Swine Extension

Reprinted as posted on Swine in Minnesota blog. Adopted March 26, 2021 Bob Morrison’s Swine Health Monitoring Project Friday rubric. Summary of a publication by Drs. Peter Davies and Randal Singer from the University of Minnesota on the use of antimicrobials in wean-to-market pigs in the United States. Key Points Obtained data on antimicrobial use in the U.S swine industry through voluntary and confidential sharing of proprietary data First substantial description of antimicrobial use in U.S swine beyond FDA sales and distribution data Critically important classes were only 5% of use, and fluoroquinolones and ceftiofur (drugs of most concern) were <1% The project is ongoing and seeking further participation from interested systems for 2018 & 2020 Antimicrobial resistance is now a crisis in human medicine. This has rightly brought scrutiny of how antimicrobials are used across all prescribing professions, along with efforts to define ‘best practices’ for antimicrobial use. It is ...

Did you know stress can impact farm safety? University of Minnesota Extension Farm Safety and Health Educator Emily Krekelberg has some great farm stress and safety resources. Know the signs of stress and how stress is linked to farm safety by reading Emily’s being stressed can compromise farm safety article . Check out the recently released Agricultural Roadway Safety video . Help is available - If you or someone you know wants to talk to someone but feels uncomfortable reaching out to family or friends, the Farm and Rural Helpline is free, confidential and available 24/7 at 833-600-2670. You can also text FARMSTRESS to 898211 or email farmstress@state.mn.us .

By Kevin Janni, University of Minnesota Extension Agricultural Engineer Originally printed in The LAND – as March 5/March 12, 2021 Swine & U column After a winter of snow and ice, farmers should consider where the snowmelt will go and how it could make farm operations difficult in the spring. Early snowmelt and spring rains can run across frozen ground, gather in low spots and create flooded areas. Melting snow can flood buildings, feed and bedding storage areas in low areas, which can damage feeds, bedding or equipment. It can be hard on both animals and equipment to go through flooded roads or lanes. Refreezing can convert flooded lanes into slippery ice-covered areas that can give way as equipment or animals go over them. Animal exercise lots or outdoor feeding areas can also become messy with snowmelt running across or gathering. Feedlot runoff needs to be managed properly to prevent contaminating surface waters. It is also important to prevent snowmelt from entering in-ground ...

By Diane DeWitte, UMN swine Extension educator Originally printed in The LAND – as April 16/April 23, 2021 Swine & U column Have you ever stepped into your hog building and thought it felt like a balmy beach day on vacation, only to realize that the heater and the fans were both running full blast? Comfortable, but not at all efficient or economical. Animals housed inside a building produce heat, gas and moisture. Their heat results from their metabolism and the larger they grow, the more heat they produce. Gas develops from stored manure. Moisture occurs from several sources in swine barns including: Pigs breathing (respiration) Drinking water spills Evaporation of urine and manure Swine barns need ventilation to remove the excess heat, gas and moisture that buildup in the facility. Springtime is one of the most challenging in terms of keeping the pigs warm enough at night and comfortably well-ventilated during the day. Providing ventilation in the spring No matter what their size...

The 2021 Allen D. Leman Conference is scheduled for September 18 – 21 in St. Paul, MN. The Allen D. Leman Conference is an annual educational event for the global swine industry. It is known for bringing science-driven solutions to the complex challenges facing the swine industry. More details are forthcoming .

 At this time, due to COVID-19 guidelines, PQA+ and TQA in-person certification sessions have not been pre-scheduled for the entire 2021 year, but will be scheduled as we go throughout the year based on current COVID-19 guidelines at specific times. However, we have scheduled one PQA+ and TQA certification day per month via Zoom to provide interaction for those who like the "live" contact: Wednesday, May 19 PQA+ certification sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and TQA from 1 to 4 p.m. Certification sessions are free, but NOTE pre-registration is required in order to get Zoom connection details. To pre-register contact either Diane DeWitte ( stouf002@umn.edu  or 507-384-1745; by either phone call or text) or Sarah Schieck Boelke ( schi0466@umn.edu  or 320-235-0726 ext. 2004). If you are not familiar with Zoom, we will provide some helpful tips beforehand so your connection to the certification course is seamless. PQA+ and TQA certification can be completed online ...

Congratulations to the following swine faculty and educators from the swine Extension team who have had their work published recently. Moreno, G. L., Nirmala, J., Goodell, C., Culhane, M. & Torremorell, M. (2021) Shedding and transmission of a live attenuated influenza A viru vaccine in pre-weaned pigs under field conditions. PLOS One, 16(2), e0246690. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pome.0246690. Zeng, Z. K., Jang, J. C., Shurson, G. C, Thakral, S., & Urriola, P. E. (2021). Ammonia fiber expansion increases in vitro digestibility and fermentability of corn distillers dried grains with solubles with or without carbohydrates. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 273, 114824. Doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.114824.

In the podcast Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with current University of Minnesota graduate student Kayla Law about her research. Kayla’s research looked at the maternal programming of the piglet microbiome from birth to weaning. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/PodcastEpisode23  (Recorded April 29, 2021)