Articles

A genetic improvement program for Iberian pigs is based on selection objectives agreed upon with the producer, a genetic structure tailored to the breed, and continuous monitoring of results, to achieve progress in traits with a high impact on production.

A claw lesion is not just a welfare or performance issue. A white line lesion identified at the farm is a precursor to a condemned carcass at slaughter.

Precision feeding makes it possible to adjust nutrient supply to the individual needs of pigs, taking into account variations in growth, physiological status, and environmental and health challenges, contributing to greater feed efficiency, better use of resources, and more sustainable production.

In a job where lives and well-being are at stake every day, leading with approachability is not a luxury—it is a strategy for safety, trust, and commitment.

This article describes the characteristics of the vaccines used to prevent disease caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) in pigs.

Higher pig supplies and weakness in the meat market triggered a sharp change in the German market trend during September.

Improving colostrum quality is a key strategy for increasing piglet vitality and optimizing litter performance.

Geopolitics, oil, and a lack of purchases add uncertainty to a grain market that has already priced in the smaller harvests.

Proper medication requires knowing three key factors: the daily amount of active ingredient, the animals’ water consumption (and peak drinking time), and how to distribute the medication throughout the day.

In this second video, a necropsy was performed on a pig with fibrino-necrotic typhlocolitis caused by Salmonella Choleraesuis.

What happens when Brazilian pork production is analyzed in depth from a European perspective? This article offers a direct and concrete comparison, free of stereotypes.

Recent evidence shows that the maternal microbiota can be modified through nutritional strategies, promoting a more beneficial vertical transfer and a more robust neonatal microbiota.

Maternal microbial imprinting describes the influence of the sow's microbiota on piglets' intestinal colonization, immune development, and future performance.

Prices recovered strongly in August, but Tönnies' new contracts and supply developments are creating uncertainty for the autumn.

This summer’s extreme heat has unexpectedly turned the European pig market on its head. A shortage of pigs and a rebound in demand have driven prices sharply higher in Spain and Germany, but competition from the world’s major exporters and weak Chinese demand paint an uncertain picture for the months ahead.

The study highlights how the bioactive composition of colostrum, which is influenced by the sow's parity, can affect piglet survival, growth, and intestinal development.

This first installment describes the most relevant physiological and metabolic functions, nutritional recommendations, and the sources of Zn, Cu, and I currently available in the EU for pig feed.

Success in pork marketing increasingly depends on understanding the customer: the buyer persona is becoming a key tool for improving margins and competitiveness.

Within a very short period, this clinical syndrome has been reported in multiple European countries.

Lower pig availability failed to support the market as weak demand, abundant pork supplies, and pressure from slaughter companies pushed the German pig sector into one of its worst crises in years.

We are facing a deep and prolonged crisis that is structural in nature. The European swine industry will be unrecognizable in two years.

In response to heat waves, a study by the Brittany Chamber of Agriculture compares two feeding strategies for finishing pigs: scheduling meals during the coolest hours of the day or implementing temporary rationing followed by overfeeding.

Programs to encourage leaving the industry, new regulatory requirements, and self-regulation are transforming the European swine industry.

Europe's dependence on fertilizers and natural gas highlights the importance of making better use of livestock manure as a source of nutrients and renewable energy.

The heat wave in Europe and the tension in Hormuz are bringing volatility back to markets that seemed calm just a few weeks ago.

We'll tell you about the Tosh Group's strategy for intensive pig production: use of technology, rigorous biosecurity, efficient nutrition, and high performance with few personnel.

Long‑awaited explanation for ear necrosis offers solutions for veterinarians and producers.

June turned out to be far more challenging for the German pig market than producers had anticipated at the beginning of the month.

Pig prices remain below cost in a saturated European market where exporting is becoming increasingly difficult.

For the first time in years, no market expects prices to be higher than the year prior.

Vietnam has emerged as one of the most dynamic swine-producing countries in Asia, supported by strong domestic demand for pork and the modernization of pig production systems.

Summer is no time to wing it. The consequences of mistakes during this season are immediate and can be devastating.

Animals with less variation in daily intake showed lower mortality, greater daily gain, and fewer medication treatments.

The Spanish pig price remains below the cost of production. With a saturated EU market, slaughterhouses operating at capacity, and a challenging summer ahead, the sector faces an inevitable paradigm shift.

May marked a noticeable turning point for the German pig market.

PRRSpective project outlines a clear and simple plan for improving swine health management. Speakers Daniel Linhares, Clayton Johnson, Lance Mulberry, and Marius Kunze present actionable steps for achieving success through structured decision-making processes and disease control strategies.

Genetics plays a key role in the farm's future, with the terminal sire being a crucial investment due to its high impact on the pork value chain.

Diagnostic tools should be implemented not only reactively during outbreaks, but also proactively, allowing for early detection of infectious agents to anticipate potential problems.

Geopolitical uncertainty, the potential impact of Super El Niño and grain market volatility are keeping forward purchases on hold in a market that still remains within a not overly expensive range.

How are African swine fever (ASF) viruses classified? How well represented are they in sequence databases?

April clearly shows that stability in the market does not automatically translate into economic relief.

All players assume that, from now on, the supply of live pigs in Spain will be short.

In 2025, the Latin American swine industry established structural expansion, reaching historic milestones in production, exports, and domestic consumption. However, in 2026, the sector faces a highly complex scenario, where projected growth will have to contend with the volatility of an unstable geopolitical environment and mounting sanitary pressures that are testing regional efficiency and profitability.

The administration of a hepatoprotective product at peripartum reduced sow mortality by 73%.

We're not just talking about family succession. We're talking about talent, vocation, future. How to cultivate today the leadership the sector will need tomorrow.

The virus detected in Barcelona is ASF genotype II and has been classified in a new genetic group: #29.

The post-ASF scenario will most likely paint a picture with fewer pigs and the unfortunate absence or disappearance of a number of operators.

The most common diseases in piglets caused by E. coli are colibacillosis and edema disease.

Success depends on targeted investments that make production systems more precise, predictable, and resilient. Cost-cutting alone is rarely a sustainable path to profit.

Among the elements that are often overlooked is the microbiota, a true "invisible organ" that plays a key role in the health, immunity, and productivity of pigs. Understanding its dynamics and how it becomes imbalanced is increasingly essential for the success of health and nutrition programs.

Initial injuries at the tip of the ear are usually due to chewing behavior, while injuries at the base of the ear appear to be influenced by feeder-related bites.

To complement the necropsy course, we have produced a series of videos of different processes in pigs.

The speed at which events have unfolded makes one want to get off this rollercoaster ride of a year, but the world doesn’t stop.

The flu is very much in the media spotlight, so we wanted to find out how much our users know about influenza's role in pigs and humans. To do this, we conducted a mini survey among our users.

Individual precision feeding facilitates the use of alternative feedstuffs, such as forage, agro-industrial by-products, and others, by allowing them to be provided according to each animal's consumption and growth.

Prices were expected to be significantly better than what ultimately materialized in the hog markets.

The withdrawal of ZnO in the EU and the UK, and the pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics, has accelerated the shift to implement alternatives to protect postweaning gut health.

If we want greater economic resilience in the face of hard times, our focus should shift from cutting costs to outproducing the challenges ahead.

Making the right choice is not just a matter of cost, but also of strategic vision and risk management.

In addition to its role in protein synthesis, tryptophan contributes to the production of serotonin, a molecule that influences appetite and immune system regulation, and niacin production.

The speed and magnitude of the price drop at the beginning of January marked a discouraging start to the year for farms.

Spain has flooded the EU with cheap pork. Low pork prices dragged down prices in some countries.

Intestinal immunity is a complex system composed of physical barriers, immune cells, receptors, and microbiota.

An updated summary regarding the African swine fever outbreak situation in Spain.

Farms that fail to manage intergenerational integration run risks that directly affect their productivity and sustainability.

In this second instalment, Cano and Segalés talk about tools for detecting PRDC on farms, the factors influencing its development, and vaccination.

An in-depth understanding of the customer is essential for pig farmers who want to become more competitive, shifting from a tactical, production-focused approach to a strategic, customer-based approach.

The German pig market ended December with a deceptive sense of calm, yet beneath this veneer, the situation remained tense.

Intrauterine growth restriction is a complex condition with long-lasting effects that compromise both productivity and fertility in pigs.

Jean Paul Cano, a veterinarian with extensive field experience in US and now in Spain, provided practical field insights into managing PRDC in production settings. Joaquim Segalés, UAB professor and CReSA researcher, offered an academic perspective and share the latest findings on PRDC pathogenesis.

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid that pigs must obtain from their diet. It is involved in protein synthesis and serotonin production, which regulates appetite. It also contributes to the formation of niacin (vitamin B3) and has antioxidant effects, promoting intestinal health and microbiota. In addition, it helps maintain mucosal integrity and regulates the immune system.

Spanish farmers are losing over €47 million per week total, and pig prices are not expected to rise until February...

Inside the genome of the African swine fever virus: a giant that is difficult to decipher. CEREP uses genomics to study the virus's circulation in Italy and beyond.

Tonsil scrubbing using sponge catheters demonstrates a greater capacity for virus detection compared to sera from infected sows.