BioSec Bob here on Sunday, October 11, 2026 — let’s get straight to it.
Starting on the poultry side: when broilers come down with coccidiosis, what they eat during recovery matters just as much as the medication. Poultry News is reporting that feed composition plays a critical role in how quickly birds bounce back after infection. The research shows that broilers receiving properly balanced nutrition during the recovery phase gain weight faster and reach market weight sooner than those on standard rations. Feed digestibility, amino acid profiles, and energy levels all factor into the bird’s ability to rebuild muscle tissue and compensate for the setback coccidiosis creates. For producers running affected flocks, adjusting feed specs during recovery could mean the difference between breaking even on a compromised batch and salvaging real value.
Out of South Dakota this week, American Ag Network is covering the tenth annual Swine Day at South Dakota State University. Producers, university researchers, and industry leaders are gathering to dig into the latest on herd health, genetics, nutrition, and market outlook. The event draws attendance from across the Northern Plains and beyond, giving operations a chance to network and get direct access to SDSU’s swine research team. Sessions typically cover everything from disease management to feed efficiency and reproductive performance — practical topics that affect the bottom line on every farm in that region.
Shifting to a regulatory story: Brownfield Ag News is reporting that a legal challenge to Michigan’s cage-free egg law has been dismissed. The Trump administration had sought to overturn the state’s mandate requiring producers to house laying hens in cage-free systems by January 1st, 2025. The court’s decision to dismiss the challenge means Michigan’s law stands, and producers operating in or shipping to Michigan will need to comply with the cage-free requirement as scheduled.
Across the Pacific, the Taipei Times is flagging that pig farms in Taiwan are being reminded to follow feed regulations more strictly. Officials are emphasizing compliance with rules governing feed additives, sourcing, and handling — part of an ongoing effort to ensure feed safety and biosecurity in swine operations.
On the environmental front, National Hog Farmer reports that the European Union has rolled out a new emissions framework for pork producers that reduces compliance paperwork. The streamlined approach is aimed at cutting regulatory burden while still meeting EU climate and air quality standards. Producers in EU member states will see some simplification in how they report and manage emissions from their operations.
Finally, African Farming brings us a profile from sub-Saharan Africa: a young farmer named Success is rebuilding her family’s poultry operation after her mother lost most of the flock to avian influenza. She’s restocking, implementing stronger biosecurity, and working to get the farm back to productive capacity — a reminder of how resilient producers are when they have to be.
Check your protocols this week — lot of moving pieces out there.