December 2023 29 Pork News & Views Better Pork | December 2023 Big Bug Day (and the Flu) Anyone working in the pork sector understands the constant challenge presented by the numerous diseases that can impact pork producers. Over the last twenty years, or more, biosecurity has become a key concept and a critical component of modern pork production. Pork producers work hard to maintain the highest standards of biosecurity on their farms. But still sometimes things go wrong, either through a slip in biosecurity practices or some event that noone can control. We are fortunate to have organisations in Ontario to provide leadership in this area, for example Swine Health Ontario. Awareness of what’s going on in the province, elsewhere in Canada, and in fact around the world helps the industry prepare and respond to challenges and anticipate future threats. I’m sure no-one needs to be reminded that a real risk we are facing today is ASF. The presence of this disease across a large area of the planet makes biosecurity absolutely critical, at the level of our national borders all the way down to flawless biosecurity at the farm and personal level. The annual Big Bug Day organized by Swine Health Ontario is an opportunity to get updates and discuss existing or emerging swine health issues. This year it will be on Wednesday, December 6th at The GrandWay Events Centre in Elora, starting at 9am. The program will include current disease updates, a US health outlook, health management strategies, with updates on recent research and the Ontario Swine Incident Command Centre. This year Big Bug Day will be followed by an Ontario Pork Industry Council session on Group Sow Housing from 5-6:30pm. Registration is free but pre-registration is required so they can plan for the lunch that is provided. You can find a link to registration info on line at swinehealthontario.ca under Upcoming Events. While we are on the topic of big bugs, let’s remember that flu season is here. Flu can pass from people to pigs and back again. It is advisable to get the flu shot, especially anyone who works with pigs, and to try to avoid contact with pigs if you do catch the flu. If your herd shows signs of flu, take extra precautions to protect anyone working with the animals. The following is a quote from the 2023 London Swine Conference: “Influenza A viruses infect swine worldwide and can result in serious economic losses. In addition, there is a great deal of concern about the public health aspects of influenza infection in pigs. In recent years, the number of different influenza viruses circulating in swine herds around the world has increased and this has made control much more challenging and much more important1.” Biosecurity is important on so many levels: the nation, the farm, the barn, the pigs, and of course, yourself. 1Vilaca and Friendship, London Swine Conference, March 28-29, 2023. www.londonswineconference.ca Jaydee Smith, Swine Specialist jaydee.smith@ontario.ca Upcoming Events Big Bug Day 2023 Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 The GrandWay Events Centre, Elora Swinehealthontario.ca 60th Southwestern Ontario Pork Congress Wednesday, February 21st, 2024 U. of Guelph Ridgetown Campus https://bdc.ridgetownc.com London Swine Conference March 5-6th, 2024 DoubleTree by Hilton, London 2023 Ontario Grain Corn Ear Mould and Deoxynivalenol (DON) Mycotoxin Survey The following information is from a post by the OMAFRA Field Crop Team on fieldcropnews.com, where the full report is available. See the October issue of PNV for information about mycotoxins and pigs. OMAFRA field crop specialists in collaboration with Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and members of the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) have completed the annual Ontario corn ear mould and DON mycotoxin survey. Corn ear moulds such as Gibberella and their corresponding mycotoxins occur every year in Ontario. These mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON, also referred to as vomitoxin) are produced primarily by Gibberella/Fusarium ear moulds and can be disruptive when fed to livestock, especially hogs. The 2023 survey found 77% of samples tested low (<2.00 parts per million (ppm)) for DON. This is lower than the 10-year average of 88%, but better than recent higher-testing years of 2018 and 2016.
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