PRRS, the 4-letter abbreviation that should make any hog producer shutter. The extensive disease pressure this year has likely caused this feeling more than once. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a viral disease resulting in complications with reproduction and respiratory disease in pigs of any age. Since last fall, there has been an…
Category: Swine Health
Don't Forget to Practice Biosecurity During Pig Show Season
In the summer, many of us look forward to county fairs, state fairs and many other livestock exhibitions. For many of us, this is a time to get off the farm and meet neighbors, friends and family. It is important to remember that the livestock we leave at home are actually the ones that pay…
PORK Responsible Antibiotic Use Standard
PIPESTONE provides veterinary services to pig farmers all over the world. We recognize the growing global concern over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its impact on human and animal health. We share society’s concern of the potential impact of antibiotic use on AMR. With the health and production tools available today, we can raise pigs with…
Animal Welfare
Training | Tools | Tracking PIPESTONE and the families we work with are committed to producing safe food, protecting our environment, and providing the best care for our animals. Whether I am working with an individual family farmer or the team at PIPESTONE, when it comes to animal welfare we talk about incorporating the three…
Pivot to Meet Ever-Changing Pig Care
This year marks 30 years that the sow farm Hiawatha Gilts was constructed in Pipestone county, Minnesota birthing what would become the Pipestone Management and change modern swine production. Most intriguing is what Hiawatha represents as we think about innovation and the progression of health management. Hiawatha started as a multi farmer-owned farrow to finish…
Antibiotic Resita-WHAT?
We all share a concern for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its impact on human medicine, veterinary medicine, and global society. As veterinarians, our first instinct is to correct the problem! As scientists, we want data to help craft the plan. As a mother (and as a human being in general), I (and others) want to…
Do you work with a Veterinarian and do you follow their guidelines for antimicrobial use?
The bare minimum to meet this requirement is to have a Vet physically on site one time per year and to have written scripts for all prescription products on site. If this is the only interaction you are having with a Veterinarian, consider getting value for your operation with more veterinarian interaction. Questions to ask…
A proven safe and effective disinfecting alternative
Ag Forte Pro has been proven to improve sanitation and bio-security of pig barns and livestock transport trucks, while being safe and easy to use. It eliminates irritation to nose, eyes and skin, as well as reduces wash time and water use. COVID-19 has brought biosecurity and disinfecting to the top of everyone’s minds; a…
Feed Mill and Ingredient Biosecurity
Feed mills serve as a central location for feed ingredients to create a complete ration. Ingredients and complete feed have the potential to carry and harbor detrimental bacteria and viruses (Dee et al., 2018 and Cochrane et al., 2018). These ingredients and complete feed not only have the potential to introduce pathogens themselves but also…
Is the Water Quality the Best at Your Farm?
Dr. Spencer Wayne spends some time with Jesse McCoy, a water quality expert. The discussion is about ways to check water quality to determine what’s happening at your farm!
Autogenous Vaccines: A Tool in the Toolbox
It’s that time of year filled with snow, ice, and… minimum ventilation inside your barn. The time of year when it is a constant battle between fresh, good air quality versus the heating bill. Poor air quality can also lead to increased bacterial disease pressure such as Streptococcus suis (Strep) and Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) in…
Antibiotic Resistance: Pipestone Investigates at the Farm Level
By: Ann Hess, editor at National Hog Farmer Ever since the Center for Disease Control released their 2013 report, Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, stating that each year at least 2 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 23,000 people die, there has been a concerted effort to track antibiotic resistance.…
Frequently Asked Questions about Erysipelas
What is Erysipelas? Swine erysipelas is a disease caused by a bacterial infection named Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. It has been around for well over one hundred years. It is important to remember that this bacterium can cause disease within your breeding herd, as well as your growing pigs. Although the prevalence is low in the industry,…
Back to Basics: Air, Water, and Feed
My wife and I recently watched my brother’s two children one of whom isn’t quite talking. In the middle of an atypically long crying session my wife and I were reminded of when our two oldest were newborns. We started scrolling through the mental rolodex of what could possibly be wrong: was he hungry, tired,…
Don't Sweat Heat Stress
As summer approaches, so does the increased risk of heat stress and heat exhaustion. Heat stress is an economically important issue and can have severe consequences if proper precautions are not taken. Through a variety of management techniques, we can help reduce the risk of our hogs being affected by heat stress. Pigs are unable…
Antimicrobial Resistance: We don't have all the answers yet!
Late in the day as you are watching the evening news you learn about an individual who was confirmed with an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. The story continues describing how there has been an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections around the world and the news anchor quotes CDC by stating that antibiotic use in livestock is…
Early Investment in Filtration Pays Dividends for Animal Health, Biosecurity
The investment in filtration equipment for sow farms that began as a “leap of faith” by Pipestone Management over a decade ago has evolved into a critical element of keeping sows and piglets protected from deadly viruses. Pipestone was the first to install filtration equipment on a commercial sow farm in the United States in…
Stop the loss! Focus on Mycoplasma and Circovirus Prove Profitable for Pig Producers.
The goal of boosting production and profitability for pork producers has led Joseph Yaros, DVM, and veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, to focus on the control and elimination of two key pathogens. “My main objective is to help our producers be as profitable as possible and reduce health issues in their herds,” said Dr. Yaros.…
Biosecurity Steps that Work!
Fall is the time when us pig veterinarians start getting nervous to answer phone calls from our farmers. The shorter days mean different things for veterinarians and farmers, but it’s an equally busy time of year. For farmers, autumn means harvesting the crops and spreading manure. For veterinarians, it’s an awful-tasting pumpkin spice latte full…
Antimicrobial Resistance: We don’t have all the answers yet!
Late in the day as you are watching the evening news you learn about an individual who was confirmed with an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. The story continues describing how there has been an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections around the world and the news anchor quotes CDC by stating that antibiotic use in livestock is…
Early Investment in Filtration Pays Dividends for Animal Health, Biosecurity
The investment in filtration equipment for sow farms that began as a “leap of faith” by Pipestone Management over a decade ago has evolved into a critical element of keeping sows and piglets protected from deadly viruses. Pipestone was the first to install filtration equipment on a commercial sow farm in the United States in…
Stop the loss! Focus on Mycoplasma and Circovirus prove profitable for pig producers.
The goal of boosting production and profitability for pork producers has led Joseph Yaros, DVM, and veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services, to focus on the control and elimination of two key pathogens. “My main objective is to help our producers be as profitable as possible and reduce health issues in their herds,” said Dr. Yaros.…
Benefits to Animal Health and Bottom Line with Pipestone Antibiotic Resistance Tracker
The use of antibiotics and development of resistance to medically important antibiotics has emerged as a critical issue in both human and animal health sectors in recent years. With 23,000 deaths in the U.S. each year attributed to infections that are antibiotic resistant, and increasing interest from consumers, food companies and restaurants in the use…
PEDV... Have you Forgotten? PEDV: Hysteria is Gone, but the Disease Isn't
It seems so long ago. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) had just been diagnosed in the U.S. Rumors circulating that it hit a farm not far from yours. What could be done to stop it? Was it as bad as everyone was saying? The PEDV storm came and went. The virus is not gone, but…
Keeping Antibiotics in the Arsenal: Pigs Can Still Get Sick
By Ann Hess, editor at National Hog Farmer When the new FDA antibiotic guidance rules went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, it was a good reminder to all pig farmers that antibiotic stewardship is very important and to strive for reduction in use when possible. Brad and Peggy Greenway at their pig farm on Thursday,…
Dr. Dee's Research Provides Undisputable Evidence for Responsible Use of Antibiotics
On December 6, 2018, the first large-scale scientifically validated trial to better understand the importance of responsible antibiotic use in clinically sick pigs was published in PLOS ONE, the Public Library of Science. This journal is #1-2 in the world as it pertains to publication of medical science. The trial sought to compare pigs raised…
Foreign Animal Disease: Preparing for the worst
Everyone who works with pigs is likely aware of the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) across Europe and Asia. This seemly unstoppable sweeping of disease is a concern for swine farmers worldwide. Even with a vast ocean separating North America, it only takes one failure in biosecurity for ASF to reach our soil. The…
When Swine Isn’t Fine: 3 Steps for Pork Producers to Reduce Foreign Animal Disease Risks
As the world swine population continues to grow both domestically and internationally, it can open doors to producers and veterinarians to visit production locations away from home. In some cases, this may involve going to a location which is known to have diseases that are not present in the United States. Knowing this, it is…
African Swine Fever in China: What is the Role of Feed Ingredients in Viral Movement?
Scott Dee DVM MS PhD Dipl;ACVM, Director, Pipestone Applied Research On Friday August 3, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) reported that African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) had been identified in a northeast Chinese pig herd. This is the initial report of this disease in the country of China, although it had been reported in…
New Program Takes Proactive Approach to Boosting Health and Bottom Line
A new program from Pipestone Veterinary Services is focused on improving animal health and farm profitability through a proactive and planned approach. The Pig Vet program was launched in January 2018 and includes scheduled visits from a Pipestone veterinarian to a producer’s operation each year with the number of visits dependent of each producer’s unique…
PRRS Control for Your Market Hogs
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), much to producers’ and veterinarians’ dismay, can have a devastating impact on pigs of all ages. In general, the introduction of a new strain of PRRS at any stage of pig production has the potential to cause severe damage. Not only can PRRS be devastating by itself, but it…
PRRS Control for Your Market Hogs
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), much to producers’ and veterinarians’ dismay, can have a devastating impact on pigs of all ages. In general, the introduction of a new strain of PRRS at any stage of pig production has the potential to cause severe damage. Not only can PRRS be devastating by itself, but it…
New Disinfectant Product Shows Promise
Cleaning and disinfecting transport trailers, farrowing stalls, and pens in nursery and wean-to-finish barns has been proven critical to keeping animals healthy and preventing the spread of viruses. A new product is showing promise, while also proving safer for the people, pigs, and environment. Ag Forte Pro is a unique product that is a combination…
Heat Stress is a Big Deal
Between death loss and production impact, the estimates have the yearly cost to the U.S. swine industry to be around $300 million so far this year. Don’t ignore heat stress. While you can’t control the weather, you can control your facilities. Pigs don’t sweat, so they cannot naturally take advantage of evaporative cooling. They rely…
Insect Pest Management Considerations
By: Dr. Wesley Lyons Summertime should mean school’s out, summer vacations, celebrating our nation’s independence, warmer temperatures, and happy pigs. Unfortunately, with the warm weather, we also see an increase in insect pests within our barns. Depending on the region and barn ventilation setup, insect types can vary, but the common culprits are house flies,…
Veterinary Community Focuses on Antibiotics
By: Dr. Carissa Odland In March, I made a trip to San Diego for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual meeting. This meeting was attended by 1200 leaders in the swine industry to talk about our passion – taking care of pigs. One of the main topics that were discussed was antibiotics. Several of…
Six Keys to Promoting Nursery Pig Health
Focusing on these animal welfare basics is critical to getting newly weaned piglets off to a strong start Weaning and the transition to the early nursery stage are the most challenging times for piglets. Minimizing stress during those first few weeks away from mom will improve a piglet’s odds of staying healthy. A good environment…
Don't Ignore Ileitis Control
Pig farmers agree: Losing a market hog hurts. There are not many topics over which all pig farmers in the U.S. would agree, but two things over which they would agree are first, that no one likes dead pigs; and second, the worst type of dead pig is a market-sized pig. Death loss in market…
Using Data to Drive Decisions
As popular headlines focus on the potential link between antibiotic resistance and usage of antibiotics in food animal production, it is more critical than ever for swine veterinarians and producers to work together to use antibiotics in the most effective and judicious ways possible. The use of antibiotic sensitivity information has become an increasingly valuable…
Tracking Antimicrobial Resistance: Down on the Farm
In the summer of 2016, Pipestone set forth the challenge to be global leaders in antimicrobial stewardship. As swine veterinarians, we feel a responsibility to lead the industry with science-driven decisions on how to manage the use of antimicrobials, track resistance, and make proactive changes to practices if increased resistance was shown. With that in…
PART: Gathering Research and Broadening the Conversation
The development of bacteria resistant to antibiotics is a critical issue for human health, with 23,000 people dying each year from an AMR (antimicrobial resistance) infection. A new program developed by Pipestone is focused gathering critical data about antibiotic resistance and responsible antibiotic use, as well as engaging pig producers, regulators and opinion leaders and…
Strep Control
Streptococcus suis (commonly known as strep) is a very common bacterial agent present in all pigs. S. suis gets into the pigs’ bloodstream and then affects pigs throughout their entire body. Classic clinical signs of S. suis include fever, meningitis (walking without coordination and paddling while lying on its side), swollen joints, pneumonia/coughing, and sudden…
Investment in Prevention Medicine Pays Off for Pigs and Producers
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure …” The same advice that Benjamin Franklin gave to city leaders in Philadelphia about preventing fires in 1735 can be applied to raising livestock today. Keeping animals healthy and preventing diseases benefits the animal’s well being, boosts performance and ultimately protects the producer’s bottom line.…
Veterinary Feed Directives (VFD's) Update
By: Dr. Joseph Yaros Over the past few years, there has been an increasing amount of talk about the judicious use of antibiotics in livestock. The growing trend of antibiotic resistance in human infections has created pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review antibiotic usages in livestock. In response to this…
Heat Stress Alleviation in Lactating Sows by Cooling Pad Technology
Heat stress has negative effects on sow production and reproduction performance. Heat stress has multiple impacts on animal metabolism and physiology. These include: increased body core temperature, homeorhetic adaptations that increase blood flow to the skin to dissipate radiant heat, increased respiration rates to remove the excess heat, and reduced feed intake as a strategy…
The Truth of the Matter
Recent stories in some well-read media publications make it very difficult for consumers to weed out the difference between the truth about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) versus assumptions. Media suggests that the livestock industry is not properly managing the antibiotic issue. Assumptions like this have led to action, such as the recent San Francisco law requiring…
PRRS Vaccination: Protect for your pigs and the neighborhood
All across the Midwest, we are starting to experience the changing of the seasons. Weather is changing, kids are heading back to school, and combines are being prepared for the impending harvest. For many swine producers, unfortunately, it is also a time of year which conjures up thoughts of PRRS virus. Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive…
Air filtration for swine herds: A historical perspective
Written by Kevin Schulz Kevin Schultz is a Senior Content Specialist with National Hog Farmer magazine Dr. Scott Dee of Pipestone Veterinary Services shares what we’ve learned about air filtration over the years and how it’s making a difference in the industry. PRRS has been a game changer in the swine industry, and filtration of hog barns…
Why Sequence?
You have the diagnostics in hand. The results tie your stomach in knots, the sample is PRRS virus PCR positive. If you are lucky, you have not experienced this before but if you are like the other 99% of the people in the swine industry, you have had this feeling. But what now? Do you…
Fly Control
Some of the most common pests within a hog operation include your common house fly and fruit fly. These pests are not only a risk for transferring diseases but are also a nuisance to the animals and people that work or reside in these barns. Once these pests are established within your operation it can…
Genetic Improvements Drive Success
When I was first being introduced to the swine industry six years ago, I barely scratched the surface on seeing how fast-paced the industry drove its own improvement. Growing up on a purebred beef cattle farm, the idea of upgrading production practices was pretty foreign aside from some attempts at lower-stress handling facilities. Our idea…
Preventing and Managing Heat Stress
Have you ever unloaded a group of pigs that are heat stressed following transportation? How do you manage transportation during months of high heat and humidity to prevent or minimize heat stress and transport losses? Here are a few tips to help your pigs weather summer heat and humidity. It all comes down to managing…
Are you prepared for the Food Safety Modernization Act?
Food Safety Modernization Act: Highlights for pig producers and feed manufacturers It may only be June but many feed mills are currently gearing up for the September 18th deadline to be compliant with the newly installed Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. This new federal regulation was actually put into law in January of 2011 but…
Producer Preparations for an FDA audit at your farm
The FDA inspector will likely tell you the specific VFD that they randomly selected which prompted a visit to your farm – be prepared with details on that VFD / group of pigs such as: How long did you medicate the pigs? Does this match up with the duration listed by your veterinarian on the…
5 Opportunities to Control and Prevent Scours in Farrowing
Scours can be a difficult and chronic issue within a farrowing barn. Not only does it affect the health and growth of the pig, but it also can be detrimental to people who work in the farms daily. For this article, I will not be talking about treatments for scours, but rather potential areas of…
PART: Record, Review and Respond
PART Antibiotic Use & Antibiotic Resistance (amongst animal welfare and gestation stalls) is one of the top concerns that consumers have today with how their food is raised. This concern has become evident with the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) recently going into effect, which discontinued the sub-therapeutic (growth promotion) use of medically important antibiotics and…
VFD FAQ's
How do I know if a VFD is needed? VFD’s are required for feed antibiotics that are in the category of being “important” to human medicine. Your veterinarian and feed mill manager will let you know if a VFD is required. ***A detailed list is provided at the bottom of the page How long is a VFD valid…
Wean to Market PRRS Control Strategies
By Dr. Bryan Myers As I begin to write this article, it is 6:00 AM and it is 38 degrees outside and I can’t see my neighbor’s house because of the fog. Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind is this is a day that PRRS virus thrives in. According to initial research done…
Focus on Family Farms Leads to Partnerships and Business Opportunities
For thirty years, Doug Pollema has focused on providing products and services to support family farmers around his business in northwest Iowa. Doug is a native of Hull, Iowa, and after college he started working as an outside salesman and livestock production representative for Hull Feed & Produce, an independent feed dealer that sold Wayne…
United Nations Discuss Antibiotic Resistance - How Will You Respond?
United Nations Discuss Antibiotic Resistance – How Will You Respond? By: Dr. Carissa Odland The United Nations met in September in New York, gathering governments from all over the world to debate issues of global importance. The threat of resistant bacteria was the only topic on the agenda of the all-day “high-level meeting” which was…
Responsible Antibiotic Use
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Antibiotics”? The media is crawling with content about antibiotics these days. For consumers – there is a growing concern about bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and sometimes these concerns are coupled with the use of antibiotics in livestock. At Pipestone, we take these concerns very seriously and…
Fly Control
Some of the most common pests within a hog operation include your common house fly and fruit fly. These pests are not only a risk for transferring diseases, but are also a nuisance to the animals and people that work or reside in these barns. Once these pests are established within your operation it can…
Preventing and Managing Heat Stress
By: Dr. Emily McDowell Have you ever unloaded a group of pigs that are heat stressed following transportation? How do you manage transportation during months of high heat and humidity to prevent or minimize heat stress and transport losses? Here are a few tips to help your pigs weather summer heat and humidity. It all…
Iron Needs in the Pig
Have you ever wondered why we give piglets iron? Who would give the piglet iron if we were not there to provide it? These are good questions and fortunately ones we have answers to so you can best weigh your options when it comes to iron. Iron is essential for the pig because it allows…
Keep Biosecurity Top of Mind
World Pork Expo is here and county fair, and livestock show season is around the corner. These are great events that celebrate agriculture and our rural communities. We at Pipestone encourage everyone to attend and support these events. The presence of swine at these events poses a biosecurity risk for all of us that work…
PEDv: Journey from China to United States
When PEDv hit North America in 2013, it had many in the swine industry scratching their heads wondering how and why? For any of you that were listening during your high school history classes, history tends to repeat itself. Dr. Scott Dee with Pipestone Applied Research knew that in order to prevent an infectious disease…
Ventilation Guidelines
With temperatures fluctuating this time of year, ventilation can be tricky business. Here’s some basic guidelines and checklists to keep your pigs healthy and you stress free. Fudamentals Curtain Barn 1. Spread fans 1 degree per 10 CFM and max of…
3 Ways to Better Manage Money on Pig Health
The extreme profitability we saw in 2014 is by now a fond and distant memory to most of us. 2016 is experiencing a moderate start, but by most forecasts, it will likely be a year of tightening belts. Easy to spend money on pigs carrying $30 profit per head…. Harder to spend that money when…
PQA+ & TQA Training Session Offered
Do you need to update your PQA+ & TQA status? Pipestone is hosting a training session on: February 16, 2016 at 10:00 am PQA+ at 10:00 am followed by TQA training. Please call Jamie Smith for more details or to reserve a spot at 507-215-3799 or email Jamie by February 12, 2016.
Top 6 Swine Product FAQ's Answered!
Pipestone’s swine specialists are truly experts in their field, which is why producers across the Midwest trust them with questions on their swine products. We’ve compiled a list of their Top 7 Frequently Asked Swine Questions Answered! Get all the quick answers below and save yourself a call in the future. Although we’d love to…
Research Barn Provides Competitive Advantage
A new wean-to-finish barn built near Edgerton, Minnesota, has become an important tool for Pipestone Grow Finish (PGF) in providing information and services to their Nutrition customers. The barn is a 2,400 head wean-to-finish research barn will allow Pipestone to conduct nutrition research with nursery and finisher pigs. It is the fifth research barn built…
Synergize vs. Accel Trial
It’s no secret that trailers can act as a means of virus transport, moving it from one barn to another. With PRRSv virus, and especially when PEDv hit hard in 2013, Pipestone has put enormous focus on our livestock trailer sanitation protocol. Historically Pipestone chose to use Synergize as a disinfectant when washing trailers. The…
Filters and Employee Focus Combine to Fight PRRS Virus
As the weather cools, the pork industry increases its vigilance against PRRSv. Over the past 20 years, PRRS has emerged as the most economically important disease for U.S. pork producers. Dennis Wiebbecke has been on the front line of the fight against PRRS for the past three years. As the Filter Compliance Technician at Pipestone…
Seneca Valley Virus: What Is It and How Does It Affect the Swine Industry?
By: Dr. Scott VanderPoel In the past couple months; there have been 13 confirmed cases of vesicular disease associated with Seneca Valley virus in the swine industry. This disease has been identified in both commercial and show pig operations in Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois and Minnesota. Vesicular disease is a broad term used to cover…
PEDv in Feed Ingredients
So far, 2015 has proven to be a fairly mild year for PEDv infection compared to the devastation that hit in 2014. Nonetheless, it is a concerning virus for pork producers and continued focus for Pipestone Applied Research (PAR). In 2014, PAR proved that contaminated feed could serve as a vehicle for PEDv transmission and…
Keep Biosecure This Summer
County fair, and livestock show season is underway. These are great events that celebrate agriculture and our rural communities. We at Pipestone encourage everyone to attend and support these events. The presence of swine at these events poses a biosecurity risk for all of us that work on and visit hog farms. Both PRRSV and…
Make More Money Today
By: Dr. Spencer Wayne I have been practicing swine veterinary medicine at Pipestone Veterinary Services for ten years, and one of the most frequently asked questions from hog producers is this: “What I can do today to improve my barn and make more money?” And you can’t blame them for asking! Here, I’ve written about…
Preparing Your Barn for PRRSv and PEDv Season
The temperature keeps dropping, and that means PRRSv, and now PEDv, season has arrived. It can be painful to remember how hard PEDv hit the U.S. swine industry last Fall and Winter. I am keeping my fingers crossed that some herd immunity will help lessen the blow this year, but regardless I cannot stress how…
Mixer Efficiency Test
Performing a mixer efficiency test should always be on the radar screen; however, it can be easily overlooked. Properly mixing the ingredients is a must do to provide the proper nutrition in every mouth full of feed. Kansas State University performed a nursery trial evaluating different mixing time. As you can see below, diets that…
Investing In Every Pig
It is no secret to anyone in the pork industry that the combination of high domestic and international demand, a shortage of pig inventory due to the PED virus outbreak, and lower feed costs are presenting strong profit opportunities for pork producers. These opportunities are driving many producers to also take their management practices to…
A Consistent Supply of Healthy Pigs
“A consistent supply of healthy pigs.” For Iowa pork producer Ben Reck and his family, that was the driving factor in becoming partners in the Pipestone Management. And, for 10 years, it has been a successful partnership that has allowed the Recks to focus investments and upgrades to other parts of their operation. Ben and…
PRRS Success
As the PRRS’ year is coming to an end, Pipestone’s Dr. Joel Nerem is crossing his fingers. “We’ve experienced what I consider to be a very successful year in minimizing PRRS outbreaks.” With everyone’s attention drawn to the latest PEDv epidemic, PRRS has been out of the spotlight. Regardless, PRRS can be a catastrophe for…
Feed in Battle Against PEDv
In the year since Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) was confirmed in the United States, pork producers, veterinarians, researchers and many others have been working diligently to find ways to prevent the virus from entering herds, especially sow herds. While PEDv has been reported in other countries over the years, there had never been a…
The Very Latest on PED Virus
When I wrote an article for Swine Line late last fall, we had just finished testing our transportation protocols at South Dakota State University (SDSU), and these protocols proved to be effective against PED virus. We were also in the process of testing our 3M filters to see if they would be successful in stopping…
Effectiveness of Biosecurity Against PEDV
Almost a decade ago, the Pipestone Management validated its transportation sanitation protocols against the PRRS virus. This fall, we conducted similar trials at South Dakota State University to determine if the protocols we have in place are effective against PEDV, which has been detected just this year in the U.S. and is spreading rapidly. These…
The Truth About HSUS and Pens
Last August, a group of independent pork producers interviewed Rick Berman, who runs a public relations firm based in Washington, D.C., and who is also the Executive Director of the Center for Consumer Freedom. The producers were interested in learning more about an ongoing education campaign called Humane Watch run by the Center to counter…
Opportunities for Profitability
System Grow Finish, a division of Pipestone, offers regular visits by field supervisors, a complete records service and veterinary consultation in a full management package or a la carte. The objective of System Grow Finish is to identify opportunities for greater profitability on the farm of each participating swine producer. “For instance, we’ve been able…
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
First identified in England (in 1971) and more recently in China, Korea, and Japan, PEDV had not been detected in the U.S. until a couple months ago. No one is sure how it entered, but by early August 434 positive cases of PEDV were confirmed in 16 states. There are likely many more cases since…
Grappling With Seasonal PRRS
PRRS season is almost upon us. Across the United States, the months of October, November, and December see the largest increases in cases. We don’t know exactly why, but there is speculation that it may have something to do with weather conditions changing in the fall, allowing the virus to remain in an aerosol form.…
Read More About the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Read more about the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea with information from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
PRRS Intervention: What We're Doing
Dr. Joel Nerem PRRS control is critical to the overall health of the pig and to the financial success of pig producers. As a management company and a veterinary clinic, we’re focused on the control of PRRS for our shareholders and customers. We must control PRRS at Pipestone Management sow farms to provide a PRRS-negative…
Collecting Data for Science-Driven Decisions
In November of 2011, the Pipestone Veterinary Clinic hired Dr. Scott Dee as its director of research. Dr. Dee made his reputation as a national and international expert in applied disease-control research, with an emphasis on PRRS virus control and elimination. After practicing veterinary medicine for 12 years in Morris, Minn, Dr. Dee then joined…
Working Towards PRRS Control and Elimination
Pipestone Veterinary Clinic recently held a series of meetings to bring clients and system shareholders the latest information on control and elimination of the PRRS virus. Held in Mitchell, SD, Pipestone, MN, and Independence, IA, the meetings discussed data the clinic’s research program has collected on the PRRS virus and how that data could be…