BioSec Bob here on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Starting on the swine side, National Hog Farmer is reporting that research has identified clear connections between gut health interventions and measurable performance gains in finishing pigs. The study tracked how specific dietary and management approaches that support intestinal function translate directly into improved feed efficiency, weight gain, and overall herd health metrics. Producers working with these protocols saw reduced days to market and lower mortality rates in their finishing barns. The research points to gut microbiota composition as a key driver — when the microbial environment stays balanced, pigs process feed more effectively and show stronger immune responses to common stressors.
Over to poultry now — WATTPoultry.com is reporting on a faster approach to Salmonella serotyping that could shave significant time off the testing and response cycle. Traditional serotyping methods require multiple steps and can take weeks to confirm which Salmonella type you’re dealing with. The new method accelerates identification without sacrificing accuracy, which matters because the faster you know what you’re up against, the faster your quality assurance team can take targeted action. This is particularly relevant for integrators managing multiple flocks across different facilities.
Back to swine — Farms.com is covering a breakthrough in swine influenza vaccine technology that’s designed to broaden the immune response beyond current generation vaccines. The new approach targets multiple strain variants simultaneously, which is significant given how influenza continues to drift and recombine in the field. Producers dealing with swine influenza outbreaks have traditionally faced the lag time between field emergence and vaccine reformulation. This technology aims to close that gap by creating a more flexible immune defense that adapts across strain variation.
On disease surveillance this morning, OnlineKhabar English News is reporting that 250 pigs died from African swine fever in Gorkha, Nepal. The outbreak underscores how quickly ASF can move through a region once it establishes. Nepal borders India, which borders multiple countries where ASF remains endemic. While this is an international situation, the speed of transmission and the herd loss numbers are reminders for US producers to stay current on biosecurity protocols and import restrictions.
Farms.com also covered broader research advances in fighting swine viruses more generally. Labs continue working on improved diagnostic tools and vaccine candidates targeting porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, porcine epidemic diarrhea, and other endemic respiratory pathogens. The research pipeline includes both conventional vaccine improvements and emerging platform technologies that could accelerate response time if new viral threats emerge.
Wrapping up poultry, foodagribusiness.world’s June business wrap-up noted steady activity across the broiler and layer sectors with feed cost moderation providing some relief on input pressures through the month.
Keep your diagnostic samples marked and your vaccine records current — lot of moving parts this time of year.