Swine virus topic of April 29 seminar in Amarillo

AMARILLO – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Pork Producers Association are joining forces to educate producers in the Texas Panhandle about a threat to the swine industry.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus or PEDv, as it is known in the industry, is a disease occurring only in pigs and is caused by a coronavirus, according to the Texas Pork Producers Association. It produces acute and severe outbreaks of diarrhea, which rapidly transmits among all ages of pigs.

A seminar titled “What is PEDv and how does it affect you?” will be held at 5:30 p.m. April 29 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo.

“This program should be very useful to our producers in Texas,” said Nathan Carr, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Potter County. “As we think about the commercial industry, it is located primarily up in the Texas Panhandle. Also, the show pig projects have quite a few breeders in the Panhandle and South Plains.

“The program should be very useful to all of them as they think about their operations and the health and biosecurity to them,” Carr said.

The meal, sponsored by Lindner Feed and Milling Inc., will begin at 5:30 p.m. and immediately be followed by the program, he said.

The program will include the following topics and speakers:

- What is PEDv and how to protect your operation?, Dr. Jodi Sterle, Iowa State University associate professor, Ames, Iowa.

- Dealing with PEDv – past consultations, boar studs and their effects from PEDv and outlook, Dr. Dale Hendrickson, owner of Four Star Veterinary Services and Top Cut Genetics Inc., Farmland, Ind.

- FAQ over PEDv as it relates to feed, Ronny Moser, JBS/Lindner United, Sheridan, Ind.

The program will wrap up with a panel discussion and questions and answers. The panel will include: Jeff Thayne, managing director of competitive events for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo; Jay Winters, Texas swine health commissioner and owner of Wintex Farms at Lubbock; Dr. Jimmy Gleason, West Plains Veterinary Clinic in Levelland; and Dr. Scanlon Daniels, Circle H Vet Clinic in Dalhart.

Those planning to attend should RSVP by April 24 to the AgriLife Extension office in Potter County at 806-373-0713.

Source: Agrilife