BioSec Bob here on Thursday, July 9, 2026 — let’s jump into it.
Pork producers in South Africa are working through recovery after recent disease setbacks hit their operations, according to Farmer’s Weekly SA. The exact scope and timeline of those losses weren’t detailed, but the focus right now is on rebuilding herd health and production capacity. It’s a reminder that disease management stays critical regardless of geography or market conditions.
On the screwworm front — and this one’s worth your full attention — Pork Business is running a deep dive into New World Screwworm preparedness from a veterinary angle. The piece covers surveillance protocols and risk assessment strategies that producers and veterinarians should have locked in. The New World Screwworm threat isn’t new to the radar, but preparedness levels vary, and having a solid game plan for detection and response matters when an outbreak could cost you fast.
Speaking of screwworm surveillance, Delaware’s Department of Agriculture is actively monitoring the impact of New World Screwworm across U.S. operations, according to state news releases. Delaware’s Poultry and Animal Health Section is engaged in that tracking effort, which tells you the threat is being taken seriously at the state regulatory level. The monitoring is ongoing, and Delaware producers should stay tuned to any guidance coming down from the DDA.
Out of Iowa this morning, National Hog Farmer pulled together four key takeaways from Iowa Swine Day — that’s a major industry gathering where producers hear from researchers and nutritionists on what’s moving in swine production right now. The specifics on those takeaways weren’t laid out in the report headline, but if you didn’t catch the event, that piece is worth a read for what the experts in the room were focusing on.
On the research and funding side, the Pork Checkoff has allocated fresh research dollars toward swine diseases, Agri-Pulse is reporting. That money gets directed toward understanding disease mechanisms and developing tools to keep herds healthier. Where that funding lands and what projects get priority will shape what tools and knowledge come available to producers down the road.
Turning to poultry, Meatingplace is asking whether disease-resistant poultry could be the long-term answer to HPAI. The piece examines genetic approaches to building flocks with stronger natural resistance to avian influenza — a different angle than traditional biosecurity and vaccination strategies. It’s a forward-looking conversation about whether the industry can breed its way toward better disease resilience.
Lot of disease management work happening on both sides right now — stay vigilant on your protocols.