The objectives of this study were to observe subsequent reproductive performance of re-serviced females by the number of services within a parity, to measure mean days to re-service and culling intervals, to determine lifetime performance in re-serviced gilts, and to investigate re-serviced females across parities on commercial farms. Reproduction records on 539 U.S.A. farms were used to observ...

The origin of H1N1pdm constitutes an unresolved mystery, as its most recently observed ancestors were isolated in pigs nearly a decade before it emerged in humans. One theory suggests imperfect surveillance of swine viruses caused the virus to be missed in swine herds. Other hypotheses point to the possibility of laboratory error or an avian intermediary. We show substitution bias classificatio...

Mycoplasma flocculare is a commensal or low-virulence pathogen of swine. The complete 778,866-bp genome sequence of M. flocculare strain Ms42(T) has been determined, enabling further comparison to genomes of the closely related pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The absence of the p97 and glpD genes may contribute to the attenuated virulence of M. flocculare.

In the spring of 2009, a novel influenza A virus of the H1N1 subtype emerged that transmitted efficiently among humans; by June of 2009, the outbreak reached pandemic status. The pandemic virus possesses six viral RNA segments from so-called triple reassortant swine viruses that emerged in North American pig populations in the late 1990s and two viral RNA segments from Eurasian avian-like swine...

Once a pathogen is introduced in a population, key factors governing rate of spread include contact structure, supply of susceptible individuals and pathogen life-history. We examined the interplay of these factors on emergence dynamics and efficacy of disease prevention and response. We contrasted transmission dynamics of livestock viruses with different life-histories in hypothetical populati...

Previous studies have shown that apes, dogs and horses seem to be able to attribute attentive states to humans. Subjects had to choose between two persons: one who was able to see the animal and one who was not. Using a similar paradigm, we tested a species that does not rely strongly on visual cues, the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica). Subjects could choose between two unfamiliar persons, ...

Variation in market weight is a major concern for swine production systems. Because of variation in growth rate and market weights, producers are forced to sort heavily to reduce the cost of weight discounts. The lighter weight end of the distribution curve is the most expensive portion of the variation because it dictates when barns can be emptied and refilled and is the weight range most disc...

Swine production systems have dramatically changed in the last three decades. Pigs were traditionally raised extensively in small, non-specialized farms to satisfy family needs, the surplus being sold for revenue. Feed cost was low and manure was seen and used as valuable fertilizer. Nowadays, swine production has become intensive leading to a reduction in farms raising pigs but, at the same ti...