BioSec Bob here on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — let’s dive straight in.
Pork Business is reporting that New World screwworm continues to spread across swine operations, and producers need to be ready. The parasitic fly lays eggs in open wounds on pigs, and the larvae burrow into living tissue causing serious infection and death if left untreated. Best defense is wound management — keeping facilities clean, minimizing injuries during handling, and treating any cuts or abrasions quickly with approved fly repellents. Pork Business notes that screwworm thrives in warm, humid conditions, so summer months require extra vigilance. Watch for behavioral changes in affected animals, discharge around wounds, and reduced feed intake. Early identification and treatment with approved medications is critical to prevent economic loss.
Over at the World Pork Expo, Brownfield Ag News caught up with Pharmgate showcasing what they’re calling an innovative PRRS vaccine. The company’s highlighting advances in addressing porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which continues to cost producers significant money in lost productivity and treatment costs. Pharmgate presented the vaccine technology to an audience of swine professionals looking for new tools to manage the disease. The specifics on efficacy rates and availability weren’t detailed in Brownfield’s report, but the showcase signals continued investment in PRRS control options.
On the disease prevention front, DRGNews is reporting that researchers are developing what could be a new weapon against African swine fever. The details are still preliminary and a commercial product isn’t imminent, but the work represents progress on one of global swine production’s biggest threats. African swine fever remains absent from the United States, but the disease has devastated herds across Asia, Europe, and other regions. Any advancement in prevention or treatment gets serious attention from U.S. producers concerned about biosecurity and border protection.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension just released a fact sheet specifically on New World screwworm in swine, giving producers concrete management guidance. AgriLife Today reports the extension service put together detailed protocols on identifying infested animals, documenting cases, and reporting to state animal health officials. The fact sheet emphasizes the importance of reporting any suspected screwworm to your veterinarian or state agricultural agency immediately, since early detection helps prevent spread. AgriLife’s also stressing sanitation and fly control measures as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy on Texas operations.
Moving to production efficiency, Brownfield Ag News reports that PIC has unveiled an AI-powered tool designed to improve how pork quality gets measured. The system uses artificial intelligence to assess carcass characteristics and meat quality more consistently than traditional methods, which should help packers and producers get more accurate data on finished product. PIC says the technology can reduce variability in quality assessment and help producers better understand what their genetics are delivering at the plant. That kind of precision feedback helps inform breeding decisions and production protocols.
Finally, feed safety is shifting focus as Brownfield Ag News reports that FeedARMOR is expanding its market presence among pork producers seeking alternatives to formaldehyde-based preservatives. The company offers a different preservation approach, and as producers look to reduce formaldehyde use in feed mills, FeedARMOR’s footprint is growing. Feed safety and ingredient preservation matter directly to animal health and performance, so any shift in how producers approach this deserves attention.
Keep your screwworm protocols sharp — it’s outbreak season out there.