BioSec Bob here on Saturday, May 23, 2026 — time to catch up on what’s moving the markets and your operation.
St. Clair County in Michigan has confirmed its first human salmonella case tied to a backyard poultry outbreak, according to CBS News. Health officials are working to identify additional illnesses connected to the same exposure. The case highlights the ongoing risk that small-scale bird operations pose to household contacts, particularly when sanitation protocols aren’t consistently applied around bird housing and handling areas.
Over on the export side, there’s some good news for poultry producers. Feedstuffs is reporting that China has lifted bird flu-related export bans for seventeen U.S. states. The move comes after those states met China’s avian influenza surveillance and biosecurity requirements, reopening market access that had been restricted due to previous detections. APHIS has now confirmed all seventeen states as eligible to ship raw poultry back into China, a significant rebound for producers who’d seen those doors close.
Shifting to swine — African swine fever continues grinding across Europe. According to 3tres3.com, ASF outbreaks are climbing in both domestic pigs and wild boar populations throughout the EU. The rising case count underscores the disease’s persistent foothold on the continent and the ongoing challenge of controlling spread through both commercial and wildlife reservoirs.
Closer to home on the management front, Pork Business has profiled grow-finish producer Joe Dykhuis and his approach to profitability. Dykhuis emphasizes that every pig must generate enough margin to cover operating costs and return profit — focusing on feed efficiency, mortality reduction, and careful cost tracking as the backbone of his system. His strategy centers on treating each animal as a direct contributor to the farm’s bottom line rather than chasing volume alone.
Finally, National Hog Farmer is reporting on a major development in disease monitoring: the first global guidelines have been set for African swine fever vaccine surveillance. The framework establishes standardized protocols for tracking vaccinated animals and detecting breakthrough infections, creating a blueprint for countries considering ASF vaccination programs. The guidelines aim to ensure consistent data collection so vaccine performance can be reliably measured across different operations and regions.
Keep a close eye on that Michigan salmonella situation — backyard flocks can turn into bigger headaches fast.