BioSec Bob here on Friday, July 10, 2026 — let’s dig in.
Starting with swine health management. AgNet West is reporting that producers working with a dynamic pig health approach are getting better traction against multiple disease challenges simultaneously. Rather than tackling one disease at a time, this integrated strategy looks at how pathogens interact across the herd and adjusts protocols accordingly. The thinking here is that some diseases suppress immune response or create conditions that make secondary infections worse, so managing them as an interconnected system gives producers better visibility into what’s actually driving health problems and mortality. It’s a shift from a compartmentalized view to something more holistic.
Feeding practices and feed quality are critical pieces of that puzzle. Michigan State University is digging into mycotoxins in swine rations — specifically which ones matter most in pig production. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins from molds in grain and feed ingredients, and different ones hit swine differently. Some affect immune function, others gut integrity, and some damage specific organs. MSU’s work breaks down which mycotoxins producers should be watching for and what thresholds actually matter in terms of performance impact. Feed testing and ingredient sourcing decisions should account for this data.
On the poultry side now. Egg-laying operations and cattle in Utah have tested positive for H5N1 avian flu, according to CIDRAP. The detection marks a broadening of the virus beyond wild birds and some commercial flocks — cattle involvement in particular is still being evaluated for transmission pathways and risk. Producers with operations in or near Utah need to review biosecurity protocols around equipment, vehicle movement, and any shared water sources or neighboring properties.
Back to swine disease pressure. FoodAgribusiness World is covering pneumonia and respiratory disease complex in pig herds — what the industry calls PRDC. Controlling the lung pathogens that drive it requires attention to barn air quality, stocking density, and vaccination timing. Secondary bacterial infections often follow viral priming, so diagnostic work to identify which pathogens are actually present in your air and tissues helps target interventions more precisely rather than blanket antibiotic use.
Trade is shifting this week. National Hog Farmer reports that Mexico’s pseudorabies virus restrictions are cutting U.S. pork offal exports — organs and byproducts that had been moving south are now blocked under stricter PRV import rules. At the same time, beef exports to Mexico are rebounding, which is pulling some feed demand and protein attention toward cattle. For hog producers with offal-dependent pricing models, this is a contract and marketing conversation to have sooner rather than later.
Finally, disease monitoring out of Europe. Reuters is reporting a swine fever case detected in a wild boar in Germany. It’s a reminder that wild populations and feral swine can harbor serious diseases and potentially create risk for commercial operations, especially in regions with high wild boar density and proximity to farms.
Keep your feed checked and your air quality tight.