BioSec Bob here on Friday, April 10, 2026 — let’s get right into the swine side of things.
Pork producers across the country have been gathering at the International Pork Industry Conference to sharpen their biosecurity skills, according to National Hog Farmer. The IPIC workshop is bringing producers together to learn and share best practices in disease prevention and herd protection. Sessions are covering everything from barn-level protocols to feed delivery and personnel management. For operations of all sizes, these hands-on workshops give producers a chance to benchmark their own systems against what’s working on neighboring farms and across regions.
On the disease research front, scientists working on African swine fever transmission dynamics have developed a new modeling approach. Phys.org is reporting that researchers are now better able to assess how the virus moves between domestic pig operations and wild boar populations. The model is helping predict risk factors for spillover and cross-contamination in areas where wild and domestic populations interact. That matters for producers in regions where wild boar populations exist near commercial operations.
Shifting to poultry production, Farm Progress is flagging an opportunity that needs some caution. Poultry litter ash — the residue left after litter is burned for energy — does offer real benefits as a soil amendment and feed ingredient. But the publication is warning producers to test ash carefully for nutrient content and contaminants before using it, since composition varies widely depending on the original litter and burning process. Quality and safety checks upfront can prevent costly problems down the road.
Back to swine nutrition, National Hog Farmer is reporting on feed formulation research looking at soybean meal and DDGS combinations. Trial data shows producers can increase soybean meal levels in finishing diets, with or without dried distillers grains, while maintaining performance and carcass quality. The flexibility in sourcing these ingredients gives producers more options when commodity prices shift.
Over in Vietnam, food safety authorities discovered African swine fever in pork served at a school cafeteria, and Tuoi Tre News is reporting that the kindergarten principal has been suspended pending investigation. The contaminated meat made its way into the school food supply, raising questions about sourcing and inspection protocols at the facility. It’s a reminder of how critical supply chain verification is, even in institutional feeding operations.
Wrapping up on the poultry side, WATTPoultry.com is reporting that birds in Singapore have tested positive for Newcastle disease. The outbreak has triggered quarantine measures and testing of nearby flocks. Newcastle remains a significant threat in Southeast Asia and continues to require strict import and biosecurity protocols for any poultry operations with international connections.
Keep your supplier relationships and your protocols equally tight this week.