BioSec Bob here on Monday, May 11, 2026 — let’s dig into what’s moving the needle for you today.
Starting with some disease intel from the swine side. Farm Progress is reporting that pseudorabies is making a comeback in the hog industry after years of relative quiet. The virus — which causes fever, neurological signs, and reproductive failure — had been largely controlled through vaccination and strict biosecurity protocols, but producers need to understand it’s still a threat that can move fast through naive populations. Herd immunity wanes over time, and new gilts coming in without prior exposure create vulnerability. The takeaway for operations: know your vaccination status, maintain those entry protocols, and recognize the clinical signs early because once pseudorabies establishes itself in a herd, it’s expensive to clear.
Turning to nutrition strategy on the swine side. The Pig Site is reporting on a shift in how nutritionists are applying soybean meal in swine diets, with four core principles now reshaping application decisions. Those pillars center on amino acid availability, cost volatility, sustainability sourcing, and digestibility optimization — meaning the days of one-size-fits-all soybean meal inclusion rates are fading. Producers using precision nutrition are seeing better feed efficiency and tighter cost control when they adjust soybean meal application based on production stage and genetic line. This matters for your feed budgets and your bottom line as ingredient costs continue to swing.
Shifting to the poultry side now. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association reporting through The Poultry Site, avian influenza is surging across US poultry operations as wild bird migration patterns continue to spread the virus into commercial flocks. The timing and geography of these migrations are pushing exposure risk into regions and seasons previously considered lower-threat, and commercial operations are seeing increased flock-wide disease events. Wild waterfowl and shorebirds remain the primary vector, and producers in migration corridors need heightened vigilance on biosecurity perimeter management.
Also in poultry health, Wisconsin Farmer is reporting that salmonella cases in Wisconsin have been traced back to exposure through backyard chicken flocks. The outbreak underscores the risk pathway between small backyard operations and human health — particularly when birds are kept in proximity to households. State health officials are investigating the source and distribution, and the case is a reminder that even small flocks can serve as amplification points for pathogens.
International news briefly: DTiNews is reporting that Lam Dong province in Vietnam has culled more than 9,500 pigs confirmed infected with African swine fever. The province has been hit hard by ASF circulation, and these culling operations are part of the standard disease control response. For US producers, Vietnam’s ongoing struggle with ASF remains relevant tracking — it’s one of the world’s largest pork producers, and disease pressure there shapes global pork supply and pricing over time.
One more item from the UK: Farming Life is reporting that the Balmoral Show will again exclude poultry classes this year due to lingering bird flu restrictions. That’s two consecutive years without a poultry showing opportunity at the event, reflecting how seriously regional authorities are taking avian influenza control in the UK and Ireland.
Keep your biosecurity drills sharp — there’s genuine pressure on both sides of the barn right now.