BioSec Bob here on Saturday, October 10, 2026 — let’s dig into what’s moving the needle this week.
Indiana Pork has expanded its disease prevention push through the Swine Health Advisory Committee, according to Brownfield Ag News. The organization is ramping up efforts to keep producers ahead of health threats, working through the committee structure to coordinate response and education across the state’s operations. The specifics of which diseases are the priority weren’t detailed in the report, but the expansion signals Indiana’s herd is getting more systematic oversight on the biosecurity front.
On the technology side, National Hog Farmer is reporting on a new viral smoke detector being deployed to monitor swine health in real-time. The system catches disease signals early, giving producers actionable data before clinical signs show up in the barn. It’s the kind of early warning tool that can mean the difference between containing an issue and watching it spread.
Staying with swine health, National Hog Farmer has also published current insights on influenza A virus circulating in both swine and humans. The piece breaks down what producers need to know about transmission dynamics and cross-species risk — particularly relevant right now given what we’ve been watching in the broader livestock sector. Producers handling multiple animal types should take a close look.
Shifting to poultry, Feedstuffs is reporting that Zoetis has received expanded label approval for its infectious bronchitis vaccine. The broader label opens up more application options for poultry operations looking to round out their immunization programs and protect flocks against IB strains.
Back in swine nutrition, Feedstuffs has coverage on optimizing mammary development in gilts to support large litters. The research focuses on nutritional strategies during gestation that set replacement females up for better lactation capacity and piglet performance — practical stuff for producers managing breeding stock and thinking ahead on herd productivity.
And out of Pennsylvania, LancasterOnline reports the ag industry is actively lobbying the USDA and Congress for reform following arrests of poultry workers at Melhorn operations. Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector is pushing for policy changes in response to those enforcement actions, signaling pressure to revisit how worker conduct and company accountability are being handled.
Keep an eye on your protocols — it’s a dynamic week for both species.