Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

News from the
National Pork Board
Checkoff research helps wage war
against PRRS
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
(PRRS) is a formidable and costly enemy to
fight, but extensive research funded by the Pork
Checkoff is helping the pork industry gain ground
in the battle against the tenacious virus.
“The Pork Checkoff is committed to finding
practical solutions to this very complex disease
through investments in research,” said National
Pork Board President Everett Forkner. “Whether
it’s looking at real-time challenges, such as the
implementation of regional elimination, or longterm
issues, such as determining genetic resistance
to PRRS, the Checkoff is involved on the research
frontlines on producers’ behalf.”
To aid producers, the Pork Checkoff recently
mailed producers a copy of the 40-page PRRS
Initiative Research 2004-2011 Report, which offers
a comprehensive reference on the evolution of
PRRS research and can help with the development
of herd health management strategies, said Lisa
Becton, director of swine health information and
research for the Pork Checkoff.
“Thanks to the breadth of the research that has
been gathered in recent years, our understanding
of PRRS is increasing by leaps and bounds,” said
Becton, noting that the PRRS Initiative Research
program, supported by the Pork Checkoff ’s Swine
Health Committee, has funded 123 projects
totaling more than $10 million since 2004. “There
are definite things producers can do to control
PRRS from getting in their operation.”
Checkoff supports new flu naming
Before the current flu season got into full swing,
the Pork Checkoff, the National Pork Producers
Council and the American Association of Swine
Veterinarians met with USDA and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about influenza.
The objective was to find accurate ways to describe
influenza viruses that prevent confusion about pork’s
safety.
The CDC, along with international human and animal
health agencies, recently announced that it will now
refer to influenza viruses that normally circulate in
animals and may infect humans as “variant influenza
viruses,” designated by a “v.” For example, the recent
human cases of influenza A(H3N2) that contain
components of human, avian, swine and H1N1
influenzas are now called influenza A(H3N2)v.
“This will allow the media to use more accurate
terminology to communicate to consumers and will
help reinforce to consumers that you cannot get the
flu from eating or handling pork,” said Dr. Jennifer
Koeman, director of producer and public health for the
Pork Checkoff.
Research shows less bedding needed
during hog transport
Texas Tech and Iowa State University researchers
have found that the pork industry can generally use
less bedding year-round than it currently does while
improving overall animal well-being - a breakthrough
finding that could save the industry an estimated $10.1
million per year.
The results are from a new study funded by the Pork
Checkoff.
John McGlone, a swine researcher at Texas Tech
University and principal researcher for the study, along
with Anna Butters-Johnson an Iowa State University
researcher, looked at various rates of bedding in
semi-trailers at different times of year and in different
locations throughout the Midwest. This approach
provided data representing cold, mild and hot weather.
58 March 2012