BioSec Bob here on Saturday, May 2, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Iowa’s State Veterinarian has established a five-mile testing radius around confirmed pseudorabies cases in swine, according to Pork Business. The containment zone requires all farms within that perimeter to submit samples for diagnostic testing. The move comes as pseudorabies resurfaces in commercial herds after years of relative quiet, and the expanded surveillance is intended to catch secondary infections before they spread further into the state’s production areas. Producers in affected counties should expect animal health officials to contact them directly about testing protocols.
Over at National Hog Farmer, industry leaders are laying out a unified framework for herd health improvement across the country. The coordinated approach emphasizes early detection systems, biosecurity standardization, and regional collaboration between producers and veterinarians. The goal is to establish baseline health benchmarks that farms can measure themselves against and identify gaps before disease outbreaks occur. It’s a voluntary initiative, but participation is already drawing interest from major production regions.
With temperatures climbing into late spring territory, National Hog Farmer is running heat stress management this morning — a reminder that swine performance drops fast when barns aren’t properly ventilated or cooled. Heat stress reduces feed intake, slows growth rates, and compromises immune function, making animals more vulnerable to secondary infections just when disease pressure can pick up. The publication covers water system maintenance, shade management in outdoor settings, and how to monitor pig behavior for early signs of heat load.
Pseudorabies itself is getting the deeper dive treatment from National Hog Farmer today. The virus causes significant respiratory and neurological signs in affected animals, with mortality rates particularly high in young pigs. There’s no cure, so control relies entirely on detection and removal of infected stock, combined with strict biosecurity to prevent introduction from outside sources. Vaccination is not permitted for pseudorabies under current federal rules, which means prevention is the only realistic strategy for commercial operations.
TheLandOnline’s Swine & U segment explores the broader health challenge environment producers are navigating right now. The conversation touches on pseudorabies and heat stress as part of a larger picture where disease pressure seems to cycle through herds on shorter intervals than it did five or ten years ago. Industry observers point to increased animal density in some regions and tighter profit margins that limit flexibility in herd management decisions.
Pork Business reports that major swine conferences scheduled for May and June are putting innovation and health front and center in their programming. Veterinary research presentations will focus on emerging pathogens and updated biosecurity protocols, while equipment manufacturers are showcasing ventilation and monitoring systems designed for early disease detection. These gatherings typically draw producers looking to benchmark their operations and connect with peers managing similar challenges.
Keep your barn logs current — that’s your first line of defense right now.