BioSec Bob here on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 — let’s dig in.
South Dakota State University is ramping up its swine research operation. The Pig Site is reporting that SDSU’s facility is expanding capacity by fifty percent, a significant move for producers looking to tap into university-backed research and development. The expanded space will allow the program to handle more animals and run broader trial work. That’s important infrastructure heading into the next phase of production research on the Plains.
Heat stress continues to be a real concern as we move deeper into fall in some regions. According to 3TRES3, producers need to have their heat wave protocols locked down before temperatures spike — that means checking cooling systems, monitoring ventilation, and ensuring water delivery is rock solid. During the heat event itself, it’s constant vigilance on animal behavior and hydration. And after the heat breaks, there’s cleanup and recovery work to do. The prep work is what separates a managed event from a crisis.
Over at the World Pork Expo, Zoetis laid out how their swine care programs are built around the metrics that actually matter in barns. The Pig Site covered the presentation, noting that the focus is on practical key performance indicators — the production numbers producers track day to day. It’s not theoretical; it’s about hitting targets on growth, feed conversion, and health outcomes within the reality of how operations run.
Turning to disease pressure, African Swine Fever is putting real numbers on the board in Kenya. Capital FM Africa is reporting that swine fever killed 1,470 pigs in Kiambu County, and regional officials are defending their piglet restocking program even as the outbreak ravages herds. That’s a serious loss for producers in the region and a reminder of how fast ASF moves once it takes hold.
Nigeria’s swine sector is facing its own ASF challenge right now. The Guardian Nigeria News reports that pig farms in Ogun state are being ravaged by the disease. No US connection, but it’s worth tracking how ASF spreads through Africa — we’ve learned that lesson before.
And in Europe, pork exports from Finland are at risk. Foodagribusiness.world is reporting that Finnish producers could see a forty-million-euro hit to export revenue. Disease or trade restriction — either way, that’s real money walking out of the market.
Keep your protocols tight and your eyes on the weather this week.