BioSec Bob here on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Hunting season’s opening up across much of the country, and Pork Business is flagging a real concern for producers: wild pigs are becoming a serious disease vector. As hunters head out and wild pig populations get pressured, there’s growing risk that infected animals could spread pathogens back to domestic swine operations. African swine fever, pseudorabies, and other diseases circulate in feral populations, and the closer those pigs range to farm country, the higher the exposure threat. Producers in areas with established wild pig populations should review their biosecurity protocols around property perimeters and make sure staff knows what to watch for.
Over to the research side now — the Pig Livability Project just landed $1.6 million in funding to dig into swine mortality reduction, according to National Hog Farmer. The money will support studies aimed at understanding and lowering death loss in pig production. That’s significant funding for a targeted mortality problem that’s been costing producers real dollars. The project’s focused on identifying specific management and health interventions that can move the needle on survivability from birth through market.
Shifting to poultry regulation — New Mexico’s got a new authority in hand. According to 96.3 KKOB, the state now has official approval to conduct its own meat and poultry inspections as part of state-level oversight. That gives New Mexico producers and processors more direct state involvement in inspection protocols rather than relying solely on federal systems. It’s a structural change in how product moves through the state’s supply chain.
On the technology front, Technology Networks is reporting that blue light treatment shows promise for reducing foodborne pathogens on raw chicken. The method targets bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter that commonly contaminate raw poultry. If it scales commercially, it could offer processors another tool for intervention without relying on chemical treatments. The research is still in development stages, but early results are drawing attention from the industry.
Abroad, thepigsite.com is tracking a serious threat to wild pig populations across Asia — African swine fever is pushing some species toward extinction risk. The disease is circulating widely through feral and wild pig populations in multiple Asian countries, and authorities are struggling to contain it. That’s a conservation issue, but it also underscores how deeply ASF is embedded in global wild pig reservoirs and why biosecurity remains such a priority for domestic operations anywhere near affected regions.
Finally, IndexBox data on the swine vaccines market shows strong growth projections through 2035, driven primarily by rising demand for PRRS and PCV vaccines. Those two diseases continue to dominate producer concerns and vaccination decisions. The market expansion reflects ongoing pressure from endemic diseases and the industry’s reliance on preventive vaccination strategies.
Stay alert during hunting season — wild pig activity’s picking up.