BioSec Bob here, April 3, 2026 — let’s see what’s on the radar today.
Hog producers are dealing with familiar regulatory headwinds in Washington right now, with two weeks of meetings showing both the same old concerns and some new angles nobody quite saw coming. The takeaway for most operations is to stay plugged into what your trade groups are hearing — policy swings can hit your bottom line faster than you’d expect.
On the poultry front, there’s some breathing room this week. HPAI activity slowed considerably in March, and that’s showing up in lower impact numbers for both broiler and turkey operations. It’s not a signal to drop your guard, but it does ease some of the pressure that’s been sitting heavy on the sector.
Looking at disease detection, swine producers should know about a new approach gaining traction — blood sampling for clinical pathology work is showing real promise as a surveillance tool. Better early detection means better response timing, which matters when you’re trying to keep a barn healthy.
Paperwork-wise, if you’re running hogs in Michigan or planning to move animals across state lines, make sure you’ve got the official ID tag situation sorted for this year. It’s one of those compliance things that’s easier to handle now than to scramble on later.
Over in Europe, Newcastle disease is spreading through poultry flocks, and the industry there is bracing for impact. It’s a reminder that what happens overseas has a way of reaching US operations — whether through market pressures or disease biology — so it’s worth keeping tabs on.
On the nutrition side, a longer-term study on oregano and rosemary in swine diets is showing measurable benefits, though the researchers stress that results take time. Natural compounds aren’t quick fixes, but the data’s encouraging for producers looking at feed-level tools.
Stay sharp on those tag applications and keep your protocols locked in.