BioSec Bob here on Wednesday, April 29, 2026—let’s get right into it.
The CDC is warning of a new salmonella outbreak connected to backyard poultry operations. CBS19 is reporting that the agency has confirmed cases of salmonella linked to contact with birds kept in home settings. The outbreak highlights an ongoing concern for producers and backyard flock operators alike, particularly around handling practices and biosecurity measures between commercial and non-commercial bird populations. CIDRAP confirms the CDC has documented this latest cluster, adding to a pattern of salmonella cases tied to backyard poultry that’ve been tracked over recent months.
Moving to the swine operation side, National Hog Farmer is covering how producers are using data analytics to fine-tune their nutrition programs. Farms are increasingly pulling detailed feed conversion metrics, growth performance records, and ingredient cost data to make real-time adjustments to ration formulations. The approach lets producers dial in amino acid ratios, energy density, and additive timing based on their specific herd genetics and production stage rather than running generic programs across the board.
On the poultry payment front, the AG Information Network of the West is reporting that the USDA has delayed implementation of new pay structure changes for poultry growers. The agency has pumped the brakes on previously announced modifications to how integrators compensate contract growers, signaling a step back from the timeline that’d been laid out earlier this year.
Over in international swine news, Inquirer.net is reporting that the Department of Agriculture there has issued a public warning against misinformation surrounding a national swine repopulation project. Officials say false claims about breeding stock quality and disease status have been circulating, and they’re pushing back hard on reports that don’t align with their herd health protocols and genetic screening standards.
And here’s one for the hatchery side—Phys.org is covering emerging AI technology that can scan eggs before they hatch to identify viability, predict mortality, and determine chick sex before they ever leave the incubator. The system uses imaging and machine learning to flag eggs early, potentially reducing downstream culling waste and improving hatchery efficiency on a scale that wasn’t possible with manual candling alone.
Watch those backyard birds—they can move disease faster than you’d think.