Antibiotic-Free Production Puts Pigs at Extreme Disease Risk

Volume 39 | January 7, 2019

A new study confirms antibiotic-free production strategies leave pigs at considerable risk of exposure to disease and responsible use of antibiotics can significantly improve animal health. Prior to this study, no data has been available regarding the production performance and health of animals raised antibiotic-free when under a disease challenge such as PRRSV, the most significant pathogen in the global swine industry.

“No one has ever done an experiment of this size under representative conditions comparing antibiotic-free production to production strategies utilizing judicious use of antibiotics,” says Scott Dee, DVM, lead researcher of the study and director of research with Pipestone Applied Research.

WI-Origin Tags Available!

WLIC is selling Wisconsin-branded tags, as well as readers and taggers on our website in the online store!

The WLIC online store gives producers several options for purchasing the WI-Origin™ tags, including choice of style, color, and price. Other preferences include a selection of both RFID (radio frequency identification), or non-RFID tags.

WLIC is competitively priced and all proceeds will be used to fund our programs and services. In addition, Allflex, USA, provides WLIC with a 10-cent rebate for every Wisconsin-branded tag sold.

Membership Highlight

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is farmer-owned and farmer-directed. Their 25 dairy farmer board members are elected by their peers for three-year terms. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s farmer-directors have direct involvement in planning and monitoring the organization’s marketing and promotional programs which are conducted by a staff of marketing, research and communications professionals.

In the News

APHIS Urges Disease Control Around all Poultry

Preventing disease in poultry requires daily work from every poultry owner, said Dr. Alan Huddleston, a Department of Agriculture veterinarian. Dr. Huddleston is director of avian, swine, and aquatic animal health for the Veterinary Services branch of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. He hopes an agency campaign started in November will encourage vigilance against infectious disease.

Lots of Good Things for Dairy in New Farm Bill

For farmers, the new bill includes overhauled risk management programs that are reported to be more affordable and accessible for participants. The new insurance products will help producers manage margins in periods of low milk prices, and you can participate in more than one program at a time.

New Zealand May Cull 50,000 More Cows to Control Mycoplasma Bovis

An eradication program in New Zealand is working to rid the country of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis, and as a result 50,000 cows have been culled with nearly as many still to be killed. If the program is successful New Zealand would become the first country to rid itself of the disease.