The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) celebrated a record-setting year in 2024, as detailed in their annual progress report.
SHIC, funded by the Pork Checkoff, has been instrumental in advancing the health of the U.S. swine herd through strategic research and targeted health initiatives.
Dr. Megan Niederwerder, SHIC's Executive Director, expressed pride in the year’s achievements, stating, "Matching funds and external grants allowed SHIC to leverage Pork Checkoff investment and expand both research breadth as well as funding capacity to increase return on investment.” This strategic funding approach enabled SHIC to sponsor 32 significant research projects.
Key initiatives included the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program, which shared practical results to strengthen on-farm biosecurity practices.
Additionally, SHIC’s focus extended to addressing threats like Japanese Encephalitis Virus and the H5N1 Risk to Swine, funding critical research to mitigate these risks.
SHIC’s efforts are complemented by their robust communication strategy, which ensures that research findings and health guidelines are widely disseminated among pork producers and veterinarians.
Through newsletters, webinars, and social media, SHIC continues to lead in the provision of crucial health information, setting a high standard for industry-wide disease prevention and response.
With a clear focus on enhancing swine health through research and effective communication, SHIC’s impact on the U.S. pork industry remains profound as they head into another promising year.
Click here to read the 2024 Progress Report.