BioSec Bob here on Thursday, July 2, 2026 — let’s dig into what matters to your operation this morning.
Starting with disease readiness, National Hog Farmer is laying out three essential steps for pork producers to strengthen their foreign animal disease preparedness right now. The focus is on moving beyond reactive response — producers need to establish clear biosecurity protocols, maintain detailed herd records, and develop direct communication channels with veterinary and regulatory contacts before any emergency hits. The timing on this isn’t random. Disease threats evolve, and having those systems in place before you need them is the difference between containment and crisis.
On the vaccination front, The Pig Site is reporting that the World Organization for Animal Health — WOAH — has released new field guidelines for African swine fever vaccination. These guidelines address the practical mechanics of deploying vaccine in real-world conditions, covering timing, dosing, and herd management protocols during vaccination campaigns. It’s a direct response to the growing number of producers considering ASF vaccination as part of their disease management toolkit, and WOAH wants that deployment done right.
Shifting to herd genetics and management, Pork Business is covering a unified industry approach to building healthier swine herds across the country. The push involves standardized health protocols, collaborative disease monitoring, and shared data on herd performance metrics — basically, the idea that transparency and coordination across producers and regions strengthens the entire supply chain’s resilience. Individual operations benefit from knowing what’s working elsewhere.
Looking at the bigger global picture, The Pig Site reports that WOAH data shows African swine fever outbreaks are declining worldwide. That’s solid news on the international side, though producers here know that doesn’t erase the risk at home.
Back to breeding decisions, National Hog Farmer is reporting that skip-a-heat breeding programs may deliver their biggest payoff through improved parity distribution across the herd. More even parity structure means more consistent production cycles, better gilt development timing, and steadier market flow — details that compound over time.
And out of Arkansas this morning, National Hog Farmer is covering a new state rule that sets specific requirements for the future use of feral hog bait. The regulation tightens controls on bait composition, application, and location — Arkansas producers using bait for feral hog management will need to comply with these standards going forward.
Keep your disease protocols current and your contacts fresh.