BioSec Bob here on Saturday, September 26, 2026 — let’s get straight to it.
Missouri agriculture officials are warning poultry owners to lock down their flocks as fall migration season kicks into high gear. According to KTVO, the state’s ag department is pushing producers to secure coops, limit outdoor exposure, and monitor birds closely for signs of illness. Wild waterfowl moving through during migration carry genuine disease risk, and with flocks already stressed by heat and transition, now’s the time to tighten biosecurity measures across the state.
Shifting to the swine side, Pork Business is reporting on new research that’s rewriting what we know about rotavirus in pigs. Scientists have found the virus doesn’t just hit the gut — it actively infects lung tissue too. That’s a meaningful discovery because it changes how we think about the disease’s progression and potential respiratory complications in infected herds.
The September quarterly inventory numbers are out, and agdaily.com reports U.S. hog numbers dropped two percent compared to the prior quarter. That decline reflects the cumulative pressure producers have faced on feed costs and market conditions over the past several months.
On the international side, the Philippine News Agency reports that the Bureau of Animal Industry has cleared hogs from Negros Oriental province for shipment, provided they test negative for African Swine Fever. That approval opens potential export windows for Philippine producers working in ASF-controlled regions.
Closer to home, Brownfield Ag News is digging into the September herd data and finding mixed signals on farrowing intentions. While the overall U.S. hog herd is lower, producers are sending conflicting signals about breeding plans heading into the fall — some contracting, others holding steady or cautiously expanding. That split suggests real uncertainty about the trajectory ahead.
Over in Iowa, The Des Moines Register is covering a new powered trolley system designed to cut labor costs in poultry operations. The Chicken Reaper — yes, that’s the actual name — automates parts of the catching and loading process, addressing one of the toughest labor challenges in commercial poultry production.
Keep a close eye on those migration patterns and your birds this week.