BioSec Bob here Thursday, May 7, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Starting with summer prep, and Feedstuffs is reporting on what swine producers need to do now to keep barns running efficiently when the heat hits. Ventilation adjustments and cooling strategies matter more than most people realize — getting ahead of humidity and temperature swings before June arrives keeps pigs comfortable and productive. The publication walks through barn-by-barn checkpoints, from inlet management to evaporative cooling systems, so if you haven’t done your seasonal walkthrough yet, that’s worth blocking time for this week.
On the health side, National Hog Farmer’s carrying a tough reality: wean-to-finish mortality continues to be a real drag on operation economics across the country. The numbers vary by region and operation, but the trend is consistent enough that it’s showing up as a persistent industry burden. Loss from the nursery through finish compounds quickly, and the publication’s looking at what’s driving those losses and where producers are seeing the biggest hits.
Turning to policy, there’s movement on the federal front. According to National Hog Farmer, an appropriations bill is in the works to fund the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan. If it passes, that’s dedicated money for disease surveillance, diagnostics, and herd health coordination — infrastructure that the industry’s been pushing for to shore up biosecurity and early detection networks.
Shifting to poultry, West Virginia University is reporting on a Salmonella outbreak tied to backyard poultry flocks. The university’s epidemiology team identified the connection and is tracking spread, particularly among people handling birds in small backyard or hobby operations. Backyard flocks have become more common, and they can carry pathogens that move through the supply chain if there’s any cross-contact with commercial operations.
Overseas, swine fever’s still active. The Japan Times confirms Japan’s had its fourth African swine fever outbreak this year, a sign that the virus continues to circulate in the region despite control efforts. That matters for anyone watching export markets or concerned about disease pressure creeping into new areas.
And finally, the Philippines is taking action. Inquirer.net reports the Department of Agriculture is purchasing 32,000 female pigs to accelerate hog sector recovery from African swine fever. The country’s been hit hard by ASF over the past few years, and restocking breeding stock is part of their strategy to rebuild inventory and get production moving again.
Watch your ventilation settings and keep tabs on those mortality numbers — data gets you ahead of problems.