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Research spotlight - An exploratory study to characterize current oral fluid usage in pig production systems in the U.S.

Reprinted as posted on Swine in Minnesota blog March 1, 2024 Bob Morrison’s Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP) researchers Xiaomei Yue, Mariana Kikuti, Marcello Melini, Sarah Vadnais and Cesar A. Corzo share the results of their pilot study characterizing the current use of oral fluid sampling in U.S. pig production systems. Key points: 66 out of 67 respondents from 42 companies and clinics are familiar with or actively use oral fluid sampling for diagnostics. A total of 35%, 27% and 3% of the respondents collected oral fluids on a monthly, weekly and daily basis, respectively. Most (69%) respondents use one rope for every two pens while the median number of ropes per barn was 3. Continue to read about this research on the Swine in Minnesota blog post.
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SAVE the DATE - Organic Swine Day

Organic pigs and rye research continues in its third year at the West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris, MN. Please mark your calendar, for Thursday, May 30, for the next Organic Field Day in Morris. Watch the UMN Extension Swine Newsletter for further details as the time nears!

Epidemiological evaluation of African Swine Fever spread in the Dominican Republic

Reprinted as posted on Swine in Minnesota blog January 26, 2024 Rachel Schambow, Syed Hussain, Maria C. Antognoli, Silvia Kreindel, Raysa Reyes and Andres Perez evaluate contributing factors to the spread of ASF in the Dominican Republic in a collaborative study between the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Minnesota, the USDA and the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. Key points:  155 ASF outbreaks were reported in the Dominican Republic from Nov. 2022-June 2023. Outbreaks were mainly reported in backyard farms and mostly located in the central provinces of the country, consistent with where most swine production occurs. Lack of biosecurity, management practices and proximity to neighboring outbreaks are implicated in ASF spread. Continue to read about this research on the Swine in Minnesota blog.

Swine & U column: Proper manure management

 By Diane DeWitte, UMN Extension swine educator Originally printed in The LAND - as March 1, 2024, Swine & U column Spring’s coming and a young farmer’s heart turns to …..manure?!? Maybe your manure plan involves fall application, but as the soils thaw and the tiles begin to run, it’s a good idea to review a few environmental protection habits that will help keep nutrients where they belong.   University of Minnesota Extension provides good resources for nutrient application calculation and groundwater and shoreland protection at its manure management website. Extension’s manure management specialist Melissa Wilson and manure management crops educator Chryseis Modderman provide the latest best management practices for manure application in our Land of 10,000 Lakes and 8.9 million pigs.   APPLICATION TIMING The best time to apply manure is dependent on farm logistics, weather, soil conditions and a producer’s willingness to take risks. UMN Extension recommends applying manure in th

Real Pork Trust Consortium

The Real Pork Trust Consortium  (RPTC) is a team of scientists from multiple universities striving to listen to and answer consumer questions about pork and pork production. We are proud to have two University of Minnesota swine faculty on the RPTC team. They are Pedro Urriola and Jerry Shurson. The team is focused on building trust so consumers can make informed decisions about the food they eat through cutting-edge research, communicating research results so all can comprehend and increase their knowledge, and training a future workforce and pork industry prepared to partner with consumers to ensure a sustainability future for us all. Learn more about the Real Pork Trust Consortium.