could travel in the air."

Thaler said preventing infected manure from getting on your farm is the best way to prevent PEDV.

PEDV is an extremely infective virus and it only takes a minute amount to cause an outbreak, he said, and it can live in manure slurry up to 14 days at room temperature, and more than 28 days in cold slurry, so it is not affected by the cold. It can also live in feed up to one week.

The biggest threat to pork producers is when they take their pigs to market. Packing plants and buying stations are great places for disease to spread.

Before getting out of the cab, producers need to put on a pair of disposal boots and then get the pigs unloaded. Before getting back into the cab when done, they need to take off and discard the boots immediately before entering the cab.

He added that many producers routinely go to truck washes after unloading hogs to clean out their trailer. While this is a good idea, Thaler reminds hog producers that truck washes are also another commingling place where PED is prevalent.

"Any manure that splashes up on the truck, tires, or boots during the cleaning process probably has the virus in it. After cleaning the trailer at a truck wash, it needs to be sprayed with a disinfectant and allowed to dry," he said.

When done properly, drying and disinfecting will take care of both PRRS and PEDV. Thaler also encourages producers to visit with their veterinarian about which disinfectants are the most effective.

"If a clean and disinfected truck and trailer can be dried at 160 degrees for 10 minutes, the virus should be gone," he said. "If they are dried at room temperature, it'll take one week to kill the virus."

He added that recent research shows that convenience stores are also a great commingling place for PEDV.

"In study in Iowa, the floors of over 50 different convenience stores were swabbed and all tested positive for the PED virus," he said. "If a person goes into the store for coffee and a roll after selling a load of hogs, they risk picking up the PED virus on their shoes, which then could infect their whole herd at home."

Therefore, Thaler suggests by-passing the convenience stores if producers plan to visit the unit when they get home - or at least make sure you change shoes before going back into the operation.

While PEDV is a devastating disease for swine operations, Thaler said strict adherence to biosecurity protocols can dramatically decrease the chances of getting it.

"Everybody involved with the operation needs to buy into the program, and that will also reduce the risk of bringing in other diseases like PRRS," he said.