NEWSROOM

BioSec Bob here on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — let's get right into it.

Starting on the swine side this morning, researchers are putting artificial intelligence and gene sequencing to work on pig performance. According to Farms.com, Dr. Maria Walsh's team is using transcriptomics — that's analyzing gene expression in real time — combined with machine learning to decode what's actually happening inside pigs at the biological level. The goal here is to move beyond surface-level metrics and predict animal health and productivity before problems show up in the barn. Early work suggests this approach could help producers identify which animals will thrive under specific conditions, potentially cutting waste and improving herd efficiency.

Over at the federal level, poultry producers are still waiting on some regulatory relief. Civil Eats is reporting that the USDA has delayed its rule intended to protect contract growers from unfair payment practices by integrators. The rule was expected to come down, but the agency hasn't given a firm timeline for when producers can expect it. For operations working under contract, this delay means the current payment structure stays in place without new safeguards.

On the swine production calendar, Pork Business has put together nine specific recommendations for getting through the summer months successfully. The checklist covers ventilation management, water quality and delivery, feed storage in heat, pig nutrition adjustments, barn sanitation protocols, monitoring schedules, and heat stress recognition in finishing animals. The outlet emphasizes that summer losses don't have to happen if you're staying ahead of the heat curve right now.

Disease management and antibiotic stewardship are the focus of a webinar coming up, according to Farms.com. The session will bring together producers and veterinarians to talk through disease prevention strategies that reduce the need for antibiotics in the first place. With regulatory pressure mounting on antibiotic use across livestock, the conversation's timing makes sense for any operation looking to tighten protocols.

Shifting focus to disease breakthrough work, National Hog Farmer is reporting that scientists have made progress on an African swine fever vaccine. New findings are moving the research needle forward on a vaccine candidate that could eventually protect herds. ASF remains one of the most serious threats to swine globally, and any advancement on immunization is significant for long-term herd security.

On the poultry health front, backyard flocks are connected to a growing salmonella outbreak. Yahoo is reporting that 150 additional salmonella cases have now been linked to backyard poultry exposure, with 54 hospitalizations and one death recorded so far. The outbreak underscores the disease risk that small-scale operations can pose to human health when biosecurity practices fall short.

Keep an eye on that USDA rule — could be a game-changer for contract growers when it finally lands.